Nice. Now if there were just a way to pop the rear window out like on the early C3's...

 

It's fine with me. :cool:

 

Well, since this is my car C44ever is talking about, let me add my $0.02 here.

The body shop in question is Burke Corvettes in Orlando. Without a doubt they do some of the finest, highest quality work on Corvettes in the country. And you won't find a nicer bunch of guys, either.

They also did my previous ride (Wild Thing) which some of you may remember as the modified Grand Sport coupe companion to my wife's GS convertible in a recent issue of Vette magazine. That car is still flawless and the paint continues to draw lots of attention.

This current project is a 2002 EB Z06 which I purchased from my good friend, Roger Judski at Roger's Corvette Center. I immediately handed it over to Burke Corvettes to "chop the top" and add a Grand Sport paint scheme (if you know me you also know that was a no brainer :lol: ). I had this project in mind long before John Caravaggio rolled out his first GS Z06 ragtop. Mine has many subtle differences. The base color is Electron Blue, not Admiral Blue, the skunk stripe is laid out in the "correct" way (IMHO) for a C5, it has a carbon fiber hood, white convertible top (black sucks on a GS), chrome Z06 wheels, a Ken King (Vette Essentials) interior, and lots of minor mods. My intent was for it to be a tribute of one great sports car to another, NOT a clone (you'll find no GS emblems on this car!). Even though the car was originally Electron Blue, we completely repainted it, even the door jambs, for the best quality. And of course, all stripes are under several coats of clear. The level of exacting detail they took on this car is amazing.

Like Caravaggio, we also used all new GM parts except for one salvaged deck lid. We've gone one step further by custom reprogramming the Body Control Module (BCM) so the car will "think" its a convertible. No big deal? Probably so, but its the right way to do it.

There is no "kit" out there for doing this at $6500. GM parts alone cost more than that. Wanna see my receipts? :rolleyes:

I used to think Caravaggio's price of $12, 500 was pretty steep. Now I consider it a bargain. There's a lot more work involved than you think. The original hardtop roof does NOT just "unbolt." Its bonded to the rear, halo bar, and windshield frame. The halo bar is welded to the chassis. All the weatherstripping is different. There is no decklid, hinges, or water channel and NO provision in the wiring harness for one. The structural mounts for the convertible top assembly ($3700 new from GM!) are completely missing in a hardtop (well, duh). All the interior panels behind the seats are different. Even the seatbelts are different. You get the idea.

I am very familiar with Danny Morgan and the Corvette Shop in Tampa. He built my previous 2001 Z06 convertible which was, and still is, a decent car. But they take a lot of shortcuts I wanted no part of with this project. Even so, no way would I call it "really easy." Run, don't walk, from anyone that tries to tell you that! :bs

There is a lingering misconception about destroying the "structural integrity" of a Z06 by chopping the top. Fact is, the rigidity of the C5 hardtop, coupe, and convertible are so close as to be insignificant for all but extreme competition duty. Sure, if my intent was to seriously campaign a roadrace/autox car, my choice would be a hardtop or coupe. But for the street and occasional roundy-round you'll never notice the difference.

My 2nd choice would be the Caravaggio targa conversion. That's very well done and congrats to Z06LM for owning a real beauty!

I'm HOPING to pick the car up this weekend but we're still dinging with the computer reprogramming. I'll post decent photos when its finally done but here's a couple of teasers. Sorry for the poor pic quality. We're driving it to Bowling Green for the Labor Day Celebration and the Z06 Fest and will also be at Octobervettes, Eckler's Reunion, and Roger's Cruise-In later this year here in Florida. Hope to see many of you there!!! :cheers:

 

Just got the word that the car is DONE so I'll be picking it up tomorrow after the final hand polish and glaze. I'm so excited I can hardly think straight! Yahooo!!! Look for complete photos soon.

cya'll in Bowling Green!

 

http://www.rogerscorvette.com/temp/z06work/32fr34.jpg

That is an ABSOLUTELY gorgeous looking vehicle!!! :cheers:

If you ever see a black coupe around Orlando honking and waving like an idiot, that's me. If you have a chance, please pull over; I would love to see this car in person.

:cheers:

 

Tim -- If you are out and about Saturday night (Aug 17th), stop by Lindy's Famous Grill on Aloma and Forsythe in Orlando and you can see the car in person then. There is a small open car show held there the 3rd Sat of every month sponsored by the Florida Corvette Club and we'll be there.

