Special Feature: 69 Years, One Owner — Bill Hatch's 1957 Corvette Is Going for a Guinness World Record

On August 12, 1957, a 25-year-old named Bill Hatch walked into Bates Chevrolet in Arcadia, California and drove home in a brand-new 1957 Corvette. He has owned that car every single day since. This August 12th, he'll have owned it for exactly 69 years — and if everything goes according to plan, he'll be a Guinness World Record holder before the afternoon is over.

Bill married his sweetheart Marylyn on June 22, 1962, and the Corvette was there for that too — it was the honeymoon car. They've been married 64 years. They moved to Carlsbad, California in 1970 and have been there ever since, the same city where they'll celebrate the record attempt this August. Some things just stay put.

The car itself is what the Corvette community calls a true survivor. It has never been stored, never been restored, and has been continuously registered in the State of California since the day it was purchased new. The original engine, drivetrain, body, and interior are all intact — along with almost all of the original component parts. That matters enormously, because the Guinness World Record for "Longest Ownership of a Vehicle from New" has a current holder: Harold Lehman of Indiana, who bought a 1956 Chevrolet 210 on August 30, 1956, and owns it to this day at 67 years and 314 days. Lehman's car was stored for 49 years before being restored. Bill's Corvette has never stopped. The North Coast Vettes Corvette Club of Carlsbad has applied to Guinness on Bill's behalf, received approval of their application on February 7, 2026, and are organizing a full record-smashing event to make it official.

The 1957 Corvette was already a landmark car before Bill ever bought one. 1957 was the first year fuel injection was ever offered on a Corvette — the Rochester Ramjet Fuel Injection system — and the first year for the optional 4-speed transmission. Chevrolet's ads boasted "one horsepower per cubic inch," a milestone that had never been achieved in American automotive history. Only 6,339 were produced that year, making each one a piece of the moment when the Corvette stopped being a stylish two-seater and became a genuine American performance car. Bill bought his in black with a red interior, and if the photos are any indication, it still looks exactly the way it should — white wall tires, chrome hubcaps, and 69 years of stories behind the wheel.

The record attempt is open to the public. The North Coast Vettes Corvette Club will host "Birthday Party for a 1957 Corvette" at The Shoppes at Carlsbad on August 12, 2026 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, in the parking lot on the west end of the shopping center. Bill and Marylyn will be there with the car, along with their family, North Coast Vettes members, the Mayor and council members of the City of Carlsbad, local Corvette clubs, and anyone from the community who wants to be part of history. There will be a DJ, speeches, photo opportunities, and a birthday cake. Admission is free. If you're anywhere near Carlsbad, California on August 12th — this is worth showing up for. 🏎️

For a Survivor Like Bill's

C1 Corvette Covercraft Form-Fit Indoor Car Cover — A car that has survived 69 years deserves the best protection available when it's not on the road. The Covercraft Form-Fit is custom-made for C1 dimensions with a soft interior that won't touch original paint or trim. → Shop C1 Car Covers

Corvette TireRests — from $39.95 — Original tires on a survivor Corvette deserve to stay that way. TireRests prevent flat spots and sidewall stress during any period the car is sitting between drives — simple, effective, and worth every penny on a car this significant. → Shop TireRests

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