1967 Chevrolet Corvette - Pro Classic Prototype

A quick refresher. "Pro Classic," as Rich defines it, means to achieve a complete package which fully integrates the latest in technology available to improve performance, comfort, handling, and appearance of the car, while retaining the integrity of the original design.

Matt says that he first laid eyes on it via the Internet, not long after Rich had completed it. "I came across Rich Lagasse's website, saw the '67, and totally fell in love with the car," he says. "I read everything on the site about the car, and I liked his approach to building it. I'd restored several Corvettes in my lifetime, but he'd gone to the next level, and I was just blown away by that."

An email from Matt to Rich led to a quick reply, and the two struck up a friendship over the next half-dozen years. "Rich told me how he designed and made the three-bar spinners and adapters," says Matt of their subsequent conversations. "Nobody else had those, but now somebody's copied them and everyone has them-but Rich was the innovator.

That friendship also included a special Christmas present one year that Matt's wife, Carol, got thanks to Rich. Matt tells the story: "One of the pictures on Rich's website of the '67 showed a big poster of it, hanging on the wall behind the car. Carol contacted Rich and asked if there was any way to get a copy of that poster. This wasn't a paper poster-it was a beautiful piece on vinyl. Rich went back to the people who did it for him, who'd saved the artwork, and they made another one for him. That Christmas, she gave me this huge tube for my Christmas present. I opened it up and unrolled that thing, and I saw that was the poster of the '67, and it brought a tear to my eye. I thanked her, called Rich, and hung it in my garage. At no time did I ever think I'd come to own that '67 Corvette."

That was nothing compared to July 11, 2005-the date when Matt took delivery of the Sting Ray in Fremont, Ohio, halfway between Matt's home and Rich's. "We went there to meet him, and of course, I was early," says Matt. "I was sitting on the curb in the parking lot when he pulled in with it. We met, he dropped the trailer door, and I saw it for the first time in person. He said, 'What do you think?' I said, 'I don't deserve this!' It far exceeded my expectations."

It also exceeded anyone's expectations with features that were seen for the first time on it. Along with the 17-inch Torq-Thrust wheels, other items making their first appearance on this car included the power brake booster, made to clear the left valve cover of the GMPP 502 crate engine, and the headers that let it breathe easy. "Those are the first set of 'block huggers' that Sanderson made for the 502," explains Matt.

Just as hot as the candles on a nitro-burning race car is the shade of red on this Midyear. You won't find it on any paint-maker's palette. "It's Rich's own paint formula, and it's the most beautiful red that I've ever seen," Matt says. "It just draws people to it like a magnet. When I go to a show and place the car there, everyone stops what they're doing, comes over, and looks at that car."

And show it he does. "I've won multiple Best of Show awards with it," Matt says. "I've won GM Appreciation Awards and People's Choice Awards with it. Every place that I've ever taken that car, it makes people's jaws drop." That also included an invitation to be in the "Chip's Choice" display at Corvettes at Carlisle.

Matt's enjoyment of this Midyear isn't limited to showing it. Rich built the '67 to drive, and Matt enjoys the time he spends in it on the road. "The car is totally awesome!" he says when asked what it's like to drive. "It actually does drive like a new Corvette. First of all, the sound of the 502 big-block through the side pipes is just music. It is incredible."

Then there's the handling. "With the VBP suspension system under it, the car steers, drives, and feels like it has 50/50 weight distribution," says Matt. "The '67 handles like it's on rails-it corners flat, and it stays flat as a pancake around corners, while smoothing out the bumps in the road." But that's not all. "It has tremendous power, and as long as I'm hooked up, it goes exactly where I point it. But it'll quickly overpower the back tires."

If you're a regular Corvette Fever reader, you've no doubt seen Rich Lagasse's handiwork, especially in the stories about the build of his '63 Sting Ray "Split Personality" coupe. Matt says of the friend who sold him the '67, "Rich's idea of it going to a good home was big. He could've sold that car for a lot more money than what he sold it to me for." He adds this about Rich and his wife Barb. "They're just the sweetest, most down-to-earth honest people that I've met in my life. They have integrity and all those good things. I not only benefitted by getting this wonderful car, but a wonderful friend at the same time."

But don't ask Rich how to get that shade of red that's on his '63 and Matt's '67. "He's willing to share any of his ideas other than the color of the paint, because he keeps that to himself," says Matt. "When I bought the car, the section in the build files that had to do with the paint color was empty. I scratched the oil pan one time, and I needed to repaint it. I did get the color, but I had to do the double-dare, cross-your-heart, never-tell kind of thing to get it!"

Body
Original '67 Sting Ray convertible body
Paint: R/M Diamont special-blend "Rich's Red" basecoat/clearcoat: Painting/paint prep by Corvette Center, Newington, Connecticut

Chassis
Modified production '67 Sting Ray, with original frame painted to match body
Suspension: (Front) Vette Brakes & Parts (VBP) composite transverse monoleaf spring, tubular A-arms, larger-than-stock anti-sway bar, and Carrera shocks. (Rear) VBP composite transverse monoleaf spring, larger-than-stock anti-sway bar, and Carrera shocks
Steering: Restored GM/Saginaw recirculating ball, non-power-assisted
Brakes: four-wheel disc brakes with cross-drilled rotors, stainless sleeved GM calipers, and a custom-built power brake booster
Wheels: American Racing Torq-Thrust II wheels with three-prong spinners, 17x7 inches (with 4-inch backspacing) in front, 17x8 inches (with 4 3/4-inch backspacing) rear
Tires: BF Goodrich Radial T/A, 205/50R17 in front, 235/45R17 in rear.

Interior
Restored original '67 Sting Ray convertible
Restored by: Rich Lagasse, Enfield, Connecticut
Seats: restored '67 Sting Ray buckets with Al Knoch black leather upholstery
Carpets: Al Knoch reproduction black loop-pile
Instrumentation: restored production '67 Sting Ray: 0-160 mph speedometer, 0-7,000 rpm tach, plus fuel level, ammeter, coolant temperature, and oil pressure gauges in dash and analog clock in center dash stack
Sound system: Pioneer AM/FM/cassette head unit in factory radio location
Heater: Restored production GM/Harrison heater/defroster
A/C: Lower top and windows, then lower foot on accelerator pedal as appropriate.