Full circle: The 44-year journey of a rare 1966 Sting Ray

Over four decades after relinquishing the keys to his beloved Corvette, Smithville resident Tim Manning once again took possession of the vehicle he had first purchased at age 21.

The year was 1970. Richard Nixon was president, gasoline cost about 36 cents per gallon and Simon & Garfunkel's “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was No. 1 on the pop chart. After completing his service with the Army and returning to his hometown of Doylestown, Manning spotted an ad for a Corvette in the Akron Beacon Journal. From the moment he laid eyes on the 1966 Sting Ray at the Lodi dealership, he knew he had to have it.

“I loved everything about it,” Manning said. “It had a lot of options, a great color.”

The car, a convertible, was painted in a Trophy Blue finish, a shade now considered rare, as it was used only on 1966 models. It also featured a 327/300HP engine. After shelling out $2,600, Manning left with the car.

It was not the first Corvette Manning had owned. While stationed at Madigan General Hospital, which served the Army's Fort Lewis as well as the McChord Air Force base in Washington state, Manning bought a 1960 Corvette. After enjoying it for a year, he reluctantly decided to sell it so he wouldn't have to drive it across the country upon his discharge. But he kept his antenna up for another Corvette and was thrilled when he acquired the ‘66 Sting Ray.

“I would go out cruising in Doylestown,” he said, “and on warm nights, I'd put the top down while I was stopped at a red light.”

He also once ran it on Corvette Day at Dragway 42 in West Salem. 

“I don't remember how I did,” he said.

The cool car attracted attention around town, and Manning was pleased to accept when asked to convey Queen Lynn Simballa on his ‘vette at Doylestown's 1971 Homecoming celebration, predecessor to the Rogue's Hollow Festival.

Within two years of having acquired the automobile, however, life got in the way, and Manning made the tough decision to sell his Corvette. He remembers the amount to the dollar — $1,420. He couldn't help but keep tabs on the car, though, and soon learned the buyer had sold it to a Copley man. A few times over the years, Manning inquired whether the new owner would be interested in selling the Corvette.

“The answer was always no,” Manning said.

In 2014 Manning learned the man had passed away. He'd held on to the Corvette for the remainder of his life. When Manning contacted the man's family, they agreed he could look at the car.

“It looked good, both the exterior and interior, and it ran well,” Manning said.

The car hadn't changed much, still the same Trophy Blue color.

Then Manning asked the question: Would the family consider selling the car? Manning was overjoyed at their response.

“I had told them I used to own the car, so they were glad that it was going to someone who it meant something to, and they gave me a great price,” he said.

Forty-four years after first buying the Corvette, Manning once again took the wheel.

“When that title was transferred back into my name, it felt great,” he said, “one of the best days of my life.”

The vehicle hasn't required much work over the years. Anything Manning has done has been mostly mechanical. From time to time, he takes it out for a spin, although he logs fewer than 1,000 miles per year. He also takes the Corvette to the occasional car show.

“My grandchildren and great-grandchildren get most of my attention these days,” he said. “Now I'm going to their events.”

Manning has received offers for his Corvette, but he vows it won't change ownership again in his lifetime.

“I'll never sell it again,” he said.