35 yrs ago I sold my First Corvette-4 Generation changes later the C7-Thank you!
07-26-2013, 06:33 AM
#1
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Location: www.corvettefurman.com Gaithersburg, Maryland
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St. Jude Donor '12, '15
35 yrs ago I sold my First Corvette-4 Generation changes later the C7-Thank you!
---35 yrs today...6 Presidents ago I sold my very first Corvette to Cassius de la Victoria on July 26th 1978 (17 days before my 18th Birthday). A mere 420 months or 12,775 days ago I started doing what I still love to do, of course new Corvette's cost only $10,000 so that has gone up a bit... A guy named Bill Gates said "in the future every home will have a computer" (we all laughed at that one). Fax machines weren't even invented as we know them yet! I guess the best part of still being around is that I get to keep going. I have seen/heard the good the bad and the ugly...at this point I could be talking about my fellow ex workers and Managers(haha), or one of the 35 yrs of Corvette's....but I have never seen an ugly Corvette. I have loved them all including the 13 Corvettes and 44 Musclecars that I have owned.
I look back at selling Corvette's fondly with many memories only wishing that the camera phones of today were around back then! Much of my Corvette memorabilia collection and pictures got wiped out in Hurricane Sandy last October so I am rebuilding one brochure at a time. From what I can remember...the memories and experiences are better anyway. You see, even though I am delivering the Corvettes to my customers...I thoroughly enjoy the whole process and as I have always said, being a Corvette enthusiast myself ...it allows me to develop friendships with customers that go beyond Corvette. Does it get any better then that? I don't think so. It's exciting to fulfill Corvette dreams and at last count I should reach 3,000 delivered by the end of the year. I have been an Ambassador for the Corvette Museum for several yrs and friendly with the Corvette Plant employee's/Managers, I like visiting with them at different events and in need I will text/call/email them as they know they can do likewise. I also was there in the beginning when Callaway Cars first started creating more Horsepower for Corvettes(1987) and I watched the Callaway "Sledgehammer" get delivered after setting a World Record. Even Zora Arkus Duntov and Larry Shinoda among other luminaries would come to our dealership for our annual Corvette show.(Malcolm Konner Auto Group)
Way before Criswell Chevrolet became a vendor on Corvette Forum/Corvetteblogger I would supply answers/info etc via my private CF name and decades before that I took countless daily phone calls back when it truly effected my personal phone bill. It felt good to help out where and when I was able and now as a Forum vendor the opportunities have tripled in so many other ways.
So today is my 35th Anniversary of selling America's #1 Sports Car...Looking forward>>> the 7th Generation Corvette is World Class in every imaginable way. In August I will be under the Callaway tent (right next to the GM Tent) for two days (Friday and Saturday) at Corvettes at Carlisle...and then I get to test drive the Stingray for a few days at Spring Mountain in September (with Chevrolet) and October (with Callaway). Tough job but someone has to do it!
Just wanted to Thank the Corvette Nation all at once by posting today, 35 short yrs of selling Corvette's as a Corvette enthusiast
Pretty darn cool!
Fall '92-That's my son Tyler and I in my 1961 Corvette. Tyler is 21 now!
Sept 11th 2004-My daughter Samantha and I in my new 2005 Precision Red Corvette. She is in College now.
Taking the 61 down the highway.
Dave Hill and I with the all new 2006 Z06 behind us.
1986 outside Malcolm Konner Chevrolet helping out the Konner Family for a sock hop.
Mike Furman
Criswell Chevrolet~
301 212 4420 desk direct~
Gaithersburg, MD
"I ship Nationwide and have done so for a long time!
I look back at selling Corvette's fondly with many memories only wishing that the camera phones of today were around back then! Much of my Corvette memorabilia collection and pictures got wiped out in Hurricane Sandy last October so I am rebuilding one brochure at a time. From what I can remember...the memories and experiences are better anyway. You see, even though I am delivering the Corvettes to my customers...I thoroughly enjoy the whole process and as I have always said, being a Corvette enthusiast myself ...it allows me to develop friendships with customers that go beyond Corvette. Does it get any better then that? I don't think so. It's exciting to fulfill Corvette dreams and at last count I should reach 3,000 delivered by the end of the year. I have been an Ambassador for the Corvette Museum for several yrs and friendly with the Corvette Plant employee's/Managers, I like visiting with them at different events and in need I will text/call/email them as they know they can do likewise. I also was there in the beginning when Callaway Cars first started creating more Horsepower for Corvettes(1987) and I watched the Callaway "Sledgehammer" get delivered after setting a World Record. Even Zora Arkus Duntov and Larry Shinoda among other luminaries would come to our dealership for our annual Corvette show.(Malcolm Konner Auto Group)
Way before Criswell Chevrolet became a vendor on Corvette Forum/Corvetteblogger I would supply answers/info etc via my private CF name and decades before that I took countless daily phone calls back when it truly effected my personal phone bill. It felt good to help out where and when I was able and now as a Forum vendor the opportunities have tripled in so many other ways.
So today is my 35th Anniversary of selling America's #1 Sports Car...Looking forward>>> the 7th Generation Corvette is World Class in every imaginable way. In August I will be under the Callaway tent (right next to the GM Tent) for two days (Friday and Saturday) at Corvettes at Carlisle...and then I get to test drive the Stingray for a few days at Spring Mountain in September (with Chevrolet) and October (with Callaway). Tough job but someone has to do it!
Just wanted to Thank the Corvette Nation all at once by posting today, 35 short yrs of selling Corvette's as a Corvette enthusiast
Pretty darn cool!
Fall '92-That's my son Tyler and I in my 1961 Corvette. Tyler is 21 now!
Sept 11th 2004-My daughter Samantha and I in my new 2005 Precision Red Corvette. She is in College now.
Taking the 61 down the highway.
Dave Hill and I with the all new 2006 Z06 behind us.
1986 outside Malcolm Konner Chevrolet helping out the Konner Family for a sock hop.
Mike Furman
Criswell Chevrolet~
301 212 4420 desk direct~
Gaithersburg, MD
"I ship Nationwide and have done so for a long time!
Last edited by Mike Furman@Criswell; 07-26-2013 at 06:00 PM.
07-26-2013, 08:04 AM
#11
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Mike: Quite an accomplishment, and one of which to be very proud. You have created many happy Corvette owners and are truly the Benchmark for your chosen profession. Not many can claim that achievement, well done! But as the saying goes "miles to go before we sleep...."
Congratulations my friend. One day I hope to actually meet you. It will be my pleasure!
By the way, we all expect a detailed report on the Spring Mountain experience.....!
Congratulations my friend. One day I hope to actually meet you. It will be my pleasure!
By the way, we all expect a detailed report on the Spring Mountain experience.....!
07-26-2013, 08:10 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
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Location: Gettysburg PA
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2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Congratulations Mike!
Must be the greatest, selling a product you have such a personal passion for. See you at Carlisle!
Must be the greatest, selling a product you have such a personal passion for. See you at Carlisle!
07-26-2013, 08:41 AM
#15
Thank you for sharing a great story Mike. Very motivating and I'll share a bit of your pain in loosing pictures and memorabilia in Hurricane Sandy; Something very similar happened to me when I lost all my army/action pictures in a warehouse fire during a reassignment.
But you are right, From what I can remember...the memories and experiences are better anyway.
But you are right, From what I can remember...the memories and experiences are better anyway.
07-26-2013, 11:36 AM
#20
Melting Slicks
The fact that you recall your first sale and his name is a testament to the passion you have for your customers and the brand
Congrats
Congrats
