In 1987 we began restoration of a 1966 427/425 Laguna Blue Corvette convertible. The car was originally purchased by a good friend of ours in 1967 and we had owned it since 1985. We had great difficulty finding chassis restoration products to do a "State of the Art" restoration on our car. We began sourcing these products and in 1988 and founded a small family business "Quanta Restoration & Preservation Products" to sell the products mail order to other enthusiasts. In the early 1990s we licensed and began selling Corvette gas tanks made by the original manufacturer, the O.L. Anderson Company. After several years O.L. Anderson abruptly closed. We were fortunate enough to license the O.L. Anderson logo trademark and eventually obtained ownership of the trademark. We subsequently worked with Spectra Premium industries providing them sample tanks and specifying the necessary features of their Corvette tank models. Through this business collaboration with Spectra Premium Industries we were able continue exclusive production of Corvette gas tanks with the O.L. Anderson logo and have been doing so for over 25 years. This collaboration gave us access to a growing line of reproduction gas tanks, all makes and models. In the early days of online selling through the internet, we acquired the url "GasTanks.com" where we sell fuel systems and related products. We also shortened our business name to "Quanta Products".
In the 1990s, we began licensing fan belts as "GM Restoration" parts, and later Mopar fan belts as "Mopar Authentic Restoration Products". In 1991 Kelly left her beloved Dental Hygiene position as we began a family. Kelly worked in our business and God blessed us with two children. Gary worked part time in the business and full-time as a chemical engineer for DuPont. Our customers often saw our family selling parts at Bloomington Gold, NCRS Florida Chapter, and Carlisle swap meets.
With the help of good friend and master Corvette body and paint professional D.W. Mikell, and our good friend Bill Skinner, we were able to complete the restoration of our 1966 Laguna Blue Corvette and earn the NCRS Duntov Award at Novi, Michigan in 2011. We were honored to receive the award from Tadge Juechter, who presented the awards at the NCRS National Convention Novi meet.
Today our daughter is a mechanical engineer for a Fortune 500 company and our son is a client director in the digital sales arena. Our daughter races a C5 Corvette. Gary recently retired from teaching & advising and is an emeritus professor of practice in chemical engineering at Virginia Tech. Kelly and Gary continue to work in the business with our loyal 20-year employee, Tammy. Today our business is an internet based wholesale and retail supplier of parts supplying all of the major automotive restoration parts suppliers and many restoration shops. We appreciate your business and the many friendships developed over the years.
Tanks for the Memories! Many more memories to be made...
Gary & Kelly Whiting
