Fan Friday: Steve Freidell’s 2001 Speedway White C5 Corvette “EZRYDER”

This week’s CorvetteStoreOnline.com Fan Friday highlights a Corvette that’s built for thrills, courtesy of Steve Freidell!

For Steve, Corvette passion started young. He knew exactly what he wanted: a white Corvette with a red interior, a black convertible top, and a manual transmission. Life and family came first, and the dream waited. But in August 2024, at the age of 72, Steve finally found the one — a pristine 2001 C5 Convertible that checked every box.

This Corvette, named “EZRYDER,” is far more than a bucket-list purchase. It’s a rare find backed by data: in 2001, Chevrolet built 1,047 base Corvettes with the standard LS1 engine. Of those, only 14 were Speedway White convertibles with red interior, black top, and a 6-speed manual. When factoring in factory side molding, Steve’s car is one of just 8 built that year in this exact configuration.

The car’s history adds to its uniqueness. Originally sold to Ken and Judy in 2001, it was lovingly preserved, accumulating just over 20,000 miles before passing into Steve’s hands. With its original tires still intact, this Corvette is as close to showroom condition as one could hope to find more than two decades later. Steve has made only light updates — new headlights, tail lights, and bulbs — while keeping the car otherwise original, even preserving the factory red carpeting (the last year GM offered red carpet in any vehicle).

For Steve and his wife Debby, EZRYDER is more than just a car — it’s the realization of a lifelong dream, a connection to Corvette heritage, and a machine they now proudly drive and care for until the next custodian takes over.

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