1956 Corvette Gasser Gets a Second Chance at Life (Photos)
When you see a 1956 Corvette, you look, that is just the way it is. But this classic Vette will blow your mind even more than you thought it would.
1. Gasser
Gassers have been known to kill the drag strips for decades, thanks to their nitro-gas fueled engines. We are not really used to seeing a car like the '56 Corvette as a gasser hot rod, simply because it's such a legendary car that is worth a lot of money. Most people choose to restore them back to their original glory instead of building them into something crazy. Well, if this gasser doesn't add to the legend's tale, then nothing will.
2. The Perfect Deal
Back in 1968, a man named Michael found a 1956 Corvette at a rental yard. The vehicle had seen better days, as it had been completely abused on the drag strip. The car was taken apart and then unceremoniously completely ignored. Michael made an offer to the owner of the Corvette and ended up taking it home for $350... which he paid in payments. Unfortunately, right before Michael started working on the Corvette, he got drafted into the Army.
3. A Second Chance
The car sat idle until 2004 when Michael's brother, Marty, took the Corvette to his shop, Signorile Speed in California. Marty collaborated with his team to bring this Corvette back on the road in just three months. The very first step was to strip the Corvette down and then take the chassis to have it blasted to within an inch of its life. The chassis was then hung in place by vintage lift bars and transverse leaf springs. The team equipped the gasser with drum brakes that are connected to stainless steel brake lines to improve the stopping power. The Corvette sits on four vintage 15-inch Ansen wheels to set things off nicely.
4. The Heart of the Corvette
Sticking out of the hood of this Corvette is a big-block 427, which has a steel crank. The heads were slightly modified GM rectangular-port heads, which work together with a COMP Cam, providing plenty of power to this piece of art. The Crower 2.9-inch bore fuel injection pushes the fuel into a custom fender well headers. The combination of these components develops 715-horsepower at 7,000 RPM, which are brought to the street through a Muncie M-22 transmission with a custom driveshaft.
5. Completing the Project
A gentleman named Ed Caroll was responsible for all of the fiberglass body, making sure it is straight without any uneven spaces. Freddy Alvarez was the man responsible for this beautiful red color that the Vette wears elegantly, which is Kolor Candy Apple Red. Inside the Corvette are two black vinyl custom upholstery seats, as well as custom gauges by Stewart Warner.
For help with service and maintenance of your car, see the how-to section.