If the roads are not icy or snowy in Casper, there is a good chance that Larry Kloster will be behind the wheel of one of his Corvettes with a special passenger along for the ride.
Kloster collects all things Corvette, including the cars themselves, and believes that the best way to enjoy what's grown into a museum-quality collection is by sharing it.
“I take our hospice patients for rides, which is the coolest part,” Kloster said. “My collection is a tool to connect people."
Kloster has been on the board of directors of Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions for seven years, and as a volunteer, he visits with patients. Whenever possible, Kloster will take them for a spin in one of the Corvettes he has been collecting for more than 30 years.
It's a thrill for the hospice patients to experience the power and handling of the high-performance cars, and another good excuse for Kloster to get behind the wheel and open up the throttle.
Corvette Enthusiast
Kloster said that his introduction to Corvette was in 1959 when General Motors created a Corvette gas-powered go-kart. His dad was the general manager for Ben’s Supermarket in Billings, Montana, when his store bought the mini-Corvette for a raffle.
“I got a chance to drive that Corvette before they gave it away,” Kloster said. “I was 7 years old when I got bit by the Corvette bug.”
It would be another 34 years before Kloster was able to get his own Corvette. In 1993, he and his wife bought a 1975 red Stingray coupe.
“It was built during the gas crunch, and it was the lowest horsepower Corvette General Motors ever created,” Kloster said.
Although this first Corvette wasn’t very reliable, that did not deter Kloster.
He sold it within a year and began looking for another.
Kloster said the Corvette is the only true sports car manufactured in the United States. When describing his passion for the sports car, he said it's about the styling and how it makes him feel as he drives it.
“You can't appreciate it unless you're sitting behind the wheel driving,” Kloster said. “It's amazing.”
Larry Kloster of Casper first fell in love with Corvettes when he was 7 years old and started collecting the cars more than 30 years ago. Over the years, he has sold and bought seven Corvettes and his collection now has a 2025 Stingray, 2018 Grand Sport Corvette Grand Sport, 2008 Corvette pace car and a 1955 window Chevy pickup with a Corvette engine. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper first fell in love with Corvettes when he was 7 years old and started collecting the cars more than 30 years ago. Over the years, he has sold and bought seven Corvettes and his collection now has a 2025 Stingray, 2018 Grand Sport Corvette Grand Sport, 2008 Corvette pace car and a 1955 window Chevy pickup with a Corvette engine. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper, Wyoming, built a simple metal shed to house his growing Corvette collection. The garage has since grown into a museum-quality collection and a popular event space. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper, Wyoming, built a simple metal shed to house his growing Corvette collection. The garage has since grown into a museum-quality collection and a popular event space. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s collection began with a Corvette more than 30 years ago and has grown to include more than 1,000 Hot Wheels and a variety of other car-related items. When his son started working for Sinclair 18 years ago, Kloster began collecting unique Sinclair items to add to his museum-quality collection. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s collection began with a Corvette more than 30 years ago and has grown to include more than 1,000 Hot Wheels and a variety of other car-related items. When his son started working for Sinclair 18 years ago, Kloster began collecting unique Sinclair items to add to his museum-quality collection. (Courtesy Larry Kloster)
The Corvettes
Over the years, Kloster has bought and sold several vintages of Corvettes, and said that each one has been a great car to drive from coast to coast.
“We love cruising them. They are fast,” Kloster said. “The newest Corvette that we have is the 2025, and it'll go 195 mph.”
He was quick to point out that he doesn’t drive it that fast, but enjoys the response time as far as how the Corvette handles speed.
As a Corvette owner, he also likes how in the new mid-engine Corvette, the engine sits right behind the driver and passenger.
“It is just an amazing car,” Kloster said. “You are limited to how much luggage you can haul, but you have a front trunk and a rear trunk, so you have plenty of space. We've traveled to Branson with our 2025 and it was no problem at all.”
Over the years, Kloster has owned seven Corvettes and now owns a 2025 Stingray, 2018 Corvette Grand Sport, and 2008 convertible Corvette pace car.
He has shown his Corvettes in local car shows and has often allowed people to sit in them and take pictures.
"It warms our hearts to witness their joy,” Kloster said about the reaction people have to the cars.
As a Navy veteran, Kloster displays the American flag on his vehicles, and this once attracted the attention of a wheelchair-bound fellow veteran.
His grandson had coaxed his grandfather to go to a car show, and when the older man saw the 1958 Vette, he was overcome with emotion — especially when Kloster invited him to sit in the car.
"We learned later that he had been very despondent living out his last weeks in the Veterans hospital and his grandson coaxed him to go to the car show on Main Street to lift his spirits,” Kloster said. "The grandson said that his grandfather’s moment in that car was a huge highlight for him and their whole family.”
