Corvette Model Gallery
C5-53 Commemorative Edition Corvette
A few years ago, Bill Miller; chief designer of Magna Steyr, and Steve Pasteiner, a former GM designer, took the challenge of working on an interesting idea: Taking the look of the original 1953 Corvette and update it to fit the technology of today's Corvette. Magna Steyr commissioned the design and construction of a prototype to be presented to GM with the hopes of been adopted as the 2003 model. GM liked the idea but eventually decided on the conservative route and use the existing C5 design. GM allowed Advanced Automotive Technologies to produce the vehicle, but it is not an officially endorsed GM product. AAT is producing the car, converting convertible and hardtop C5s in its Rochester Hills, Michigan assembly plant. All new body panels are installed without any structural modification, or any safety feature altered.
The model:
I enjoyed building the C5-54 so
much, I wanted to build another one. since the C5-54 was a mild custom, I
wanted this one to be more classic "stock" in appearance. I
decided to go with a serious formal yet sinister black/red color scheme, with
chrome accents, as it would have been ordered by Darth Vader as his weekend
driver. In order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the V8 arrival into
the Corvette, I call it C5-55, with 1955 emblems and badges.
Paint is Cobra Colors Ultra Black, but I'll change the name to Vader black or how about sinister black?
The CheVrolet script on the doors is what makes it a C5-55. That script was only
used in '55 with a capital V for the V8 engine
Scratchbuilt third brake lamp. The exhaust tips are underneath. The backup
lights were integrated where the original '55 exhaust tips were located. Of
course my very own PR plate.
Stock 2000-'04 Corvette wheels. The calipers are from the Revell glue kit. Added
valve stems to the wheels and the CORVETTE lettering in the front calipers is
highlighted
Mild custom "personalized" C5 interior
'55 nose emblem. HID lights.
Photoetch C5 emblem on the waterfall
Photoetch seatbelts
Fully legal! Inspection sticker, marker lights and turn signal lights
Black is quite hard to photograph.
Heritage.....
If you would like to contact Ismael on this model his e-mail address is: tatocorvette@hotmail.com
Page updated 12/24/04