In 1998, Mark McLin rescued this 58 from a Mustang guy who couldnt make a decision what to do with it. Mustang guys loss. This Corvette deserved a better life, and Mark was the guy to make it happen. He researched the 58s history and discovered it had been purchased new in El Paso, Texas, and retained by the original owner for more than 25 years. It then passed through three more owners over the next 10 years before Mark found it.
Realizing the car would need some sprucing up before it would be fun to drive, Mark headed from his home in central Florida to his friend Gary Brown at Gary Brown Paint & Body in Jacksonville to get the work started. He was much chagrined to learn that the 58 had been hit on all four corners, the original color had been painted overand the restoration would cost 30 percent more than originally reckoned. Decision time.
Mark opted to go the distance and completely restore the car. In the process, it was returned to its original color scheme, Tuxedo Black with silver coves. The 283ci, 230hp 58 is bone stock, except for the more serviceable Coker radial tires.
Mark hits weekly cruises, show n shines, parties, and road runs with his friends in the Classic Corvette Club in Orlando, and took great pleasure in participating in the NCRS Field of Dreams collection last January at the NCRS Winter Meet in Kissimmee.
This isnt Marks first Corvette, nor the only special older car he owns. He added the 58 to a collection that includes a 62 Almond Beige 327-340 Corvette convertible, a Roman Red 62 Chevy Bel Air Bubbletop 409-425 (which he says he uses to hunt down Fords and Mopars), and a 68 Camaro 396-325 Turbo 400. Mark enjoys all his Chevys, but he gets a special kick out of showing off his latest addition.
Were just glad he retrieved it from that Ford guy!