To listen to Ray Hart talk, you might mistake him for Davy Crockett. From Knoxville, his accent is pure Tennessean. But his interest in cars is pure Corvette. "I'm a Corvette man," Ray declares. "I've had one since high school. I just like Corvettes."
Ray, who graduated in 1969, drove a 350-horse, 327/four-speed '67 Corvette to high school. From then on, he was hooked on them.
His latest ride is this white '93 with red interior he calls his Anniversary Corvette. The more accurate code, RPO Z25, was the official Anniversary Package in 1993 and included Ruby Red paint. Chevrolet built 6,749. That's more than the 3,031 it built in Arctic White, like Ray's '93 coupe, which isn't really a Pace Car. But because of the modifications, he likes to think of his as an Anniversary Pace Car.
He particularly likes the C4s ('84-'96 Corvettes). "I like the way they drive," Ray says. "They handle good. They get good mileage and I think they're just a good car."
In addition to this '93, Ray's owned an '84, an '88, an '89, and a '90. Being fairly plentiful, they make a good canvas for a custom build. Ray started last October with his all-original '93, a 300hp LT1 with automatic.
"I don't know what the deal is," Ray says. "But there are so many people who like the white cars with the red interior. I've had a lot of comments on that."
But he wanted more. "I just wanted it to be different," he continues. "I've had Pro Street cars. I've had roadsters. I've even been on TV a couple of times with a roadster, a little '32."
Ray clearly got his wish to be different with this '93. On the outside, he added the shark-tail rear spoiler, a Stripes & More stripe kit, and a set of 17x9-inch Torq-Thrust wheels.
The LT1 remains stock, and is factory rated at 300 hp. Liberal applications of polished stainless and chrome make the car show-worthy. Open the clamshell hood and people gather 'round. Inside, except for a steering-wheel cover, the red leather interior is Bowling Green stock.
Ray's ride shows what a few modifications can do for a C4 coupe. He calls it his Anniversary model.