The Chevrolet Corvette has captured the hearts and imaginations of car enthusiasts since 1953, with its sleek body lines, high performance and the attitude of a supercar at a price point still accessible to many. Often cited as “America’s sports car,” the legendary Corvette nameplate has continued through eight generations — with the exception of 1983, when only 43 prototypes were made but never sold and later destroyed.
Over time, the Corvette began to develop a reputation as “an old man’s car.” Chevrolet’s own data showed that 46% of new Corvette buyers were over the age of 55. The fabled car had lost its supercar status and youthful appeal.
That reputation changed in 2020, when Chevrolet unleashed the eighth-generation Corvette — the first production Corvette to feature a rear-mid engine. The redesigned model caught the eye of younger buyers and those who might otherwise look to Italian brands for supercar performance.
Cheryl Brown, a New Jersey native, has lived most of her life in the Garden State. A self-described “car girl,” she proudly recalls an impressive list of rides she’s owned over the years — a 1969 Nova, a 1976 Camaro, a 2006 Ford Mustang, a lifted 1993 Jeep Wrangler, a 1959 Chevy Apache and three Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles. But through all those cars, one dream vehicle always remained on her mind: the Chevrolet Corvette.
As retirement neared, Brown and her husband began to consider where they wanted to spend the next chapter of their lives. The answer was clear — they wanted to settle in Franklin. Her husband had friends in Johnson County, and during visits they fell in love with the town, its friendly community and its lack of traffic jams.
After getting settled, that dream of owning a Corvette still lingered. So, the couple began the search for “the one.” She had fallen in love with the design of the new C8 Corvette and eventually found her match: a 2023 Corvette C8 Z51. A white model with sleek black racing stripes, the car’s exotic styling and visible rear-mid engine — delivering 495 horsepower — sealed the deal.
“I had to get the coupe instead of the hardtop convertible because I love seeing that engine under the back glass,” Brown said. She’s added her own personal touches to the vehicle, including side skirts, rear flares, a red engine cover and screens in the front grilles.
This Corvette is no garage queen. Brown drives it daily, every month of the year — though she does park it for rain and snow. “Cheryl keeps her car immaculate,” her husband said with pride.
Brown’s passion for vehicles extends to motorcycles as well. She brought one special bike with her from New Jersey: a 1982 Harley-Davidson Sturgis FXB. This limited-edition model marked the 50th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and was the first Harley to feature a dual drive belt system — a departure from the traditional chain drive.
Brown purchased the Harley in 2000 when it had 7,500 miles on the odometer. Over the past 25 years, she has added 22,500 more, with her brother completing a full restoration of the bike. In two decades, she has taken it on trips to Laconia, New Hampshire; Lake George, New York; and Myrtle Beach.
“I have been riding since I was 17 years old,” Brown said proudly. On warm summer days, she and her husband can often be seen cruising off with friends on new adventures. Whether she’s on two wheels or behind the wheel of her Corvette, Brown enjoys life on the open road.
While she hasn’t participated in many local car shows yet, she hopes to attend more this year. She has shown her car at the Franklin Cruisers Cruise-In at Tractor Supply and loves driving her dream car around town. Just as owning that shiny Corvette was once a dream, so was living in Franklin. While others might look to Florida or California for retirement, Brown believes Franklin is the perfect place to enjoy life’s next chapter.
It’s hard to argue with her taste in cars, bikes or hometown. Until next time, keep cruising.
