Body Off Built Corvette Sting Ray Roadster Pro Touring EFI Stroker L3 5 Speed AC

SUMMARY

When it comes to current automotive trends, nothing's hotter than the pro-touring movement. Pro-touring's blend of vintage style and modern performance creates an undeniable appeal that's literally changed the face of the marketplace. When that appeal is applied to a midyear Corvette, a car that's amassed a huge following, the end result is something enthusiasts will virtually line up to buy. And, in fact, the demand for those cars is so strong that some builds are claiming prices well beyond their OEM-restored siblings. Sporting an awesome combination of old school swagger and thoroughly modern underpinnings, this sweet Sting Ray follows the pro-touring formula perfectly. As the beneficiary of a thorough, ground-up restoration, the car has been completely reworked to include a full tube chassis, a hot Generation IV small block, a tough Tremec 5-speed and a custom, performance-oriented suspension. If you want a classic that utilizes the best of 21st century technology to create an unforgettable driving experience, take a number and check out this killer Vette!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Sealed in rich black 2-stage, this slick C2 is the beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration that's been sorted through roughly 150 miles of road time. In addition to near-perfect alignment, the car's body features show worthy aesthetics that are the direct result of new trim, new emblems and fresh chrome bumpers. Those striking details have been carefully married to a collection of surfaces that is much nicer than anything that rolled out of the factory. And the result is a seriously sinister roadster that presents as one of the coolest classics in our 250 car showroom!

When you think of Corvettes, "classy" usually isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It's not that America's sports car lacks class. It simply floods the mind with far more appealing descriptors like fast, free and lust-worthy. After all, this C2 was built to lap tracks, not float through a stuffy regimen of tea times. At the front of the car, bullet-style marker lights, a mirrored bumper and a patriotic cross-flag emblem cage a fresh stainless grille. At the sides of that grille, traditional door handles and factory heat extractors float amid monochromatic rocker guards, bright "FUEL INJECTION" emblems and a chrome bowtie mirror. That mirror reflects clean glass, which is sealed between polished frames, polished wipers and a black canvas top. Behind that top, an ornate fuel filler is centered between a power antenna and a red-detailed Sting Ray emblem. And beneath that emblem, chrome-trimmed tail lamps illuminate mirrored bumpers, a chrome tag bracket and polished stainless exhaust tips.

ENGINE

Gaze upon this Chevy's professionally finished engine bay and you'll find 417 cubic inches of small block fury! A professionally built LS3 stroker motor that was sourced from SMC Performance of Auburn Hills, Michigan, that raucous mill sends 430 horsepower and 441 lb./ft. of torque directly to the car's rear wheels. Up top, a polished Spectre air tube funnels wind through a GM throttle body to a 102mm F.A.S.T. LSXR intake. That air marries fuel in rectangular-port L92-style heads, which hide 2.165 intake and 1.590 exhaust valves under Corvette-branded fuel rail covers. A forged crank, forged connecting rods and forged pistons compress that volatile union. A proven Comp cam maximizes intake efficiency through better breathing. Speaking of breathing, the smooth mill funnels spent gases through ceramic-coated shorty headers. There's a DeWitt's high-flow radiator that's fitted with dual SPAL puller fans. Modern serpentine components spin a fresh alternator opposite a coated AC compressor. Quality Taylor plug wires join a fresh Optima battery, a polished CPP master cylinder and a requisite Harrison expansion tank to detail otherwise purpose-built performance. And, aesthetically, the monochromatic engine bay is a literal embodiment of spotless presentation.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

As our regular readers know, this is the paragraph that separates the pristine pro-tourers from the well-done resto-mods. And this Sting Ray's thoroughly updated underpinnings leave no doubt as to its affiliation with the former. A custom tube frame, supplied by the pros at SRIII Motorsports, proved a perfect foundation for the car's inspired resurrection. Behind the LS3, an LS7 hydraulic clutch kicks a fresh Tremec TKO600 5-speed. That proven gearbox twists a tough Dana 44 differential around big, 3.55 gears. That curve-carving chassis rides a custom suspension that's supplemented with beefy sway bars, Vette Brake Products strut rods and adjustable QA-1 coil-overs. That suspension is steadied by power rack-and-pinion steering. Hydratech-assisted stops are provided by bright red calipers, which clamp drilled and slotted rotors. Spent gases traverse polished stainless tubes, which center a Pypes crossover in front of polished Magnaflow mufflers. Torque meets the pavement via third generation Grand Sport-style alloys and 235/45ZR18 BF Goodrich g-Force Sports. And the car's clean, Satin Black floors frame high quality ancillaries like stainless hardware, stainless fluid lines and a Rock Valley stainless fuel tank.

INTERIOR

Between the doors you'll find a vivid red interior that, when keeping the fourth generation Corvette in mind, plays well with this roadster's Grand Sport-style wheels. Tight leather seats feel firm to the touch, showing virtually no signs of wear. In front of those seats, a 2-tone dash hides a modern Kenwood CD player behind Vintage Air climate control, a correct Delco radio and Dakota Digital VHX telemetry. Under that dash, a small console centers a booted shifter on color-keyed carpet. Opposite that console, good-looking door panels front power-operated windows. In front of the driver, a color-keyed, leather-wrapped steering wheel laps a tilting column. And behind the passengers, a clean cargo hold features enough room for a weekend getaway.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

Logging roughly 150 miles since the completion of its build, this Corvette is ready to be driven, shown and enjoyed in any way its new owner sees fit. With its stout, fuel-injected small block, modern Tremec transmission, impressive chassis and healthy list of modern amenities, the car is right at home participating in AACA Auto X OR occupying the front row of a car show. If you've been eyeing the pro-touring movement patiently waiting for the right classic, anticipate no longer!