Vehicle Description
Now before all the purists get upset that someone modified a
somewhat rare 1954 Corvette, take a closer look. This one was
skillfully built from the ground up as a tribute to Zora
Arkus-Duntov's V8 test mule, the car that virtually guaranteed the
Corvette's future. The fact that it also pares the early Corvette
shape down to its bare essence only helps in the looks department
and with modern tech under the skin, it remains highly usable every
day.
Everything on this car is newly restored within the last year and
the custom body modifications closely mirror those used by Duntov
to create a legitimate 150 MPH Corvette. The early Corvette's soft,
doughy look is gone, replaced by a clean, pared-down racer look
that's quite possibly the most attractive C1 ever built. No wasted
pieces, no extraneous chrome, just straight fiberglass and that
beautiful Corvette shape that simply speaks for itself. Build
quality is very good, and the builder skillfully kept the "test
mule" vibe intact, with some extra details beautifully done. Note
the Lexan windshield that is similar to the one the mule wore most
often during development work, the single chrome rear-view mirror,
and, of course, the traditional toothy Corvette grille. The paint
has a bit more pearl in it than the original Polo White, which
gives it an updated look. Bottom line, when you show up in this
car, you're guaranteed a lot of attention.
The interior skillfully blends the modern with the vintage,
starting with the beautifully tailored bucket seats, which are more
like racing shells than the Corvette's original chairs. The
speedometer has been relocated to the center of the dash, which is
where all the auxiliary gauges lived on the original Corvette, and
they're Equus instruments that do a far better job of monitoring
the engine's status. A modern tilt column and billet wheel make it
easy to get comfortable behind the wheel and we especially like the
custom-made door panels that eschew comfort in favor of
functionality. Yes, it's probably a lot nicer than the test mule,
but given unlimited time and money, don't you think Zora might have
liked his to look this good? There's no radio, no heater, no
extraneous gear to get in the way of going fast, which is
consistent with the original test mule, although it does include a
fully finished trunk with subtle Corvette embossing on the rear
panel, a nice touch.
Reports vary, but we're pretty sure the original test mule wasn't
making anywhere close to the 300 horsepower now on tap from a fuel
injected 350 cubic inch LT1 V8. It's a neat fit in the engine bay,
and it's been smoothed and cleaned up to make the engine the star.
However, again in deference to its intended mission as a test mule,
it isn't over-dressed, wearing simple stamped steel valve covers
and cast iron exhaust manifolds. UP front there's a big aluminum
radiator and electric fan, so it never gets cranky, and the LT1 is
one of the most reliable powerplants ever devised by GM, so no
worries about putting this one on the road. It's backed by a 700R4
4-speed automatic and a Ford 9-inch with 3.50 gears, so it's a
comfortable highway cruiser, which is certainly not something that
could be said about the original mule. Front disc brakes,
rack-and-pinion steering, and those cool American Racing Salt Flat
Special wheels all add up to a car with an awesome retro look and
modern performance.
The original was possibly the most important Corvette ever built.
To live the legend without compromise, this Corvette is a winner.
Call now!