For Bob Coveney, his former 1967 Corvette was the proverbial “one that got away.”
Coveney sold the ’67 ‘Vette between tours in Vietnam and regretted it ever since. Nathan Hibler knows the story all too well. He’s heard all about the long lost Corvette ever since he and Coveney became friends in the early 1970s. What Coveney didn’t know was that Hibler was determined to give this story a happy ending.
Working the Sterling Hot Rods of Sterling, VA, Hibler surprised his friend with a modernized version of his old beloved Corvette.
“It’s very similar to one he owned in 1968 when he was a pilot in the Army before going to Vietnam,” Hibler said. “He did three tours in Vietnam, one of which was as a combat helicopter pilot flying gunships.”
This version of the Corvette was restored pretty closely to original but features modern technology from Summit Racing. A GM LS3 Connect & Cruise package will deliver about 430 horsepower, which is about 100 horsepower over the stock engine. The old 327 cubic-inch engine was sold and proceeds of the original drivetrain were donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
“(Bob) and I have been friends since 1974,” Hibler said. “And I finally have a chance to pay him back for all of his friendship and all of the fun we’ve had together.”
Watch this video for the surprise reveal, as well as more detailed information on the engine swap process.
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