Photo: Racecraft late model | YouTube
A Beverly Hills man bought this C7 Chevy Corvette ZR1 without ever seeing it, right after the C8 ZR1 was officially unveiled in July. However, he wanted his previous-generation Corvette to deliver the same power as the new one. So, he sent it straight to the tuning shop.
1,064 horsepower. That’s how much the newly revealed Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 C8 has at its disposal. It features the most powerful engine ever offered in a Corvette. The twin-turbo V8 unleashes incredible power. Chevrolet hasn’t revealed the 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time yet, but the top speed is 215 mph (346 km/h).
The C7 Corvette ZR1 is way behind on paper with the 775 horsepower it rolled off the assembly line with. So when Mr. Williams purchased a 2019 C7 Corvette ZR1, he immediately decided he wanted to compete with the new one, which hasn’t even entered production yet. So, he sent his newly purchased car from Los Angeles to a tuning shop in Texas for their 1,000 horsepower package.
Mr. Williams had some demands, though. He wanted the driver next to him to never guess in a million years that his Corvette was tuned up when he waited at a stoplight. He wanted his car to sound like stock and not wake up the entire neighborhood when he changed engines early in the morning.
A cold-air induction system, American Racing stainless steel headers, and an E85 system are on the menu to get the V8 to pump out up to 1,000 horsepower. Steven Fereday, owner of Late Model Racecraft, explains that when idling, you’d never know the car was tuned. That’s exactly what the owner wanted in the first place.
Photo: Racecraft late model | YouTube
For some much-needed extra traction, the LMR team fitted the car with Toyo tires. The C7 Chevy Corvette ZR1 owner wants to have fun on twisty roads as well as on straightaways.
Steven takes the car for a spin to make sure everything is safe for the customer. It handles like a stock car, but it can give its owner his fair share of fun. Now, Late Model Racecraft is ready to ship the car back to Mr. Williams. He should, however, keep the traction control on until he gets used to it.
Now, the owner can speed down Rodeo Drive, then wind up the curves of Mulholland Drive, through the Hollywood Hills. He won’t have to worry about buying the C8 Corvette ZR1 for years to come.
General Motors has not yet set a price. However, the brand's president, Mark Reuss, has said it will be ambitious but attainable. The C7 was a bargain at $122,000 when it hit the market.
