Total Living Space, Inc.

I grew up in Bellmore, Long Island, New York in the 50's and 60's. The music was great, the girls beautiful and the muscle cars were incredile! I was ten years old when I fell in love with my first car. It was early evening. I was in the middle of the street playing dodge ball with the rest of the kids on my block when a beautiful new 1956 C1 Corvette rolled down the street. I knew I had to have that car. Ten years later I purchased a 1957 Corvette. A very simple “283” single quad, soft top, 3 speed for the enormous price of $700.00. But wow could that car fly. I raced it up and down Sunrise Highway, Long Island, from Massapequa to Freeport and back. Facing Mustangs, Buicks, Jags, Vetts, GTOs…I won and lost…but it was great fun…something I will never forget and quite frequently wish I could relive.

My good friend John Marciari (Mepham
High School-Class of 1965, Bellmore, New
York) bought a 1959 C1 Corvette shortly
after I purchased the ’57. It was a beautiful
red 283 4 speed car with both tops. John’s
brain storm was to remove the front
bumper assembly and raise the bottom
fiberglass panels. We performed the
fiberglass surgery. Although the finished product turned out beautifully, I could kick myself in the ass today for customizing such a beautiful original automobile. When I fiberglass today it is strictly for “restoration to original” purposes only. I last saw my old friend John over 20 years ago. At that time he gave me a set of photos that we took during the “customization” project. Click here to view our handiwork. These photos were taken in 1967 or 68.

Now lets roll the clock forward to the year
2002. My wife and I were very fortunate
to have purchased a 1960 C1 Turquoise
283 270 hp, dual quad, 4 speed Corvette.
This baby is a solid 8 ½ or 9 out of 10 and
cost just a little more than the '57. It is
the car pictured on this page. My Grand
Daughter is pictured with the car. To see
additional pictures of the '60 Vette, please
click here.

About my old ’57…yes I still own the car. But it does need a complete body off restoration from the frame up. My intent is to purchase a new 290 bhp GM crate engine and harness it to an original 1961 Corvette T10 4 speed transmission (I bought this tranny when I was a kid for $75.00). Sitting on top of the block will be a set of 3-two barrel carbs. I do my own restoration, glass work and paint. Oh, and by the way, six months after I purchased the '57, I purchased an original '57 hardtop for a grand total of $60.00.

My intent is to document the '57 restoration process on this web site or to create a whole new site to publicize the process. From there I would like to write a book describing the restoration. I will shortly be posting photos of the '57 taken in the late 60s and 70s.

Anyone interested in Vettes, parts meets, car shows, etc., check out my Contact Us page. Anyone know of a Vette or classic car club in the Massachusetts Metrowest area, or thinking about starting one, please call me at 508.735.5941.

Thank you........Terry

Terry E. Tvrdik, Owner
Total Living Space, Inc.
Bolton, Massachusetts

Construction Supervisor License # 95271
Mass. Registration # 141059
Fully insured