Sting Ray in the grass: Neglected Corvette to see new life

This 1967 Corvette looks lost and forgotten, but it will soon be getting a complete restoration after sitting for many years in a farm yard at an undisclosed location.

Story and photos by Al Rogers

The Aug. 16, 2012, issue of Old Cars Weekly featured a forlorn 1965 Chevrolet Corvette roadster found languishing in the grass at a secret location. Not far from that 1965 roadster rests this 1967 Corvette roadster in a similar setting, but unlike the previously featured ’65 Corvette, there’s hope of resurrection for this ’67.

Tall grass attempts to drown Lee and Amanda Sloppy’s Corvette, but the unique profile of the Sting Ray sports car floats above the grass tips. The Sloppys have not forgotten their numbers-matching 327-cid, 300-hp 1967 Corvette roadster as it slips into a sea of green. They have a long history with the car, which they purchased from the original owner in 1973. Amanda Sloppy used it as her daily driver for her two-mile commute to work until 1981. After they replaced the mufflers a few times and its brakes went out, the ’67 Corvette was parked in its grassy field hideout for more than three decades.

“Family life took over with the arrival of our children, campers, dune buggies and other projects [and] the Corvette was not a priority,” Lee Sloppy said.

The couple plans to start a body-off-frame restoration before year’s end to give the Corvette a second life. A new shop is under construction on their property to serve as the restoration facility for the project. Lee Sloppy, now retired from work as a GM mechanic, has the time, resources and determination to see the project through.

Almost since the day the Corvette was parked in its grassy hideout, Lee has maintained a goal of restoring the Corvette. Many offers have rolled his way to sell it, but as he put it, “No need to do that.”

We’ll be following this project and its progress in the near future. Stay tuned. In the meantime, more of the Sting Ray...