While the DeBold’s 1960 Fuelie Corvette has won every award there is in the arena of the Corvette hobby, there’s always more. Tom explained that what’s ahead for their Corvette is the Concours D’Elegance circuit and plans to do two or three shows per year.
In the summer of 1960, Zora Arkus-Duntov took a lucky guy with a recorder for a test drive in a new 1961 Fuelie Corvette. After a brief introduction, Duntov says,… “I have a ‘61 Corvette ready to go. This one is equipped with our new 315-horsepower, high-lift cam, and fuel-injection. Let’s get in. Is your safety belt fastened? Alright, let’s go…” And OFF THEY GO with Duntov rowing through the gears! Sounds WONDERFUL!
Sebring, Florida resident Rick Weigand swaps out his tired old ’63 Split-Window Coupe for a modernized C1 classic! Dateline: 11.13.20 This story was first published...
Larry Shinoda was Mitchell’s preferred, go-to stylist guy and seemed to be the best at pulling Bill’s ideas into reality. According to Peter Brock (National Corvette Museum 2017 Hall of Fame inductee), Mitchell was just as tough as Earl, but more jovial and at times profane. Bill just wanted to be “one of the guys”, but he knew what he wanted. (Brock’s book, “Corvette Sting Ray: Genesis of an American Icon” is a MUST READ for all second generation Corvette fans.) Since Larry Shinoda worked out the translation of Brock’s Q-Corvette design into the Stingray Racer, Larry was tasked to do the XP-755, “Mako Shark”. Larry was also working on the XP-720, the 1963 Sting Ray, in its development phase.
The XP-700 was built on a 1958 283 Fuelie Corvette. In 1950s excess style, everything is “bigger and better”. The front was pure “custom car design” with an elongated, elliptical nose and a scoop under it. Mitchell wanted to break away from the Earl driven, big toothy grille, towards something slim and lightweight. The now-classic Dayton Knock-Off Wire Wheels were part of the effort to make the car look lighter. The Lucas spotlight headlights are moved forward and also had scoops under them. The recessed hood vents showed up on the 1963 Corvette, but with fake grille inserts, and the 1964 Corvette, sans the grilles. The front fender scoops were shorter versions of the production 1956-1957 fender scoops.
Duntov oversaw the engineering in Detroit and tested the special parts at the GM Proving Ground, and Rose was the field engineer that worked with Smokey Yunick and various racers to field test and improve the parts. By the end of the 1959s, Corvettes were winning championships and were beginning to dominate.
One of the definitions of the word, “godfather” is; “one that founds, supports, or inspires”. Of all of the Corvette’s “Founding Fathers” none are more deserving of the term than Zora Arkus-Duntov. It is not an exaggeration to say that were it not for Duntov, the Corvette never would have made it past 1970!
Although the Corvette fit the definition of a “sports car”, when Chevrolet released the car in 1953, they said that the car was, “not a sports car”. But when Zora saw the Corvette at the 1953 GM Motorama in New York City, he said that it was the most beautiful car he had ever seen, and knew instantly that he wanted to be a part of the new Corvette team.
Unlike today’s Corvette Racing Team’s massive year-around, non-stop R&D program, the Sebring cars were prepared in just a few weeks and were being worked on around the clock. But all things considered, it was a valiant effort that paid off. Here’s a list of the modifications made to the Corvettes. This is why I say, these were no ordinary Corvettes and by 1956 standards, these cars were very advanced.
Obviously this is a “1959 Stingray Racer” wanna-be. I personally would not have finished off the car this way. The dual headrests is one too many, the Stinger hood is out of period by eight years, the side vents are odd, and the wheels should have been polished Hildebrand-style wheels.
But hey! It’s a customized kit car. I’m sure it’s fairly light in weight, and with the 283 Fuelie and 4:11 rear, it’ll be a hoot to drive.
The car was recently restored and despite my own personal quibbles, I’d say the car was, WELL BOUGHT. Whom ever is the new owner, I hope you really enjoy your cool new ride! – Scott
On this date in 1953, GM officials never imagined their little fiberglass concept car would one day become a world-class sports car and GM’s technological...
What the Centurion that is up for auction has going for it is that, aside for the Stinger hood, it appears to be period correct in many ways and very well crafted. The interior looks very much like the real Stingray Racer. The side pipes are close to the real car’s and the engine is a 283 with an early Rochester Fuel Injection setup. The black-spoke American Mags are 1960s style and the Firestone Wide Oval tires are mid-60s size.
This “may well be” one of the best Fiberfab Centurion cars built. There is NO RESERVE on this car, so someone just might be able to scoop up an interesting car for not much cash. This will might be an interesting auction that I will have to record and put on our YouTube channel. The auction date is January 19th and 20th, and the Centurion’s Lot number is 1009.1.
We are happy to announce the launch of CorvetteReport.com’s “Vette of the Month” Photo Contest. Here’s the deal.
Send us your best photo of your Corvette and we will post it on our “Vette of the Month” photos page.
At the end of the month we will pick a winner, and announce it as a post on CorvetteReport.com.
The winner will get;
An “America’s Old Glory Sports Car” print of their year Corvette, signed and numbers by K. Scott Teeters.
A feature story in Vette Vues Magazine.
After the story is published in Vette Vues, we will post it on CorvetteReport.com.
We have every year “Old Glory Corvette” layouts from 1953 to today, available on 12 different baseball/trucker cap color/trim patterns. Whatever year Corvette you own or love, we have a baseball/trucker cap for you. Prices start at just $18.95!
My monthly column in VETTE Magazine, “The Illustrated Corvette Series” is now in its 21st year. I’m in the middle of a series I’m calling, “The Corvette’s Founding Fathers” that covers the careers of Harley Earl, Ed Cole, Bill Mitchell, Zora Arkus Duntov, Larry Shinoda, and Peter Brock. Each of these men played a foundational roll in setting the pattern and personality of the Corvette. Without them, the Corvette might not have survived the 1950s.
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