Description:

SUMMARY

Glorious Corvette C2 Sting Ray racer, prepared to FIA-specification yet, remarkably, UK road-legal with an MOT!

DESCRIPTION

The Chevrolet Corvette is undeniably one of the cornerstones of American muscle car mania, introduced in 1953 and still built today, equating to 71 years of continuous production, with no signs of slowing down. A simple recipe, a big V8 up front, power to the rear, and sleek styling, why fix something that isn’t broken?

The Second-Generation Corvette, (1962-67) codenamed the C2, was officially launched at the New York International Motor Show in 1962 for the 1963 model year, however, the most significant year of development for the C2 Sting Ray was 1965, when disc brakes were fitted on all four corners as standard and the 425bhp, 396ci (6.5-litre) Turbojet big block V8 was added to the options list.

The car offered here is a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Sting Ray 396 that was meticulously prepared by a previous custodian to full FIA specification, a process that took over four years to complete between 2008 and 2012 when the car was inspected and approved for FIA papers, opening the door for the car to race in a plethora of race series across the globe.

The devil is in the detail, and the level of preparation that this car displays is quite extraordinary. With a very good road car as the donor, the chassis was sandblasted, seam-welded and gusseted, prior to having a bespoke T45 roll-cage fitted and fully painted, inside and out. The engine was rebuilt and race prepared (the exact specification being in the car's accompanying history file) and we understand now generates more than 500bhp.

The transmission was built to withstand endurance racing with a twin plate clutch, a Hurst shifter and an oil cooled 'Muncie' racing gearbox, kept in check with twin coolers serving both the gearbox and the GM Positraction 3.5:1 limited slip differential. The handling is taken care of with adjustable race suspension and dual calliper disc brakes. It’s fitted with a bespoke wiring loom and , for long-distance events it has a 36-gallon, foam-filled racing fuel cell.

Period touches were researched and located with a Goodwood Revival invitation very much in mind. Period-correct Stuart Warner instruments are fitted along with most of the original interior and a 'period' NASCAR fully bolstered race seat, trimmed in the correct red leather.

The car sits on correct FIA-spec wheels and a correct FIA bonnet was sourced with the mandatory quick release hinges (the bonnet is the rare correct one for the original 65/66 'big block' cars). Lightweight Perspex side windows and headlamp covers finish off this exciting race car.

Our vendors purchased this car from us back in 2014, and having done a handful of races came to the realisation that the car was simply too clean and tidy for them to race with a clear conscience if something happened to it. But waste not, want not, the car was then carefully made UK road-legal granted an MOT and insured for daily use. The process of renewing FIA papers has been started, and if not completed by the time of sale, will be completed post sale.

A 500bhp, full-house Sting Ray, as wild and angry as ever, may not be your first choice for popping to the pub or on the school run, but it could seriously brighten up your day.

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