Original A/Production Sting Ray racecar has been restored and re-powered for SVRA and VSCDA competition. And, it wins show trophies as well.
Chevrolet did not build any Corvettes in 1965 with 427 L88 engines. In fact, 427 engines were not available in ’65 Corvettes. It was the first year for big-block Sting Rays and the 396 was the big-block option. The 427 L88 first surfaced in 1967 Corvettes for road racing and only 20 were built.
Finished in period correct Nassau Blue with white racing stripes, this A/Production Group 6 vintage racer, owned by Brent Jarvis has been built to 1969 SCCA and current SVRA and VSCDA general competition rules and specifications. Jarvis drives this raucous racer that was built in his restoration shop, Performance Restorations, Mundelein, IL, which specializes muscle cars, Corvettes and classics.
Jarvis found his stunning Sting Ray in Lakemore, IL, after it had a long career of racing and street use. It was first road raced in an A/Production, then drag raced and finally converted into a street car. When found it still had flared fenders, roll bar, a big-block and modern performance accessories. Jarvis and the team at Performance Restorations stripped the body, did the chassis and rebuilt the Corvette to period correct specs using as many original parts.
A rare 427 L88 with four-bolt mains and aluminum heads was blueprinted and fitted with 12.5-to-1 pistons, Chevy forged steel crank, L88 rods and a .666-inch-lift roller cam. The aluminum heads were ported and polished and the engine topped off with an Edelbrock manifold and Holley 850-cfm double-pumper carb. Maximum horsepower comes in at 7,500 rpm!
The chassis and drivetrain were upgraded to serious racecar specs. Backing up the 705 horsepower L88 is a close-ratio Super T10 four speed with a McLeod dual disc clutch encased in a scattershield. A custom three-inch diameter billet steel driveshaft transmits the power to a 3.23 rear fitted with Tom’s Differential internals and aluminum four-inch diameter half shafts. Beefed ’65 Corvette factory suspension components, brakes and steering box finish off the chassis.
Detailed like a ’65 SCCA racecar, Jarvis’ Sting Ray sports Goodyear Blue Streaks on five-spoke, eight-inch-wide ETs, a rare Grand Sport Corvette 200 mph speedo and a functional cowl induction hood as used on Roger Penske’s famous Nassau Blue and white Corvette racers.
At the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN 2010) in Chicago last weekend, Brent Jarvis won a Celebrity Pick Award for his vintage Sting Ray racer.
For more information about Performance Restorations, please visit, www.perf-resto.com
For updates on MCACN 2010, check out www.mcacn.com