Thoroughly enjoying what you own should be the purpose of any possession. If not, people would never buy expensive cars, yachts, private planes, race cars, or any other toy imaginable. While thinking about any high-end item, most of us put a lot of forethought into the process and final result prior to the actual purchase.
That is the whole philosophy behind Bob Caruso's super-exotic '67 resto-mod Corvette. Bob wanted a mid-'60s Corvette, but without the rough ride, harsh steering, and the creaks and groans usually attached to a mid-year Corvette. Is that too much to wish for? Bob used his talents at Corvette Country and his friends at Billy Bob's Fast Expensive Cars, Inc. to assist him in building a modernized '67 coupe with all the creature comforts and contemporary power technology expected of a late-model Corvette.
Like any good build, a foundation needs to be laid. Bob opted to fabricate a full-tube chassis, used boxed tubing for the brunt of the body and race-grade round tubing for the suspension and engine cradle, while incorporating advanced C4 parts and geometry. The chassis was powdercoated LeMans blue to match the projected paint scheme before the stock brakes and control arms were mounted. The brakes were upgraded with ball-milled rotors, and new bushings ensured a smooth, comfortable ride. A Flaming River steering kit was used, saving valuable space in the engine compartment and a 2.73 Posi GM differential was bolted out back. With the rolling chassis in working order, he needed to find himself a powerplant to propel his new toy.
A Chevrolet LS6 was picked as the engine of choice and was promptly torn apart. The blocked was punched out to a final 468 ci as a Lunati crank and cam with TRW 10.25:1 pistons filled the sleeves. A Holley 780 double pumper resides atop the big-block, while a Richmond five-speed manual gearbox is bolted behind it. Each part of the engine and transmission was meticulously cleaned, painted, or polished for the look he wanted for the '67 coupe. With such a stout combination ready to run free, he rushed to bring the body back down onto the frame. The deadly combination of Bob Caruso's talents and Billy Bob's team had combined before to build another custom '67 a couple years earlier-Full Tilt-a suspended fully-operational Corvette that was displayed at the Barrett-Jackson Auction. With such rave results, Bob had no other choice but to call upon Billy Bob's to help out once again.