Our Story

How Kim's Gold Dust Got Started?

The seed for KIM’S GOLD DUST was planted back in June 1980 with my purchase of a 1960 Honduras Maroon Corvette. It was to be a “driver and fun” car. All it needed was a good paint job to be road worthy. My mom and I looked at each other and knew we were both thinking the same thing! We got to have that car. The next day we trailered the car home. We named it “Baby Jaws”. The grill and side cove spears reminded us of a shark.
A few changes were made to the car. Some of those changes included a 350 cubic inch engine, a stereo system and four-speed transmission. Fortunately, the previous owner kept all the original parts hoping to someday restore the car back to original.
After three weeks the doors, hood, trunk lid and body were removed from the chassis. We spent that winter removing layers and layers of paint from all the parts and body which sat on hay bales in the garage. After spending that winter removing layers and layers of paint and seeing how many original parts we had, we decided to take on the job of restoring the car.

The search for parts and correctness was on! After reading manuals and researching parts, my mom and I attended several Corvette swap meets and shows. At that time, there were few original parts to be found or used parts that were in restorable condition. Reproduction parts were just in their infancy. Those first reproduction parts were not of high quality or exact authenticity. Much of our time was spent walking around rummaging through boxes and searching on tables and tarps for just the right part. We met many friendly avid Corvette people who were willing to share their experiences and knowledge to help us along. 

My mom and I did about 60% of the restoration ourselves, leaving the outside body work, paint, chrome and soft-top installation to the professionals. Most of our time in this part of the project was spent on chrome and paint. Tragically, the car went through two fires. The body shop caught fire after putting on three coats of Honduras Maroon paint. Not long after, all the chrome parts were hauled out of a chrome shop fire. Luckily, all survived and only a couple of chrome parts were beyond re-plating. Plus, the spare tire wheel came up missing. See restoration photos below.

The Awards and Rewards

After eight hard years of work, “Baby Jaws” was ready for its debut. To our amazement and pleasure at its first show, it won the gold at Bloomington in June 1988. The car has won many awards. Some of those awards are the NCRS Duntov, NCRS Ladies Choice Award, AACA Senior Grand National, several preservation awards and Best of Show at Corvettes at Carlisle in 1989. Also, at Corvettes at Carlisle, it was selected for the 1999 Chip’s Choice Display, the 2002 Evolution Display, the NCRS Gallery in 2005 and the 1960 Reunion in 2010.

To reward myself for achievements at select shows, I would purchase a piece of Corvette jewelry from the Henry Paul booth. What’s closer to a woman’s heart?! Henry was an avid Corvette lover and the original Corvette jewelry maker. I loved the quality and amount of detail he put into his pieces. Over the years we became well acquainted. I have all the jewelry I purchased from Henry years ago.

In 2003, I was downsized from the company I worked for. I decided it was time to take a risk and combine my hobby and my love for Corvette jewelry. So, KIM’S GOLD DUST started as a distributor for Henry Paul’s jewelry. After a trip to Chicago to pick up inventory, my business, KIM’S GOLD DUST, was well on its way. The first show I attended was in June 2003 at the Corvette 50th Celebration at the National Corvette Museum. What a life changing experience that was for me.

KIM’S GOLD DUST is proud to celebrate our 26th Anniversary this year. Our team consists of Kim, her mom Jane, and dear friends Toni and Carolyn, who travel across the USA to attend shows and meet fellow Corvette enthusiasts. From North and South Carolina to Colorado and beyond, we bring our passion for Corvettes wherever we go. Our top show is Corvettes at Carlisle in Pennsylvania.  Carlisle is where we spent most of our time finding those hard to find parts to restore “Baby Jaws”. 

My love for the Corvette continued to grow. I purchased a 2019 Grand Sport Corvette convertible. The color is Elkhart Lake Blue. It has a blue convertible top, black interior, polished wheels and red brake calipers. We named it “Blue Jewel”. Love driving it.

Kim and the GOLD DUST Team (Jane, Toni and Carolyn)

A vintage red convertible with a white top is parked on green grass.
Red vintage convertible sports car without a hood parked on a driveway,
Vintage red convertible car missing a front bumper, parked on a gravel driveway
A disassembled red vintage car shell rests on hay bales in a dimly lit garage. The missing parts give a sense of neglect and nostalgia.
A rusted, disassembled car frame is set on the floor of a garage. A vintage Jeep with a distinctive zigzag stripe is parked beside it.
Two people work intently on a red engine in a cluttered garage. The "No Smoking" sign and various tools highlight a focused, collaborative atmosphere.
A vintage car interior without seats, exposing a retro dashboard with a central control panel and visible wiring, conveying a sense of nostalgia.
2023060708
A weathered red sports car with missing parts is parked on a concrete surface outside a large open garage. The scene conveys a vintage, restoration atmosphere.
A red car in a garage, partially covered with plastic sheeting, is on jack stands. Two people converse nearby, amidst workshop tools and vehicles.
A dusty red vintage car with a white side detail is parked in a dimly lit garage. The setting has an industrial feel, with tools and equipment visible.
A vintage red and white convertible car parked in a garage. The car's chrome grille and round headlights stand out. A person is visible in the background.
Man working in dimly lit garage, standing beside unfinished fiberglass car. Tools and automotive parts scattered around, conveying a focused, industrious mood.
A classic red and white convertible car with a white roof, parked outside an auto garage. The street is lined with parked cars. The scene feels vintage and nostalgic.
A classic red convertible sports car with white accents on lush grass, set against a backdrop of trees and a blue sky with fluffy clouds, exuding nostalgia.
A vintage red convertible with a white top is parked on green grass. Red vintage convertible sports car without a hood parked on a driveway, Vintage red convertible car missing a front bumper, parked on a gravel driveway A disassembled red vintage car shell rests on hay bales in a dimly lit garage. The missing parts give a sense of neglect and nostalgia. A rusted, disassembled car frame is set on the floor of a garage. A vintage Jeep with a distinctive zigzag stripe is parked beside it. Two people work intently on a red engine in a cluttered garage. The "No Smoking" sign and various tools highlight a focused, collaborative atmosphere. A vintage car interior without seats, exposing a retro dashboard with a central control panel and visible wiring, conveying a sense of nostalgia. 2023060708 A weathered red sports car with missing parts is parked on a concrete surface outside a large open garage. The scene conveys a vintage, restoration atmosphere. A red car in a garage, partially covered with plastic sheeting, is on jack stands. Two people converse nearby, amidst workshop tools and vehicles. A dusty red vintage car with a white side detail is parked in a dimly lit garage. The setting has an industrial feel, with tools and equipment visible. A vintage red and white convertible car parked in a garage. The car's chrome grille and round headlights stand out. A person is visible in the background. Man working in dimly lit garage, standing beside unfinished fiberglass car. Tools and automotive parts scattered around, conveying a focused, industrious mood. A classic red and white convertible car with a white roof, parked outside an auto garage. The street is lined with parked cars. The scene feels vintage and nostalgic. A classic red convertible sports car with white accents on lush grass, set against a backdrop of trees and a blue sky with fluffy clouds, exuding nostalgia.
Cars have always been a huge part of Kim’s life. Jewelry is a reflection of her passion.