By Dave Chapman

SOUTHGATE — A father-and-son project took much longer than thought, but the end result was worth the time and effort.
When Dave Grybel and his son, Steve, began the restoration of their 1972 Chevrolet Corvette, they had no idea how long it would take and the problems they would encounter.
Dave Grybel bought the car in 1973 and drove it until 1994 when it taken off the road because it was in need of repairs.
“The car sat for a long time,” Grybel said. “I had a wife and family, and they came first.”
As he started getting some spare cash, he started buying parts.
The project got started in earnest about 3 1/2 years ago. Grybel decided that he would let his son do most of the work and help where and when needed.
The car’s engine was reworked by Fred Whaley and now produces more horsepower that when it came from the factory. The ’Vette’s suspension was changed to an all-air system so that the ride height can be adjusted at will.
The car’s interior was customized with a TV added to the center console, and a port was added so that an iPod or iPad can easily be plugged in. There is even a custom duck shifter handle.
A sharp eye will be needed to notice that the keyholes for the doors have been shaved, and so have the brake calipers to give the car an extra-clean look. Plus, the car’s two-piece T-tops were replaced with a custom one-piece unit. The car’s color was custom mixed by Steve especially for this project.
As with most projects, there were some disagreements. However, after the car was done, all that was forgotten, and father and son could not be happier with how their project turned out.