Feature
AN AMERICAN
CLASSIC
Iconic sports car still tops for local Corvette owners
By Glenda Sanders , Photos by Thomas Howard
For James Cannon , the Chevrolet Corvette is an American classic , one he first dreamed of owning back in high school .
“ The first Corvette I really ever paid any attention to I was in the 11th grade , and they came out with that ’ 68 , and I loved that Shark nose car ,” he recalled of a magazine layout featuring the Vette ’ s sleek design based on a concept car called the Mako Shark .
“ It was a foldout , so I took it and put it over my bed . Mama came in the room one day , and she said , Why you got that old ugly red car up there ?’ I said , ‘ Cause Mama , I ’ m going to buy me one of those one day ,’ and she said , ‘ Where are you going to get the money to buy something like that from ?’ and I said , ‘ You will see .’”
Nine years later in 1977 , Cannon purchased his first Corvette , a blue coupe with gray interior , while he was assigned to New Orleans in the Coast Guard . He joined the New Orleans Corvette Association and began riding with the club .
A passionate Corvette enthusiast , he ’ s owned two more of the iconic sports cars since then , including his current ride , a sixth generation 2013 black 427 convertible — one of only 2,552 made — which he bought after moving to Meridian in 2005
22 • MERIDIAN LIFE