Santos/Buterra Billet-T found after 20yrs. I had just sold my vintage ”77 T-Bucket and needed a new project. I logged on to eBay and spotted this interesting project, in about 14 boxes, a body and frame and a half a dozen rims and tires.  In the fine print I noticed Rick Santos had built the 1963 Corvette 327 and John Buterra, “The Billet King” had designed and handcrafted the rare and unique all billet suspension. It made its depute in 1987 at the Oakland Nationals and placed 2nd. In the best of show with chromed suspension. The owner was so upset, he took the rod back to LA and had it dissembled, hired Buterra to craft the suspension.  The owner lost interest and it was never reassembled and sat in storage forgotten until I acquired it in Feb. 2008 for $11K (The suspension has been appraised at @25K).  As you can see by the photos, it is slowly and surely making its way back to its original glory. It is a labor of love.  Santos is still going strong, but Buterra, a close friend of Boyd Coddington, died in March 2008.  Look up Rick Santos, John Buterra, and Boyd Coddington on the web. What an amazing trio of “Rodders”.
Ron Harris