Vehicle Description
The Pro Street movement, keenly summarized as going wicked fast and
looking real good doing it, began gaining popularity about 35 years
ago. And today, with technology that continuously blurs the lines
between street beast and track king, transforming a storied classic
into a custom-fabricated speed machine has become one of America's
favorite pastimes. But even with top-tier customizers and a who's
who list of extreme kits, there's still something to be said about
originality. And even though many companies create purpose-built
scorchers that light up Christmas trees across the world, many of
them are about as stylish as a Malaise Era pickup. Well, as you can
probably see, this incredible Corvette is the elixir for street and
strip sickness. A Super Gas-style custom that was built to show AND
race, it combines picture-perfect aesthetics with serious
mechanical prowess. And if you're looking for invigorating
performance, a lust worthy parade queen or just a cool car to own
and enjoy, it's a great candidate for your next classic!
APPEARANCE
For gearheads, there's something very primal about a car that has a
big motor, flashy paint and big tires. But, like the technology
needed to successfully flaunt that appearance, the appeal of this
Super Gas Corvette runs much deeper than inquisitive novelty. NHRA
chassis guru Don Davis knows a thing or two about technology,
developing cars that won more than half a given season's Super Gas
races when he was hand-fabricating customer builds. See, Davis had
already spent years building hot rods, bikes, off-road racers and
successful Sprint racers. However, when he wanted to start scaling
up his business to a full-time operation, he settled in NHRA
because, unlike Sprints, the league enforced a universal rule book.
Eventually, Don got so good at his craft that the NHRA started
incorporating his work in to that national rule book. And
ultimately, Don's business, and legacy, would live on through the
help of customer and impassioned loyalist Jim Hughes of Hughes
Performance.
This unique Corvette, finished in 2012 by McCabe Racing, was
constructed under the direct guidance of Don Davis. The idea was to
create a one-off street car that could easily double as a bracket
racer, and, after four years of hard work, that goal was fully
realized. As you might expect, the car's flip-top body is made of
quality composite. A chromed Corvette grille joins a retro looking
windscreen and tall Cowl Induction Hood to add a sense of style and
familiarity. With legality of utmost concern, halogen headlamps and
bright turn signals complement polished mirrors and factory
taillights. If this Chevy wasn't sporty enough already, a polished
roll bar, a giant Davis wing and polished, side-exist exhaust set a
serious tone. And everything ties together on bright red 2-stage,
which has been stamped with cross-flags and highlighted with crisp
silver coves that wrap old school leafing around a ghosted checker
motif.
POWER
When this C1 was initially constructed, it featured a much hotter
motor that made the car much more temperamental. However, cooler
heads eventually prevailed, and the car was fitted with 454 cubic
inches of big block Chevy that are spry at the strip and
well-mannered on the road. Lift the fuselage and you'll find a
beefy Ron Davis radiator, which hangs two electric puller fans in
front of two billet pulleys. Those pulleys spin a polished Weiand
water pump, which cools a Jet Black block that's centered on
large-diameter long-tube headers. Above those tubes, cast iron
heads hangs mirrored valve covers between polished breathers and
Loomed MSD Super Conductor plug wires that trace a quality Mallory
distributor. That distributor is planted in an Edelbrock TM2R
Tarantula intake, which milks a big Holley carburetor that's capped
by a K&N X-Stream air cleaner. And the car's airy engine
compartment is exceptionally tidy, with items like braided fluid
lines, a Wilwood master cylinder and a polished block-off plate
upping the ante for both performance and aesthetics.
POWER MANAGEMENT
Underneath, you'll find a no-compromises drivetrain that's
complemented by professional grade track equipment and fresh
aluminum floorpans. Behind the big block, a tough Turbo-Hydramatic
400 3-speed centers a polished pan and polished flywheel cover in
front of a remote cooler that's mated to a breezy Perma-Cool fan.
That transmission twists a 9-inch Strange axle that spins in a
fabricated, back-braced housing. That drivetrain hangs in a choice
Don Davis chassis, which is pushed by a custom 4-link that's
complete with adjustable coil-overs and an adjustable panhard bar.
That clip is led by Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering, which
spans Strange hubs that are finished with polished control arms and
a second set of coil-overs. At the corners, Strange calipers
squeeze slotted discs to counter the big engine's rocket-like
momentum. Power scorches the strip through polished WELD alloys,
which spin 125R15 Firestone F-560s in front of 33x19.5-15 Mickey
Thompson Sportsman Pros. And, in keeping with the tradition of its
clean engine bay, everything from the car's braided hoses to its
custom fuel tank is fully-sorted and ready to hit the track.
COCKPIT
Piloting this flip-top is relatively easy thanks to a snug,
all-business cockpit that's lined in neutral vinyl. The car's
driver and one lucky passenger perch on simple buckets that feature
body-matched Crow Enterprizes harnesses. In front of those seats, a
minimalist dash founds vital Auto Meter telemetry behind simple
toggle switches and a mirrored instrument panel. Beneath that dash,
clean carpet frames a custom console that's centered on a beefy
B&M shifter. And in front of the driver, a removable steering
wheel laps metal foot pedals.
Plenty quick and plenty streetable, this pristine Corvette is an
excellent combination of awesome Pro Street performance and
timeless hot rod aesthetics. What other niche allows you to own a
classic that can rip invigorating quarter-mile passes, then
politely drive you home? Call your friends at RK Motors Charlotte
and stage a bid for this bad bowtie!
SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a detailed, professional build that was
shepherded by Don Davis
454 cubic inch Chevrolet V8
Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed automatic transmission / Remote
cooler
Strange 9-inch rear axle / Custom housing
Custom Don Davis chassis
Custom suspension / Fully adjustable 4-link rear suspension
Strange 4-wheel disc brakes / Rack-and-pinion steering
15-inch WELD wheels
Composite flip-top body
Vinyl interior
