Lingenfelter’s C2 Corvette Shines Bright in Vegas

Joined by a new Camaro and an old Firebird, Lingenfelter’s Corvette show cars drew tons of attention.

Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is arguably one of the top names in the world of GM aftermarket performance and at last week’s 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we saw many vehicles sporting LPE upgrades. However, to get the most Lingenfelter goodness, you had to go to their dedicated booth and once there, you were greeted with a host of crate engines on stands, a 1967 Firebird restomod, a built 2017 Camaro ZL1 and three very unique C2 Corvette show cars.

F-Bodies Old and New

First up, Lingenfelter brought a pair of F-Bodies to SEMA; or one F-Body and a car that was previously part of the F-Body legacy. This includes the sweet 1967 Pontiac Firebird restomod named Project Oculus and a 2017 Camaro ZL1 with the LPE 1000 package.

The classic Pontiac was rocking the full restomod treatment inside and out, with custom body work, modern brakes, a lowered suspension setup, late model wheels and the stunning bright red paint job, but the big story is under the hood.

This 1967 Firebird is powered by a Lingenfelter-built LSA V8 that delivers 901 horsepower and 976 lb-ft of torque. That power is achieved by an elaborate engine built that includes a Kenne Bell supercharger, with the power being channeled to the rear wheels by means of a sequential manual transmission.

As for the 2017 Camaro ZL1, Lingenfelter adds ported heads, a new camshaft, long-tube headers and a long list of other upgrades to increase the output from 650 to 1,000 horsepower.

C2 Corvettes

Alongside the old and new muscle cars were three C2 Corvettes, or at least three cars that look a great deal like C2 models from the right angle.

First up, we have this gorgeous bright white C2 hardtop that has been fitted with chrome C6 ZR1 wheels, modern brakes and a suspension setup that drops the body down over those newer rollers a bit. Most importantly, this car is powered by some variation of a LPE-built LS engine, so it likely packs far more power than any standard engine from the C2 era.

Next, we have a 1963 Grand Sport Corvette that wasn’t built by General Motors. This is a Superformance Grand Sport, so it is actually a kit car that is approved by GM to look like the original 1963 Grand Sport Corvette. This car is powered by a Lingenfelter 427-cubic inch LS-based V8 that offers around 550 horsepower, but the chassis and body are designed to offer incredible performance on the road or the track.

Finally, we come to this unique C2 Corvette with a C1 front end. In addition to the front end swap, this classic Chevy has a plush, leather interior and a modern LT4 engine under the hood, delivering 650 supercharged horsepower.

Check out the gallery below for a closer look at all of the vehicles discussed above, along with a handful of LPE crate engines.

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com