Magazine Featured Corvette Roadster Pro Touring LS7 V8 505 HP 6 Speed

SUMMARY

2016 was an amazing year for resto-mod Corvettes at RK Motors Charlotte. If you've checked in recently, there's no doubt you're already familiar with our last all-out C1 It's the kind of car that reminds us of this classic platform's incredible potential. With that in mind, if you've started envisioning a similar build, we can save you a whole lot of time and money. This amazing roadster, created by the talented crew at Asheville, North Carolina's The Winning Collection, features a similar spec sheet, including a custom chassis, beastly Z06 power and an elegant leather interior. Looking for a relentless performer that stays true to its roots? Your chariot awaits!

BODYWORK/TRIM

By 1959, Chevrolet was six years in to the first generation of Corvette. While the car's basic profile remained, modernization was well underway. Incremental changes were beginning to carve the Vette in to a much cleaner car: aesthetics that were heavily augmented by this '59's slow and calculated restoration. That build began with thorough reinforcement of the car's trunk, wheel houses and transmission tunnel, which jived perfectly with a new, steel-plated floor. After letting those resins cure for 75 days, a coat of primer was applied and the paint process finally began. Now, it's rare to say a gray car glows. But, the coat of Spies Hecker Flint Gray Metallic that graces the lines of this roadster is one of the deepest, richest grays we've come across. And, when accented with classic white coves, the aura becomes quintessential Corvette.

When this Vette rolled out of the assembly plant, chrome was still the ornamentation of choice. And, in a classic state-of-mind, the team at TWC made sure every piece of original-style brightwork made it back onto the car. Up front, a gleaming grille plants polished bumpers beneath chrome-trimmed headlights and an ornate header emblem. Behind that header, black cloth caps fresh, stainless-trimmed glass, which founds a polished mirror behind polished wipers. Beneath those wipers, stainless-trimmed coves balance familiar cross-flag emblems in front of traditional door handles. And out back, polished bumpers reflect a lighted roundel that's color-keyed to athletic taillights.

ENGINE

With so many hours invested in the appearance of this Vette, throwing a chrome dress-up kit on an old 283 simply wasn't an option. Hoist the car's sculpted hood and you'll find $16,503 worth of Corvette V8 that was sourced directly from Chevrolet Performance. Twisting 505 SAE-certified horsepower into 470 lb./ft. of torque, the lightweight LS7 rumbling between the car's fenders is a 21st century testament to the bowtie division's enduring small block. Founded in GM's very successful C6 racing program, the brutal mill utilizes a forged crank, titanium rods and hypereutectic pistons to flat out whip pretty much anything with four wheels. At the front of the block, polished air tubes funnel a perfect amount of oxygen between front-mount filter elements and a GM-supplied throttle body. That wind mixes with fuel in a color-keyed intake, on its way to CNC-ported cylinder heads that are finished with lightweight titanium valves. Those valves get bumped by a GM hydraulic roller cam that, thanks to quality MSD plug wires, helps create stout 11 to 1 compression. Immediately following combustion, spent gases roar through rowdy long-tube headers. Charge comes courtesy of a polished alternator that, like the car's polished AC compressor and direct-fit steering pump, spins a March accessory drive. A polished aluminum radiator centers chrome puller fans between a polished cap and polished water tubes. Friction is kept to a minimum thanks to wet-sump lubrication. And items like braided fluid lines, carbon fiber valve covers, a Wilwood master cylinder and an Elite Engineering catch can join a "Z06" branded cowl to enhance the car's glossy, color-keyed engine bay.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

Beneath the car, the craftsmanship is extended to an impressively engineered and incredibly detailed undercarriage. Behind that mighty LS7, a Tremec T56 6-speed, built by the fine folks at RPM Transmissions, twists power to a fully rebuilt Dana 36 differential that's finished with 3.73 gears. That drivetrain rides a Jamison's tube-frame chassis, which rolls on a fourth-generation Corvette suspension that's augmented with Heim joints and adjustable QA-1 coil-overs. Steering is simple, thanks to a power rack-and-pinion unit. Everything gets reined in by Wilwood 4 and 6-piston calipers, which clench drilled and slotted rotors. A custom stainless fuel tank features internal baffles and a high-pressure Walbro pump. And at the corners, polished HREs spin 245/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports in front of 265/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports.

INTERIOR

Inside this C1, a bright red interior is classic Corvette despite a lengthy list of modern updates. Nearly everything, from the bucket seats to the classy door panels, kick panels, grab bar, parking brake handle and dashboard are wrapped in soft leather. In the driver's hands, a rosewood-rimmed steering wheel laps a polished, tilting steering column. Telemetry is a clever blend of new and old with a factory speedometer refaced to match a full array of Classic Industries upgrades. At first glance, the shifter looks like a vintage pattern, but closer inspection reveals the engravings of a 6-speed. In the center of the dash, Mini Cooper toggle switches control stuff like headlights and driving lamps. There's an Alpine head unit that sends signal to speakers that are hidden in unique places such as the convertible top storage area and the floor of the trunk. Behind the cabin, a nicely finished trunk features the same red carpet as the interior. Peel that carpet back and you'll find a thick layer of Dynamat insulation. And modern accoutrements include power windows, Vintage Air climate control and LED courtesy lighting.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

Built by an incredibly talented team using some of the best parts available, this is one of the finest resto-mods on the market. With classic looks and a power band you'll never find the end of, cruising doesn't get much better. If you're ready to bring home the best, make room in your garage for this incredible Corvette roadster.