A Blackburn man says he "can't believe" he owns his dream car after buying a pristine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray that has been attracting attention everywhere it goes.
Adie Crook, who purchased the classic American sports car a week ago, said the silver Corvette has become an instant talking point, with strangers regularly stopping to photograph it and ask questions.
Additionally, the Corvette has already generated plenty of discussion online after it was spotted parked up locally and shared on social media.
He said: "I can't stop without people asking about it. Everywhere you go, somebody wants a photograph of it.
"Everybody's obsessed with how many miles to the gallon it does because of the price of fuel.”
While the V8-powered Corvette manages around 20 miles per gallon on a good run, the 70-year-old joked that it averages out much better when paired with his other vehicle.
Adie said: "I've got a little Audi A2 diesel as well. One does 20 to the gallon if you're lucky and the other does 80.
"Use them both equally, and I'm getting 50 miles per gallon, which is quite acceptable, isn't it?"
The purchase came after an off-the-cuff conversation while visiting his son in Southampton.
Having spent years putting family and others first, with his son encouraging him to treat himself.
"He said, 'You've always looked after other people. Why don't you get something for yourself?'
"I couldn't think what I wanted. Then he said, 'What would you really like?' and I said a Corvette Stingray”, Adie added.
Adie’s son jokingly urged him to buy a silver one, and the next morning he began searching online.
He soon discovered a silver Corvette for sale around 35 miles away in Petersfield, Hampshire, and quietly slipped away to view it without telling anyone.
"I sneaked off the next morning, saying I had a few errands to do," he said.
After meeting the seller, a fellow motorcycle enthusiast, the pair quickly struck up a rapport.
"I really think you've got to be a custodian of vehicles of this quality," Adie said.
The Corvette, which had previously been displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, was advertised for £16,995, but the owner agreed to sell it for £16,000.
Despite knowing little about Corvettes beforehand, he immediately recognised how special the car was.
"I can't believe what I've got," he said. "If somebody offered me £10,000 more than I paid for it now, I wouldn't sell it."
Returning home with the car produced a memorable reaction from friends and family.
He parked the Corvette outside the house, knocked on the door and waited.
"They all came out gobsmacked," he said.
"I told them, 'Well, you told me to go out and buy a silver one.'"
The proud owner has already taken the Corvette on trips across the country, including a drive to the Forbidden Corner visitor attraction near Leyburn in North Yorkshire.
While he admits the car is unlikely to become an everyday vehicle, he hopes to enjoy it for years to come and may even use it as part of a future wedding car business.
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For now, however, he is simply enjoying fulfilling a lifelong ambition.
"I've always fancied one," he said.
"I've had a lot of mates who have died over the years, and you realise you should do things while you can.
"I can't believe I've got it."
Adie also wanted to give a shout-out to Sam from Fogarty’s Insurance, who was able to insure the car swiftly on the day of purchase.
We would also like to thank the Spread Eagle at Mellor for allowing us to use their car park for photographs.
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