January 12, 2012
Posted By : Barrett-Jackson

Ingonito

Ingonito

January 12, 2012
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

FRIDAY LOT #1010

1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM COUPE “INCOGNITO”
CHASSIS NUMBER 091619909161005NE

“Custom” doesn’t begin to describe this incredible Corvette that was featured on the cover of Corvette Fever in February, 2010. Builder Dan Gernstein owns A-1 Fiberglass in Omaha, Nebr. To showcase the quality of the replacement Corvette bodies he sells under the Classic-Glass label, he created a no-holds-barred show car, his ultimate vision of the “split-window” Corvette Sting Ray. Lot #1010, “Incognito,” is the result.

Master fabricators Gary Berthelsen and Jim Hatch started by removing the body from a 1996 C4 Corvette, leaving the cockpit area on the frame. The chassis was totally rebuilt and detailed before the stock LT1 V8 was replaced by a new LS3, 6.2-Liter crate motor rated at 430hp. The high-performance LS3 received a Billet Specialties serpentine belt system and reservoirs, Precision Metal Craft manifold, Granatelli valve covers, GM Performance wiring harness and GM Supermatic controller for the rebuilt 4L60E overdrive transmission. The differential is a Corvette Dana 36.

Five-spoke wheels were custom-machined by EVOD, 18” front and 19” rear, shod with high-performance Hankook tires. The tire sidewalls have been shaved, then embellished with a thin stripe to give that classic “redline” look. Oversize power disc brakes with slotted rotors and ABS are from SSBC, and the C4 chassis has been brought up to RPO Z51 Performance Handling Package standards.

The new Classic-Glass body is an exact reproduction of a 1963 Sting Ray, so much so that repro Sting Ray hardware and trim from Eckler’s and Mid-America Corvette fit perfectly. Bumpers, door handles, grille, headlights, taillights, window glass…all stock Corvette. Unable to find perfect window trim, Gernstein replicated it in fiberglass then had it chromed.

The new body was fitted around the C4 cockpit and adapted to the C4 frame before being bonded to the chassis. After Street Rods Only prepped it, Walker Street Rods painted the body with Bright Silver Metallic base coat/clear coat, a 2008 Chrysler color.

The dashboard is a custom design, equipped with gauges from Classic Instruments. Corvette C5 seats and stock door panels from Al Knoch Interiors with custom armrests were covered in matching red vinyl with leather seating surfaces by Sky’s Seat Cover Center. Carpets are Dorsett loop pile. The three-spoke steering wheel was given a burled wood appearance. Power windows, power door locks, power seats, air conditioning, cruise control and Corvette Selective Ride Control upgrade the ergonomics, along with a high end Pioneer sound system.

“Incognito” is far more than the sum of its parts. The ‘63-‘67 Sting Ray is not only the definitive Corvette, but also a true American icon along with the ‘32 Ford, ‘57 Chevy and ‘65 Mustang. But by placing that iconic shape on a modern chassis with carefully considered Hot Rod touches, Gernstein has created not only a one-off show car that’s a true work of art but also a reliable performance car that could easily serve as an everyday driver. With only a few hundred miles on the odometer since completion of the nearly 2-year build, this is a virtually brand-new Corvette that looks like a classic Sting Ray. Or a classic Sting Ray that drives like a new Corvette. Either way, it’s very special and unique.

— By Rich Taylor

Heritage Partners