FrankenSport - The Donor

This EPA smog-legal disco-is-dead era yuppy sports car was basically left for dead. Rubber bumper sharks are not the most desired when in need of a total restoration. The obvious reason being that it will cost at least two or three times the value of the car to bring it back to life and that's if you do most if not all the work yourself. Maybe the future will hold more promise for these beauties. But by that time many of these lawn ornaments will have trees growing out of them and the classic styling might end up with a 4-wheel drive bronco chassis under it. We couldn't let that happen.  

As can be seen from some of our other past projects, where appropriate on a number of levels, we promote and work hard to restore Corvettes and other classic American Muscle Cars to their original factory configuration. But sometimes it also makes sense to just cut-em-up.  (No flaming emails please from the correct police ;-)  

First step was to replace the rusted upper windshield frame. The rest of the frame will be sandblasted and painted and is in good shape. Paul at The Corvette Shop probably has more experience doing this type of work then anyone around and all our bodywork and paint projects are managed together with Paul.   

Next was to strip the existing interior down completely. Floorpans will be replaced.  Body will be removed and the rear will be tubbed to allow for wider tires with the tube chassis and the storage area will be cut out and covered over. A new battery box will be constructed 

It was also obvious that this Vette had been home to some friendly little fuzzy creatures. This is a dirty job when you think about all that has taken place inside of this car in the last 25 plus years, human or otherwise!

After Media Blasting the body and Sandblasting the inner cage. Other than the already replaced windshield frame, the rest of the birdcage looks good.

Tearing down any car that has been sitting in the elements is always an interesting job. Between leftover critter stuff, rusted bolts, dealing with prior repairs, and bubba'd up wiring and other parts there is always something to do.

Body removed and clean-up/modifications begun:

Everything is removed from the body. Some of the original parts will be replaced, some will be restored, and some will be modified! Hours of cleaning, sandblasting, and painting, are in store while the chassis is being prepared to test fit the modified body. This all has to come together by the time the bodywork and paint are completed. This is a painstaking and time consuming process but will make the difference in the end result.