Wind In Your Hair: 1954 Corvette Pushes Extreme Performance
We love seeing extreme builds we likely will never be able to afford, like this 1954 Corvette done by Timeless Kustoms. Not only is the C1 'Vette absolutely beautiful, it pushes some extreme performance thanks to a modern engine swap.Under the hood of the little convertible is the mighty supercharged LS9, the V8 mill used in the C6 Corvette ZR1. Just like in the ZR1, there's a window in the hood to show off the engine. It's been tuned to produce 590-whp, which is a good amount but doesn't sound crazy.
But understand this little C1 Corvette weighs just 2,100 lbs. That's a crazy power to weight ratio, ensuring this car rockets forward with a ferocity that's just downright scary.
To help handle all that power, the guy who built this car used the front suspension from a C6 Corvette, which makes a lot of sense. It also has an Art Morrison chassis, because the factory original wouldn't hold up, plus a triangulated three-link with a watts link suspension in the rear, just for good measure.
Stopping power comes via Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, because going fast isn't a good thing unless you can also stop fast and reliably.
Aesthetically, the car has a dark, sinister look that involves all the chrome trim being deleted or painted dark, black wheels, plus a black and blue interior. Adding a touch of modern flair are the LED headlights, while in the rear the license plate sits in a covered compartment, keeping the smoothed out nature of the bodylines consistent.
While some might say driving a lightweight, high-powered Corvette like this one is a good way to die, we say it's a great way to live. Whoever gets to enjoy this build is lucky, because it's been designed to hit hard and yet still be comfortable enough for cruising around town without too much discomfort as the wind whips through your hair.
Image via Autotopia LA/YouTube
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