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, hardtops and Z06 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:
Long story made short: Randy (Perry's
resin) fell in love with the Nomad concept vehicle of a few years ago, and
started tinkering with this idea. I was skeptical at the beginning, but at the
end, I liked it a lot. It was never meant to be produced, as it still requires a
lot of scratchbuilding to finish. So after mounting diplomatic, peer, group and
all other types of pressures and tricks in the book, I forced, ehhh convinced
him to cast 4 bodies, keeping 2 for himself. The first one you have already seen
in this gallery and also featured in SA recently. His second one is in the
works. I got the third one and a good friend got the fourth. I worked on this
model for about a year, in almost total secrecy. I was dying to show
progress pics, but I was able to keep it quiet. Not a small feat for me LOL
The color itself has an interesting story in its own right. Over a
year ago, while researching the correct color for my Holy Grail, the Corvette
SS, I ordered to MCW about 8 different possibilities. This is one of the more
than 4 different Nassau blues tested.
MCW paint, Cobra Colors clear. Revell snap C5 donor
Brakes are Pegasus, but I replaced the front calipers with bigger resin units and added the Wilwood logos
The rear windows have no less than 10 parts, and I still feel I need to fiddle with it a bit more. Maybe not.
For some reason, the exhaust tips look bigger in this one, but they are the same size I've always used. Go figure.
The headlight protectors are made of no less than 5 individual wires each. Took many hours to finish, and I am not 100% convinced yet. Inside mirror was scratchbuilt. I got tired of buying Revell C5 kits just for the mirrors LOL.
Photoetch C5 emblem
The underside received as much attention as the top, with custom painted
blue floorboards and everything else detailed painted.
One of my favorite pictures. I love the interiors, even if they are a bit hard to see.
Quite dark inside from this side
If you would like to contact Ismael on this model his e-mail address is: tatocorvette@hotmail.com
Page updated 01/10/06