This custom car is said exquisitely captured the Zora Arkus-Duntov mid-engine Corvette idea
ONE-OFF Nothing is perfect in this world. Well, that's also how the Chevrolet Corvette, which is very famous and even labeled as one of the legendary American muscle cars, is still touted as a sports car that’s about 40 years overdue for a mid-engine layout. Whereas since the beginning this American manufacturer has been experimenting with rear-engined high-performance cars and one of them was the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette GS IIB Concept.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom is designed and built by Harlan Motorsport Design to describe what they thought Chevrolet would make if they decided to compete with the Ferrari's, Porsche's, and Ford GT40 in the mid-1960s. (Picture from: RM Sotheby's)
Just like some of the other mid-engined Corvette prototypes previously built by the American manufacturer for decades that did not reach the production line, the Corvette GS IIB was also unable to convince General Motors (GM) top brass as worthied car to be produced. It's no wonder then there are those who's speculated, if this Corvette from the start has been powered with the engine in the back, would be one of the Ferrari-killers along with its compatriot Ford GT40 back the 1960s.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom is said exquisitely captured the mid-engined Corvette concept idea of Zora Arkus-Duntov. (Picture from: Silodrome)
As quoted of Silodrome, indeed it isn’t widely known that Chevrolet actually approved a mid-engined Corvette for production in 1977, it was called the Aerovette and was first shown to the public in the New York Auto Show1970. Unfortunately the person who agreed to this retired in 1977 and the program was later canceled by his successor. After experiencing uncertainty for several years, it was finally approved in 1980 for production.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom has been designed to be very similar in style to the Corvette C2 Sting Ray with the passenger compartment moved forward and positioned the engine directly in front of the rear wheels. (Picture from: Silodrome)
The Corvette that we talked about here is a kind of design study is designed and built by Harlan Motorsport Design, where the automaker wanted to describe what they thought Chevrolet would make if they decided to compete with the Ferrari's, Porsche's, and Ford GT40 in the mid-1960s. As you've seen, the car has been designed to be very similar in style to the Corvette C2Sting Raywith the passenger compartment moved forward and positioned the engine directly in front of the rear wheels.
The
1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom is designed and built on the chassis
with the power-train in mind, so a dual ladder space frame was shaped
from high-strength steel tubing. (Picture from: Silodrome)
As quoted of RM Sotheby's, the handcrafted custom car is described as "the best of the best," at least that's what Kip Wasenko, GM Performance Design Director said, how's this Corvette V7 Twin Turbo exquisitely captured the mid-engined Corvette concept idea of Zora Arkus-Duntov.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom uniquely featured with an industry first "suislide" articulating door system that exhibits absolutely jaw-dropping geometry. (Picture from: Silodrome)
As explicitly mentioned above, the car was purposed built theoretically to be an worthied rival of the Ferrari's, Porsche's and Ford GT 40's of the '60s era. Although this custom Corvette did not actually compete against those iconic cars in certain periods on any racing tracks. Due to it was built and styled in modern era of the 2015, but remained with the spirit of an exciting time in motorsports of the 1960s.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom is fitted with race-style seating from Cobra with full Crow harness system. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Then its bodywork is designed and built on the chassis with the power-train in mind, so a dual ladder space frame was shaped from high-strength steel tubing, and completed with Penske Racing supplied the fully adjustable suspensions. Completing the chassis are gigantic six-piston Baer brakes with cross-drilled rotors. While for the legs mounted HRE five-spoke star wheels wrapped in the Michelin's widest production-based tires.
As you can see, leather wraps the original Sting Ray dash humps equipped with Auto Meter gauges. (Picture from: Silodrome)
The Corvette V7 Twin Turbo is described as a pure unique form of sports car, as well as real in function. While entering the cabin, You would be welcomed by an industry first "suislide" articulating door system that exhibits absolutely jaw-dropping geometry. Leather wraps the original Sting Ray dash humps equipped with Auto Meter gauges.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom is powered by a twin turbo Chevrolet LS V8 engine capable of producing power of 1,000 hp and 982 ft lbs of torque. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Furthermore, the cabin is fitted with race-style seating from Cobra with full Crow harness system. Conveniences include power windows, heater and air conditioning. The car was purpose built without any audio system, as the twin turbos 'spooling up' is all that is thought you need to enjoy without interference from any other sounds.
The 1963 Corvette V7 Twin Turbo Custom ever crowned as the winner of the automotive industry's coveted GM Design Award 2015. (Picture from: Silodrome)
Rather than sticking to ’60s era engineering under the surface, it was decided that this unique car built under modern specifications, including is powered by a twin turbo Chevrolet LS V8 engine capable spewing power of 1,000 hp and 982 ft.lbs of torque. This power unit is sent to the rear wheels via a custom-built Mendeola transaxle and displacement is achieved by using Master Shift paddles mounted not far of the steering wheel inside the cabin.
This car also is reported to be the winner of the automotive industry's coveted GM Design Award 2015. After that, the unique car had offered at the Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2015 event organized by RM Sotheby's. At that time this car was penned with a price of $90,000 - $110,000. Unfortunately, until the auction event ended, the unique Corvette V7 Twin Turbo was not sold.😓 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RM SOTHEBY'S | SILODROME | BEHANCE ]
This car also is reported to be the winner of the automotive industry's coveted GM Design Award 2015. After that, the unique car had offered at the Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2015 event organized by RM Sotheby's. At that time this car was penned with a price of $90,000 - $110,000. Unfortunately, until the auction event ended, the unique Corvette V7 Twin Turbo was not sold.😓 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RM SOTHEBY'S | SILODROME | BEHANCE ]
