With the C8 intro drawing nigh, the Corvette’s rowdy, rough, and tumble past might soon be fading into the mist. When real men, with grease under their fingernails, built crude, fiberglass speedsters that defined a generation.

Not so fast! Dig “Cherry Smash” a period perfect, gasser-style, 1962 Corvette that popped up over on Ebay, and now could be yours to cherish and to hold.

This time capsule Corvette, an award winning star on the show circuit back in the ’70s, is running a freshly rebuilt 650 hp mouse motor with a vintage Cragar supercharger, headers, Holley carb, and backed up by a Muncie four-speed delivering the power to a fully-chromed Olds rearend.

Vintage gasser gear includes a tilt front-end, straight-axle up front, a fully chromed undercarriage, with some velour thrown in for good measure.

Speaking of velour, “Cherry Smash” is sporting a perfectly preserved, bell-bottom era, ’70s tufted interior with roll bar and a matching trunk compartment. It’s been a show car since new and claimed to have only 375 original miles. This old Corvette has graced the cover of many car magazines and was a ISCA winner back in the ’70s.

The seller says, “I bought it to make it a street-driven gasser but have to many hot rods, so will try to sell this first before putting a different car up for sale. You will never find another one like this. The car is in unbelievable condition for being done for so many years. The paint does have some flaws from being painted 45 years ago. There are some chips and cracks but very presentable and can be cleaned up. If I do not sell I will put it on the street for the first time.

“What it would need is some wiring clean up, a charging system, headlights, blinkers, and alternator working . Would need an electric fan installed on radiator. Baffles installed on headers — looks cool without exhaust. Car is loud and sounds awesome. Car has always been shown with Cragars. It has M/T Street Slicks. I put the Pie Crusts on for a recent showing. Will come with Cragars unless you would like other wheels on it.”

Oh, and it comes with a parachute too.

Chevrolet dearly wants to attract a new demographic to Corvette, and they killed the Corvette (at least in the front-engine, rear-wheel guise we have come to know) to reset the playing field and attract new buyers — most who have no idea (or care) about the history of our beloved Corvette.

Sometimes it seems folks are ashamed of the previous 66 years of Corvette history. We say, the Corvette’s history is a gold-plated, star-spangled portfolio of the best of Chevrolet and ‘Murica! It should be celebrated and kept alive.

Are YOU the next shepard of this piece of Corvette history?