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THE PHANTOMFast cars were an instant hit, a way to go for youngsters in the 1950s and early 1960s. It was the era of hotrods, roadsters, Corvettes, and T-Birds, before the pollution-control devices and expensive fuel came along in the late ’60s to spoil everybody’s fun.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — SEPTEMBER, 1962MECHANIC JIMMIE WHITMAN FELT LIKE A KING the day he drove his brand new, candle-apple-red 1962 Chevy Corvette with the removable hardtop roof off the car lot. He had arrived. A Corvette. He had paid for a quarter of it up front, the rest on a bank loan. Why not treat himself? He had a good job with a Chevy dealership in town. Besides, he got a deal on it.
The first place he drove his shiny sports car — top off — was to his friend’s house in the east end. Bud Palmer was puttering around
