The saying goes everything old is new again. In this case something old is making the best even better. That is exactly what Karl’s Kustom Corvettes is all about. If you love Corvettes or love owning them, then this is a must read. Here is a company that is not only the largest Chevrolet Dealership in the country, but they produce some incredible ´63 Split Window Coupes and the ´67 Roadster of yesteryear with new technology of today’s C6 platform.
These years´ Corvettes remain the most iconic and sought-after collector car to date. At Karl’s Kustom Corvettes, they have created the look of both. So how do they do this? well only the skin is left behind because these cars are assembled on the factory built, advanced GM engineered platform of the C6, with its powerful standard LS3 engine, or the Z06, with its aluminum frame and LS7 engine.
All of these Corvettes begin their lives as factory GM models and are covered under the GM factory powertrain warranty. With the style and look of the 60’s Corvettes, your Karl’s Kustom Corvette is provided with your modern safety attributes, conveniences, and options that you desire.
They truly give you the opportunity to create your classic dream car.
There are four phases to creating this beautiful and unique classic car by allowing you to pick the heart of your custom corvette, choose interior options, select exterior colors and select finishing details. You dream it, they build it.
What about horsepower? Karl’s Kustom Corvettes are a factory authorized Lingenfelter Dealer, so you can build your own powered ´63-´67 Coupe or Roadster that is next to none. Their partnership with Lingenfelter allows them to offer you engine options like never before. They can be Supercharged, Twin Turbo, or Naturally Aspirated engines. These engines can offer as high as 1,038 horsepower.
Lingenfelter offers a range of modifications for the Corvette, but the Z06 package is the one that appears most germane to predicting the potential performance of Chevy’s upcoming flagship. When I first saw that Lingenfelter squeezed more than 120 extra horses from the Z06, I figured that forced induction must be involved. But, in general, the bigger the engine, the more latent power there is to unlock, and the LS7 is the Andre the Giant of modern V-8s.
Thus, Lingenfelter is able to break the 600-hp barrier through old-fashioned hot-rodding tricks, and it all comes down to better breathing. The engine is removed and partially disassembled. The cylinder heads are ported and polished. There’s a multiangle valve job, new induction plumbing, exhaust headers, and, most obviously, a more aggressive cam. I say “most obviously” because the cam is responsible for the Lingenfelter car’s defining personality traita stuttering, ragged idle that’s so mean it belongs in Michael Vick’s kennel. Fire up a Lingenfelter Z06 in Toledo, and you set off tsunami warnings in Taiwan.
Wait, there is more, how about brakes, sway bars, specially tuned exhaust systems and much more? Like they said, you dream it, they will build it. Check them out at www. KarlKustomCorvettes.com. You won’t be disappointed.