American Super Car’s guinea pig is fresh from the weed patch. At no time were complete Mid-Year Corvettes harmed during production of this movie.
 The patient before the mad scientists start their work.... |
"The idea was to do a car that’s never been done before, to go beyond the front engine/rear-drive form that no one has had the guts to challenge,” said American Super Car proponent Phil Somers. “All the great European road machines adopt mid-engine placement for the ultimate front-to-rear weight bias and lowest center of gravity, as well as high rate handling and top end speed. The V7 twin-turbo has all of that and presented in a classical and very recognizable form. The super coupe crosses traditional boundaries and incorporates ideas and execution borne of European super cars, desert racing, Pro Touring, as well as Main Street, USA.”
For several weeks now,
 ASC crafted the chassis (main rails and “sub-frames”) from 2x3x0.125-inch wall mild steel tubing. The front of frame awaits the Viper-inspired hardware. |
cyberspace has been riddled by images and stacked with prognostication about this mid-engine form. What’s not to like about a car that breaks the mold of tradition without concern for violating the sanctity of the Mid-Year Corvette? American Super Car (ASC) found their split-window, whale-bone weathered carcass (sans frame) behind a local garage where it had waited patiently for at least a generation to be put back into practical use.
This car is being prepared for the ’07 SEMA and PRI shows. With this issue, MaxChevy will post monthly construction progress. At this point, the V7 has already been fitted with its rudimentary chassis rails, front and rear suspension, steering system, and placement of the engine and transaxle. The chassis is built from 2x3x0.125-wall square tubing. The mock engine is a Pay-R composite temporarily cozying up to an empty Mendeola transaxle case. A twin-turbocharged/intercooled LS derivative produces 1,070hp and 915 lb-ft of torque from 395ci.
Next month, we’ll be slicing and dicing the body, moving the cab forward, and continuing to fool the Lurch-like guy looming in the periphery.
