Black w/Red interior, LS1, 4-spd. automatic transmission.

This awesome ’54 was created by Darwin Clark, a retired GM executive of 45 years as VP General Manager of Industry Dealer Affairs. He had a long career of car collecting and restoring vintage GM automobiles. Darwin had a quest to build the ultimate 1954 Corvette complete with an untouched original body and the perfect blend of power and handling. It was in 2001 that he purchased the vehicle to start his project. He chose the Newman car creations C4 chassis and components to use as the foundation of the vehicle. The power plant was a 1998 LS1 Chevy small block. Accessory pulleys came from March performance while the cooling was upgraded with a Be Cool radiator. Stainless steel exhaust system using 2 1/2-inch tubing with Flowmaster mufflers. Replacing the original transmission with the 4L60E with a modified Lokar shifter, mated to an aluminum driveshaft.Ex GM designer Steve Pasteiner, proprietor of Advanced Automotive Technologies in Rochester Hills Michigan carefully oversaw the complete and meticulous preparation for paint where the panel alignment was painstakingly gapped to 3/16 of an inch of perfection.

The seating position, which is most important because of a confined original cockpit, was addressed for comfort by dropping the seats downward and rearward to accommodate talker body types.

Instrument cluster and gauges were updated using Auto Meter white faced dials.

Special styling cues included a custom armrest, and other hand fabricated items which were the crowning jewels of the interior.

This project began in approximately 2002. The article that I am reading is from Popular Hot Rodding magazine, January 2005.

Beautifully custom designed and detailed under hood to echo the period Motorama Show cars. The “Harley Earl feel” was further accomplished with the custom interior, featuring the one-off center console and armrest as well as the French seam and custom sculpted seats, allowing for a 6’2″ person to drive the car comfortably. 

Rear view mirrors are characteristic of the GM period show cars thus, also helping create more of the “Harley Earl feel”. The original steering wheel was replaced by a smaller diameter custom stitched unit. 

All of the body gaps were meticulously done to 3/16 of an inch.

The rear bumpers were welded, and metal finished into single units and fit snug to the body.

A 2.5-inch custom stainless-steel exhaust, with Flowmaster mufflers, custom drive shaft is among several other special parts which were done for this car. 

The ’54 rides on classic Halibrand style wheels similar to the Indy cars of the period with 245/50ZR16 on all four corners. 

In 2004 the car won the “Best in Class” as well as “Best Sports” in show at the Detroit Autorama and has appeared in several magazine articles. 

It was also displayed at the Corvette Museum, as well as at General Motors Tech Center. The car was displayed next to the world’s most valuable Corvette, the original 1959 Sting Ray.

• Custom Fabricated aluminum console and armrest
• specially sculpted, French seamed. leather seats
• Motometer white raced gauges
• Corner bumpers welded and metal-finished into one piece and fitted to vehicle.
• Custom rear center bumper with key lock
• License surround welded into one piece.
• LED front turn signals
• L51 Create Motor
• 4L605 Transmission
• 4-wheel disc brakes
• Custom Intake
• Custom radiator, sure tank, and power steering tank
• 16×8 Halibrand wheels
• 245/50/ZR 16 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3