Cheers! :seeya

 

I just spoke to John about this thread and about your car Hutch and turns
out that John e-mailed you several pictures of his Grand Sport. From My
conversation with John, He told me that he had talked with John Cafaro and
the two of them thought it would be a cool idea. They talked about this in
the summer of 2000 just before the Z06 hit the streets. The idea was to use
a white Z06 as a starting point because of the white car and also that the
Z06 had the increase in power similar to '96 Grand Sport. I know the entire
six-speed car in '96 had the same motor as the Grand Sport.

The other thing I don't understand about this forum is that they complain
about Caravaggio Corvettes. I personally think he builds the best-looking
cars. Everyone on the forum voted for No Mercy's car as the best looking car
on the forum. That is what comes out of John's shop. I personally think his
interiors are top notch. He is the Ferrari tuner for Corvettes, I have not
seen a nicer car inside and out. To quote his famous line when
building a car "would Ferrari do that". Meaning would you see a Ferrari with
that interior or exterior.
This is just my .02. I just love what he creates.

sorry about the damn size , but just look how great it looks .

 

Joe, did I miss something here? In no way am I putting down John Caravaggio or the awesome work he does. As I said earlier, I think what he charges is a bargain for the top notch quality you get.

John did *try* to send me photos of his Grand Sport conversion but he was never successful. I could never read the durn files. And I don't really care who had the "idea" first but I dreamed and did rough Photoshop sketches of a C5 GS way back when the first 97's came out, as I'm sure several other skunk addicts did too. John was first out the gate so lets allow him those honors. After all, it was his car on the cover of the Dupont Registry magazine that finally convinced me that I had to have one (thanks, John!). It just took me awhile to find the right donor car not to mention get my finances in order. :rolleyes:

I was very close to contracting with John to "do it" when my local talent at Burke Corvettes came to me and said they really wanted to do the job and wanted to use my car to showcase their capabilities. The fact that they also offered to save me $$$ at every opportunity if I was willing to accept a longer build time was attractive too.

Add to that they are local to me, no shipping was needed, and I was familiar with the quality of their work on my previous cars and it cinched the deal. And just as I'm sure you'd rather utilize Canadian dealers whenever possible, I'd much rather keep my money in the US of A if given the choice. :flag

So please... no slam on Caravaggio intended. If Cafaro trusts him that alone is good enough in my book. I'm forever indebted to him for the extra push I needed to go forth with this project and will certainly continue to recommend him. And just LOOK at his work in that photo you posted! How awesome is that?!! :eek:

 

Hutch, Tim has not done his reputation any harm on this one. It looks fantastic. I know what Tim can do. Well done, I look forward to seeing up close real soon. Regards to Patti. :cheers:

 

Nah, I got no problem with ZO6 guys chopping the tops. I think it is a silly limitation put in place by GM to make the ZO6 in FRC trim only.

I can honestly say that when the FRC and ZO6 came out, I did not like the style to them AT ALL. But now, I find I prefer the more aggressive lines of the FRC / ZO6 / Conv to the Coupe. A complete 180.

I think if I had a Zo6 and intended to change anything on it, I would go with the removable top like the Coupes.

Of course, at a price of $12,000........ why not just buy a convertible and put a H/C kit in it that will decimate a Zo6 and still have cash left to burn for aftermarket rims/tires? :eek:

 

 

Hutch

Car looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you going to Carlisle this year?

 

PHOTOS!

Just picked the car up and here is the first set of photos:

http://www.hashmarks.com/2002Z06/



We started off right. Went to our first car show last
night and came home with 1st place in Peoples' Choice.

Gotta run... the open road is calling! :)



[Modified by Hutch, 10:25 AM 8/19/2002]

 

:cheers: Looks GREAT!!

 

Ed -- Thanks. Flying up to Carlisle. Driving the Z06 to both the Labor Day Celebration and Z06 Fest in Bowling Green.

Scott -- Thanks. Hope your baby gets all better soon.

Peach -- Thanks. Burke's quality is self evident in this car. :yesnod:

Brett -- "why not just buy a convertible and put a H/C kit in it that will decimate a Zo6"

Nothing wrong with that but more HP does not make it a Z06. I just wanted something a bit more unique.
I admit I've got my eye on an ATI Procharger for it later on. ;)

For those that have asked, I'll be running a white front license plate cover on the car. Just wanted to give Roger's Corvette Center a bit of PR for the first few days.

I've posted a few more photos at http://www.hashmarks.com/2002Z06/.

Still have the front spoiler, engine component painting, and Halltech carbon fiber air intake to install. Will post those photos when completed.