OWNER: Tom Messina
HOMETOWN: Fenton, MO
YEAR: 1966
MAKE/MODEL: C2 Corvette Stingray
ENGINE: 427 Big Block Coupe
PAINT: Tuxedo Black
INTERIOR: Black Leather Interior
BEST OF SHOW AWARDS: Seven celebrity awards, one CEO Chiefs award at Mid America Motor Works in Effingham, III., and 15 other top-flight awards over the years
4TH ANNUAL CORVETTES IN PARADISE: The 2024 show held April 2024 included 128 gorgeous Corvettes from 11 states, with 23 different Corvette clubs represented.
“L•O PROFILE’s award to Tom Messina is a great story,” said Brenda Myers. “Despite the torrential rainfall and the setbacks associated with going off the road, Tom continued the journey to the Lake to show his award-winning car. The participants, our sponsors, vendors, and numerous club volunteers make our Corvettes in Paradise a top-notch event. Their commitment allows LOCC to share all show profits with local charities, which amounted to more than $30,000 in 2024,” Brenda Myers, LOTO Corvette Club President added.
Messina was a self-proclaimed Ford man growing up but was tempted by a friend to try the other side. In 1973, he fell instantly in love with this beautiful tuxedo black 1966 C2 Corvette Stingray Coupe after a test drive. He has
kept it in immaculate condition, and even though, according to Tom, who “drives it like he stole it,” he has had very few repairs to make over the years-besides regular maintenance-his most significant addition was installing a new big-block 427 high-performance NASCAR engine approximately 35 years ago.
AN AWARD-WINNING CAR:
Messina has shown this beauty virtually since he got it and has won numerous awards over the years. He attended the Magic Dragon show for many years but entered his 1966 C2 in the Lake Ozark Corvette Club (LOCC) Corvettes in Paradise show for the first time in 2024. Even though he was run off the road by a reckless semi-truck on the way to the show (Tom did a couple of 360-degree spins in rainy conditions before careening into a ditch, he and the car were miraculously unharmed.
Messina was rewarded for his perseverance by taking home the 2024 L•O PROFILE Distinguished Commitment and Character Award at the Corvettes in Paradise show and claiming second in class, in addition to the Celebrity Choice Favorite Car Award.
“The PROFILE trophy is awarded to a participant who displays not only a beautiful corvette but, more importantly, a commitment to the camaraderie of the competition and the values of good character in all facets of his or her life,” describes L•O PROFILE Publisher Missy Pinkel. “Whether it be overcoming challenges or seeking goodwill toward others, Tom was a wonderful choice for last year’s award,” she added.
After the accident, winning the PROFILE Award made it all worthwhile, according to Messina. “My guardian angel was definitely watching over me and winning such a prestigious award made my whole weekend,” he said.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The engine is a 427 NASCAR-built model with an aluminum midrise 
manifold, aluminum heads, roller rockers, ceramic-coated headers, and a 750 dual-pumper Holley carburetor that pushes out 500 HP! A machine like that is meant to be driven, and that’s exactly what Tom does. “It’s definitely not a trailer queen,” he jokes.