Man Unites With First Corvette After Four Decades
Michael Kehoe was ready to buy his first car in 1980, and he was trying to decide between a 1980 Chevy Corvette and a 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. He had just graduated high school and had the cash for his first vehicle, and chose the Corvette. After having to sell it for tuition, he never forgot about the car, and finally found it.
Watch the latest Motorious Podcast here.
'My dad owned J&J Sheet Metal in Warren,' said Kehoe, who grew up in Sterling Heights. 'I worked there in middle school and high school and saved every penny I earned.'
Kehoe got the Corvette red car that had been owned by a GM exec, who drove it for about six months before he bought it.
'It had 2,500 miles when I bought the car,' Kehoe said. 'In 1980, the car was ultra-modern. The T-tops were mirrored. It cost $65 to undercoat the car. It is a four-speed stick shift.'
Three years after buying the car, he needed money to enroll in the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and sold the car to pay for the first year of tuition. Selling the car wasn't easy, as he described handing over the keys as being a devastating experience. After 11 years of schooling, he became on Orthodontist, opening Kehoe Orthodontics, and retiring in December 2020.
Kehoe got a phone call from his brother, Bob, last summer about a Craigslist post. His brother was certain the post was about the Corvette Michael once owned. Michael was sleeping when the call came in, but he jumped out of bed and checked. After some digging, it was verified to be Michael Kehoe's Corvette.
'I repurchased the car in August of 2021 for the same price I sold it for in 1983. When I found this car, I was like a kid in a candy store. I was so excited,' Kehoe said. 'It's the sentimental value. The sentimental value is priceless.'
Kehoe is now very protective of his Corvette, and has a scrapbook of the history of the car. Including himself and the GM exec, the Corvette has had 5 owners and only driven 94k miles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Motor 1
an hour ago
- Motor 1
The Acura RSX Is Back—But It's No Sports Car
Nearly 25 years ago, the Acura RSX debuted as a successor to the Integra, and it very much continued in that car's vein—a fancier version of the Honda Civic. Now, the RSX is back as something completely different, an electric crossover with a fastback roof. Acura is debuting the new RSX Prototype during Monterey Car Week, and it previews a soon-arriving EV. Unlike the ZDX , which uses GM's Ultium electric-car architecture, the RSX is a homegrown effort. This will be the first production car on Honda's new EV platform—which debuted with the Honda 0 Series concepts —and Acura plans to build it on the same Marysville, Ohio, line as the gas-powered Integra. (Side note: Imagine telling someone 20 years ago that the RSX and Integra would exist alongside each other, and that one would be an SUV.) Acura calls this a "prototype," but typically, Honda's prototypes are very close to the eventual production models. So, this is pretty much what the new RSX will look like, though we're not sure if the yellow paint will be an option. Mechanically, the RSX will have dual-motor all-wheel drive, double wishbone front suspension, and Brembo-branded brakes. The prototype sits on 21-inch wheels, and Acura says the wide rear-end is inspired by the second-generation NSX. Photo by: Acura The RSX will also be the first Honda product to run the automaker's new infotainment system, ASIMO OS, named for its beloved humanoid robot. Acura considers this a "software-defined" vehicle, with an OS that learns user preferences, and a system that can handle over-the-air software updates. The RSX will also get a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port, and it has vehicle-to-load capabilities, so you can essentially use it as a generator of sorts. Acura was pretty mum on details, though. We don't know what sort of performance the RSX will have, battery size, range, or anything, really. We also don't know what it will cost, but since it's smaller than the ZDX, we have to assume it'll be cheaper. Thankfully, we shouldn't have to wait long, as is typically the case with Honda concepts. 25 Source: Acura More from Monterey Car Week This Might Be Cadillac's Craziest Concept Car Ever The Ultimate Guide to Monterey Car Week 2025 Stay informed with our newsletter every weekday back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Gallery: Acura RSX EV Prototype: First Look 25 Source: Acura Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Drive
2 hours ago
- The Drive
Chevy Trucks Will Get New Performance Packages From Callaway and Holley
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Holley has been a big brand in the go-fast car parts business since the days of carburetors. Callaway is well-known for modifying GM vehicles and creating unique reimaginings of Corvettes like the AeroWagen and C12. Those outfits are now teaming up to 'develop and launch a line of performance packages for GM trucks and SUVs.' Sounds like Callaway will be tasked with engineering and developing the parts, while Holley handles logistics and marketing. Ultimately, it looks like the goal is for consumers to be able to get Callaway-engineered upgrade packages right at Chevy dealers. That might be particularly attractive if you can wrap the cost right into your car payment. I dropped Chevy's people a note about that and will update this post if they share any specifics on that process, timeline, or pricing. In an announcement to investors made this week, Holley stated: 'By combining Callaway's nearly five decades of renowned engineering, design and craftsmanship with Holley's robust operational capabilities and extensive market expertise, the company will be able to reach even more enthusiasts with turnkey, dealer-approved solutions across multiple consumer verticals, providing the performance, reliability and warranty support consumers expect.' Callaway insists on being described as a 'Specialist Constructor,' not a tuner, having once emailed us a picture of a tuna fish with a slash through it and a statement asserting that it 'works in concert with OEMs.' (But actually.) Semantics aside, the brand has a deep history of making GM vehicles go faster and currently offers a catalog of supercharger systems for the Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro, Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe. The GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, as well as the Cadillac Escalade, are, naturally, also supported. Holley I think it's fair to figure that, in the short term, the Holley and Callaway collab will be working to get those supercharger packages for the 5.3 and 6.2 V8 trucks into Chevy dealers' offerings like OE options packages. But this week's announcement also promised some longer-term innovation. 