Spotted: A Corvette in a handicapped spot?

The ZO6 is the fastest, most brutal Corvette ever made. It has served as the official pace car for both the Indy and Daytona 500 races, and it can hit 100 km/h in less than four seconds. So I was a little surprised to see this one parked in a handicapped spot down in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It can’t be easy to fit a cane or a wheelchair in that race-oriented cockpit.

Moments after spotting the black ZO6 in the handicapped spot, I came across this one, parked in front of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. And yes, it had a handicapped permit. The Corvette demographic could be getting older.

This is the C7 Corvette I drove down to Bowling Green this week for a coming story on the life and times of America’s sports car. I’m still down south, going to Corvette hangouts and testing the C7 on on some of my favourite roads. It’s quite a machine.

You may have heard about the sinkhole that opened up at the National Corvette Museum last February, swallowing up eight legendary Corvettes. I snapped a picture of the hole this week while I toured the museum. (The sinkhole and its unexpected consequences are the subject of my next Red Line column.)

There has never been a better-looking Corvette than the 1963 Stingray, and turning it into a race car only makes it cooler. I spotted this 1963 race replica at the National Corvette Museum. It was built by a Corvette buff who worked for a medical supply company. Unique touches include door handles made from chrome cobalt hip-joint replacements. (Wonder if that qualifies for a handicapped parking permit?)

I spotted this vintage Chevrolet Impala convertible on the interstate near Nashville, Tenn. Cool car, but I’d say the front and rear suspension ride heights need to be revisited.

I spotted this hearse and funeral home limo loaded onto a transporter flatbed in Kentucky. I wondered what was going on: Were they both going to a junkyard? Had they been sold to another funeral home? Or were they just taking a road trip?

I spotted this funky old Ford pickup in Ohio. I’ve always liked the style of post-war, step-side American trucks. The contrasting grille bars on this Ford add a distinctive visual element (though it looks like it could use a flossing).

For $150, you can buy a set of stylized plastic overlays for your Ram pickup’s taillights. They will reduce the visibility of your brake lights and turn signals by about 50 per cent. But never mind boring details like function and safety – looking good has always come at a price.

A small number of U.S. states have made marijuana legal for residents who meet the requirements for a medical marijuana license. With the license, you can legally buy marijuana, or grow your own supply. I’m not a marijuana buff, but if I were, I might call the number on this sign, which I spotted at an off-ramp south of Detroit.

A brown Nissan Altima of indeterminate age has to be one of the dullest cars you can drive. This driver wisely spiced his up with an array of decals that add visual interest. I spotted his Altima in northern Kentucky.

As you probably know, stick-figure families have become a rear-window automotive cliche. I spotted this Christian-themed Honda minivan on Interstate 75.

The 1933 Ford Coupe has served as the basis for an untold number of hot rods. The Ford’s shape embodies the spirit of prewar America, and lends itself to customization. With a welding torch, a toolbox and some imagination, you can turn a ’33 into almost anything you want. I spotted this one near Trenton, Georgia.