Larry Kloster and his wife are originally from Powell and made sure to incorporate their school colors into the decor of their ultimate garage. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster and his wife are originally from Powell and made sure to incorporate their school colors into the decor of their ultimate garage. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s collection began with a Corvette more than 30 years ago and has grown to include more than 1,000 Hot Wheels and a variety of other car-related items. When his son started working for Sinclair 18 years ago, Kloster began collecting unique Sinclair items to add to his museum-quality collection. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s collection began with a Corvette more than 30 years ago and has grown to include more than 1,000 Hot Wheels and a variety of other car-related items. When his son started working for Sinclair 18 years ago, Kloster began collecting unique Sinclair items to add to his museum-quality collection. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s collection began with a Corvette more than 30 years ago and has grown to include more than 1,000 Hot Wheels and a variety of other car-related items. When his son started working for Sinclair 18 years ago, Kloster began collecting unique Sinclair items to add to his museum-quality collection. (Courtesy Larry Kloster)
Not A Corvette, But Still Loved
Growing up, Kloster's dad drove what Kloster viewed as an ugly 1950 five-window Chevy pickup.
"Back then, I was almost embarrassed to claim it with its multi-colored fenders, hood and tailgate,” Kloster said. "It was the vehicle I used to learn to drive a standard shift transmission, but not the one I ever wanted to drag Main Street with my girlfriend.”
The truck was totaled when a drunk driver slammed into it one New Year’s Eve. Kloster’s dad was devastated.
“As I reminisced the memories of my dad and that old 1950 pickup, I started looking into acquiring one myself to change up the collection in my shop,” Kloster said. "I have learned that one does not have to mention a dream to very many people before it becomes reality.”
A friend located a 1950 five-window Chevy truck, fully restored in Kloster's favorite color — red.
"I fell in love with the pickup truck and sold the 1978 Corvette to acquire it,” Kloster said.
There's also another car that is not part of the Corvette collection, but is close to his heart as a graduate of Powell.
“We have a 1970 Chevelle Super Sport which are our school colors, orange and black,” Kloster said. “And it is the same year that I graduated from high school.”
Not all the Corvettes in Larry Kloster’s collection are drivable. He has added more than 1,000 Hot Wheels plus a pinball machine to his decor. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster’s garage features his large collection of Corvette memorabilia, the Corvettes themselves and a variety of other collectible items. He opens his doors to various events throughout the year to share his collection and meeting area with others. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Not all the Corvettes in Larry Kloster’s collection are drivable. He has added more than 1,000 Hot Wheels plus a pinball machine to his decor. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper is passionate for all things Corvette and believes that the cars are made for driving, not just for admiring. He has taken his cars on cross-country trips and will take hospice patients and others for a spin. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper collects Corvette’s of all sizes — from the real deal to Hot Wheels. He opens his garage to host events throughout the year and loves to take hospice patients for a spin in one of his three Corvettes. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper collects Corvette’s of all sizes — from the real deal to Hot Wheels. He opens his garage to host events throughout the year and loves to take hospice patients for a spin in one of his three Corvettes. (Courtesy Larry Kloster) 
Larry Kloster of Casper collects Corvette’s of all sizes — from the real deal to Hot Wheels. He opens his garage to host events throughout the year and loves to take hospice patients for a spin in one of his three Corvettes. (Courtesy Larry Kloster)
The Ultimate Collection
Kloster started collecting Corvette- and car-related memorabilia more than two decades ago and his collection quickly outgrew their house.
When he and his wife downsized their home, he built a 40-by-80-foot steel building to house his cars and collection.
“When it was first built, there was nothing in it except for the vehicles,” Kloster said. “Now it's absolutely wall to wall stuff.”
Corvette is the main theme, including more than 1,000 Corvette Hot Wheels displayed on the walls.
A 1994 Corvette pinball machine is a favorite feature, as is his wife’s drill uniform from high school. He also has reserved space to honor veterans. Kloster set up a missing man table to remember those who never came home from war.
When his son started working for Sinclair, Kloster began collecting items from the oil company and hit the jackpot after a visit to Worland.
“Randy Nissen invited our Corvette club to Worland to see his collection of gas pumps,” Kloster said. "I told him my son works for Sinclair, and I'd like to have him make me a Sinclair gas pump, which he did.”
Kloster also has an operating manual for Little America Refining Co., the predecessor to Sinclair, and other rare items related to his son’s job.
Tables and chairs are strategically placed around the collection for hosting events.
“Each year we usually have a bingo night and a movie night,” Kloster said. “We host a Hot Wheels car show and have had two funeral receptions here where we've seated over 70 people.”
Kloster said that his steel building is not just for his museum quality collection but is a space to share with his community.
“It's just a place to come and sit and enjoy,:” Kloster said.
Jackie Dorothy can be reached at jackie@cowboystatedaily.com.