'Holley and Callaway will establish a new Callaway Performance Center alongside its existing operations in Bowling Green. This new center will focus on the Corvette, as well as GM truck and SUV offerings. These changes will increase production capacity and enable broader availability of dealer-backed solutions for customers,' Holley's release says. 'The performance packages will primarily target vehicles in the GM portfolio, such as Silverado, Sierra, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon and Escalade, as well as the iconic Corvette. Packages will vary in price, up to premium-level 'Pinnacle' versions. Holley will lead the digital and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channels, with Callaway continuing their GM dealership outreach.' I really like the idea of the aftermarket industry working its way into the dealership space more. Funky performance-focused models like the Ford Raptors and Chevy ZR2s of the world are great, but letting companies like Callaway and Holley in makes room for wilder, weirder, even more specialized sub-models and products that OEMs might not be willing to spend the time on but can still be cool (a 600-hp supercharged Suburban, for example). Holley's announcement also specifically called out the 'off-road' space as something it was looking at—some kind of extreme version of a Tahoe for driving off-piste would be really fun to see. Here's hoping the collab yields some cool creations. Got a tip? Drop us a line at tips@
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cadillac Elevated Velocity SUV concept previews the future of the brand's performance EVs
Boasting a lifted ride, 24-inch wheels and both autonomous and performance-driving modes, the Cadillac Elevated Velocity concept car reveals designs and features that will carry the brand's V-series vehicles into the future. With electric all-wheel drive and an adjustable air suspension, the sleek SUV has gull-wing doors, a modern, roomy interior, 2+2 seating and an augmented-reality head-up display ― combining features Cadillac offers now and is evaluating for tomorrow. The concept also previews innovative ideas for desert racing, including repelling sand from its sleek four-door body and peering through dust storms. The Elevated Velocity debuts at the Quail, a luxury vehicle event in Carmel, California, on Aug. 15. The Quail is part of a weekend of events for luxury, racing and classic vehicles on and near the Monterey Peninsula. An earlier Cadillac concept called Opulent Velocity debuted at the Quail last year. What's cool about the Cadillac Elevated Velocity? Elements defy mode that vibrates the car to shed dust and dirt. That enhanced vision to peer through sandstorms. 24-inch wheels Electric all-wheel drive Air suspension Gull wing doors 2+2 seating The look of tomorrow's Cadillacs Cadillac expects the market for high-performance electric luxury SUVs to grow. The Elevated Velocity's profile ― long hood, spacious interior, short rear overhang, fastback rear end ― is consistent with the current Cadillac Lyriq and Celestiq. 'Concepts are the compass for us,' GM design chief Brian Nesbitt said during a briefing on the Elevated Velocity. Other exterior touches include Cadillac's signature vertical lighting, illuminated front and rear badges, Vapor Blue exterior paint and blue-tinted windows. Full-width rear lights create a three-dimensional effect Cadillac calls a 'light tunnel.' More: It's time to recognize Mary Barra as one of the auto industry's great CEOs. Here's why. Infrared light and 'dust-phobic vibration' The Elevated Velocity has modes for interior comfort and different kinds of travel, from handsfree relaxation to desert racing. Welcome: On approach, the gull-wing doors open, soft white light bathes the interior, an animation on the steering wheel mimics shifting desert sand, V-series logos light up on interior door caps. Elevate: Autonomous driving to recover from strenuous activity. The steering wheel and pedals retract, ambient light shifts to red and the seat backs emit infrared light. The climate control system filters and perfumes cabin air; and adjusts for changes in temperature, humidity and elevation. The IR light is part of red light therapy, an experimental treatment to help 'occupants recover from vigorous pursuits.' Velocity: The driver is in charge and has access to the car's full performance. Cool white interior lighting. The steering wheel displays speed, time, batter health and temperature. Augmented reality display and navigation on the HUD. A separate set of driving modes, in addition to that enhanced vision for sandstorms and that "elements defy" mode that generates a 'dust-phobic' vibration, like a horse shaking itself clean, include: E-Velocity mode for intense on-road driving. Terra mode for peak off-road performance. Interior luxury The interior has four pedestal bucket seats. A floating center console extends from the dash to rear seats. The yoke-style steering wheel incorporates a hub-mounted display screen that's intended to be most useful when the driver seat reclines and the steering wheel retracts. The HUD delivers information to the driver when the car is in hands-on mode. Interior colors and materials include: Morello red leather for the door uppers seat cushions, cabin and floor. Cerise red fabric on the doors, dash and seat backs Garnet: A red boucle fabric for arm rests, center console and instrument panel. 3D black crystal on the doors in a pattern of 'the dynamic action of desert polo ― the clashing of mallets or motion of the horses' hooves as they sprint across a field of shifting sand.' Cadillac doesn't plan to build the Elevated Velocity, but its appearance and features will influence the brand's upcoming performance models. Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@ Follow him on Twitter mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cadillac Elevated Velocity concept signals future of performance EVs Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
