Throwback: 1960 Corvette With Big Blog W Motor Has Tales to Tell

Story to Tell

One of the coolest things about old cars is that each one has its own story to tell. Many times, however, we don't get to hear them or perhaps that story remains shrouded in mystery. In the case of this 1960 Corvette, which belongs to Hot Rod editor Gerry Burger, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. But what the owner does know about it makes it rather interesting, nonetheless.

Photos: Hot Rod

Hack Job

Burger purchased this C1 as a rolling chassis with no engine or transmission. The seller told him a little bit about the car's past, which included a transformation into a drag racer at some point. At that time, it packed a 396 and four-speed transmission along with the original rear end. Unfortunately, the person that did the work hacked up the x-member to make the big block fit.

Making It Right

Obviously, the car was driven quite hard during that time. The seller had purchased it 20+ years ago, but just never got around to fixing it up as other projects loomed. Thankfully, Burger was up to the task. He began the process by disassembling the car and fixing that hacked up x-member using some one-inch tubing.

Taking Advantage

Burger took advantage of this opportunity by making room for a custom exhaust. He also replaced the entire suspension with a brand new coilover setup from Martz Chassis, along with Wilwood disc brakes. The old non-posi rear end was removed to make room for a Currie Ford 8-inch unit, which was chosen because it leaves enough space for the spare tire.

Change of Plans

Burger kept a classic hot rod look on his 'Vette with a set of ET III Sebring wheels wrapped in Coker/BFGoodrich tires. Next, it was time to pick a motor and transmission. The original plans called for a simple small block, but that all changed when Burger came across a 348 W-motor sitting on a stand at his friend's shop. And it posed an interesting question - what if GM had built a big block Corvette in '60?

Modern/Vintage Performance

The idea was too much to resist, and soon Burger found himself rebuilding the 348. He dressed it up as he figured GM would have done it back in the day, with a dual-quad option. But in this case, they aren't carbs, but rather a pair of EFI units from FAST that's dressed up in factory style air breathers for an OEM look. The fresh big block is backed up by a modern transmission as well, in this case, a TCI-built 700R4 automatic.

Enduring Tale

Two-and-a-half years after he started the project, Burger's cool Corvette now has a new story to tell. And to his credit, he's been busy spreading the word, racking up over 4,000 miles on the car since its completion. Hopefully, this time, that story will live on for many more decades to come.

Photos: Hot Rod

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