Daily Slideshow: Infinite Auto Design Makes the C7 Even Wider
The Liberty Walk-style widebody craze claims a 2015 C7 Stingray.
The Idea
Alvin Legaspi really wanted a Ferrari 458, but not just any Ferrari 458, he wanted Liberty Walk's version of that Italian thoroughbred. It's safe to say a lot of people want a Ferrari, and like a lot of people Legaspi lacked the funds for a 458, Liberty Walked or not. But Legasi has a relative in the auto biz and so he picked up the phone and called his cousin Brian Anthony Garin, owner of Bellflower, California's Infinite Auto Design, and together they hatched a plan. More than a few people, Garin and Legaspi among them, have noted a resemblance between C7 Corvette Stingrays and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, and when the cousins came across a suitable 2015 Corvette they knew they could still have the low and mean look they wanted in a more affordable package.
The Wide
As Garin told Dub Mag, “The C7 was perfect for the build because it was current and he wanted something that would be a great weekend/fun ride, while still being suitable for everyday use.” Garin's Infinite Auto Design has been around since 2009, and since that time their focus has expanded from vehicle wraps, air suspension systems, upholstery, audio, and video to include, "... full one-off pieces of art. Everything from paint & body, Kits, Audio, Full Car wraps, suspension, and much much more..." The art, in this case, would be made, as you can probably guess from the initial Liberty Walk inspiration, by widening the 'Vette. Garin selected a complete widebody kit from Extreme Dimensions Carbon Creations to do the job, as well as that company's carbon fiber hood, spoiler, trunk lid, and rear diffuser. The over fenders aren't meant to blend smoothly into the C7's body, but Garin did a nice job of integrating them into the lines of the Corvette, and they are nothing if not aggressive. A purposeful-looking and fully-functional carbon front splitter from APR Performance completes the look.
The Wheels
Garin chose Infinite Auto Design's own forged custom three-piece wheels, in a deep red finish that almost looks like anodizing and contrasts nicely with the white exterior, to add a bit of Ferrari-like color to the build. The wheels wear Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tires, 275/30R20 front, and 325/25R20 rear, for a look that's stretched but not slammed.
The Go
From the factory, the C7's 6.2-liter V-8 already puts out a major-league 460 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque in normally aspirated form, so Infinite Auto Design went easy on the engine upgrades, adding a cold air intake from K&N, and a super light (Superleggera?) titanium ARK Performance exhaust system. Keeping the upgrades simple added a few horsepower, shaved a few pounds and allowed the 'Vette to pass California's stringent emission standards.
The Sound
Other than the fenders, most of the effort on the C7 went into the serious, and color-keyed, audio system. Garin's go-to stereo solution is Image Dynamics audio, “It’s a great product and my first choice when it comes to audio installs,” he explains, having used them extensively since well before he opened his own shop. A little extra time was spent to make sure the Image Dynamic components worked flawlessly with the GM system. Legaspi was so pleased with the build that not only does he daily the Stingray, he shows it on weekends. You can't always get the Ferrari you want, but if you try sometimes, you get the Corvette you need.
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