Words: Tommy Parry

It was a Herculean task he was taking on, but fortunately, Kevin could pick up a clean donor for this ambitious build. The ‘71 small-block coupe only had 80,000 on the clock when Kevin purchased it from his neighbor. As it was a rust-free, no-hit survivor car, he had a perfect platform upon which to build. Even the original radio, clock and headlight buckets worked like they were still brand new.

However, those bits were just motivation, since Kevin eventually scrapped all of that. Jeff Leech provided his GS tube chassis, to which Kevin bolted ‘95-‘96 Corvette suspension and a Dana 44 rear end. This allowed Kevin to lower the floor pans by 2-3 inches, providing the needed head room for the roll cage and proper seats. Additionally, it added the rigidity necessary to make good use of the power available.

The first order of bodywork business was flaring the fenders. Once the bodywork was resting in gel coat for his bodywork man to take over, Kevin went ahead and ordered a BluePrint Engines LS3 427 FI to power this monster. With 620 horsepower and 574 lb-ft of torque at his command, it was now incumbent upon Kevin to fill those rear flares as well as possible. Soon, they’d be home to some 335-section tires.

Fast forward two years, and the body returns to Kevin in one piece. The next steps were removing the body from the frame, building the rollcage, assembling the fuel cell’s bracket and then powercoating the frame and the suspension components. This was quickly starting to look like a top-notch build.

Once the motor arrived, Kevin was over the moon. The peak power and torque figures are incredible, but so is the fact that it produces 500 lb-ft at a mere 2,800 rpm! To handle all that thrust, he went with a TKO600 from American Powertrain. When he could find a little time to dedicate to the Corvette, he managed to mount the 427 onto the frame, smooth the firewall, close in the air inlet holes on the bottom of the front valance and fit the rear exhaust panel.

Now the end was in sight. Once the body had been primered, Kevin deliberated over which color he’d use, but decided on 2015 Corvette Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic. As this color could’ve easily been used on a seventies sports car, perhaps with a brown or yellow stripe, it suited the classic Corvette perfectly. The icing on the cake: a black Owens Corning stripe. Though the paint was supposed to take just two weeks, it ended up claiming a full month. At least it looks like a million bucks.

Next came the interior. Simple Auto Meter gauges, a few toggle switches, Corbeau seats and some carbon-style vinyl covering was all the spartan interior called for. With the rumble of the LS, the snug cockpit and the bulging hood, the occupants have all the sense of occasion they could want.

Finally, he added his Team III LT wheels, which measure 18” x 10” and 18” x 12”, front and rear. To take the best possible advantage of those rollers, he went with choice rubber: BF Goodrich Rival S in 275- and 335-sections, respectively.

This way, he’d be able to make good use of the astounding power. With that earth-churning torque, the stunning paint and the sheer drama of it all, it’s a car that can command a considerable sum of money. He’s listed it in case anyone is willing to make an offer. If it doesn’t sell, he’s looking forward to the shows and autocross events he’s got lined up this spring, though he’s somewhat torn, since “Knowing you have a beast on the road is sometimes good enough,” he states. For more information on this incredible machine, you can contact Kevin at [email protected].