2013 25th Corvette Nationals PREVIEW #3

The CDUCC already boast a diverse and interesting collection of 'Vettes amongst their members, including this one from David.

David's 1977 coupe

David's enthusiasm for the Corvette started when he was taken for a drive in one as a boy. Fast forward a few decades to 2009, and David was able to make his dream of Corvette ownership a reality.

What became David's Corvette was spotted for sale on the side of the road. Imported from the USA to Queensland, the car appeared in good condition and the price was affordable, so David decided to buy the '77 model coupe. "This started a passion for the Corvette marque and everything else 'Corvette'," David said.

The small block Chev 350 was rebuilt with a Scat crank and rods, aluminium heads and hypereutectic pistons. The '77 also has a Turbo 350 gearbox and disc brakes front and rear. Complied and registered, David soon pressed his new Corvette into service on weekend drives, while new tyres and a set of American Racing 5-spoke wheels improved its appearance. However, after owning and driving it for a while, David decided his Corvette was in need a makeover.

"I decided that it needed some distinctive paintwork, and the 2007 Daytona 500 Pace Car (a C6 Corvette) was used as a base for the design," David explained.

The Pace Car's distinctive red and blue stripes were replicated, but David decided to deviate a little for the bonnet graphic, using a more detailed Chevy bowtie, painted to match the stripes. The custom airbrushing continued under the bonnet, with a postcard-inspired image of Route 66, but that's not the end of it. "The stingray insignia on the back was taken from the concept Corvette in the Transformers movie," David added.

The end result is an amazing Corvette, which was taken on the road the weekend after the custom paint was finished, and has been a star at many car shows since.

"It certainly turns heads and attracts a lot of attention," David said. "Many, many photos have been taken of it!"

David said that work on his '77 Corvette was ongoing, with new carpets and gauges for the dash installed ahead of the 25th Corvette Nationals this weekend.

To find out more about the 25th Corvette Nationals, go to www.corvettesdownunder.com.au email [email protected], or phone: Garth - 0421 383 999, or Jan - 0400 300 129.