Corvette Model Gallery

Mako Shark I

1961

First there was the XP-700, a car built for GM design chief Bill Mitchell, then came the XP-755 which was then redone as the Mako Shark I. Design was by Larry Shinoda who will forever go down in Corvette history as the designer of the 1963. The Shark had been styled and painted to resemble a Mako Shark that Mitchell had caught off the coast of Florida. An oft told story is that Mitchell had ordered the car painted to match the colors of the fish but when that was impossible his staff quietly borrowed the mounted fish and repainted it to match the car. While the styling was a stand-out it clearly was the color scheme that made this car. Starting with dark blue upper surfaces it faded to a lighter blue on the sides and finally white on the bottom half.

During its long history the car has seen a variety of changes. It originally sported the all glass top from the XP-700 and the interior from a ‘61, except for the non stock steering wheel that had been a present from Enzo Ferrari. It has also been fitted with several engines including a turbo charged 427 for the 1962 New York Auto Show. 

Nearly 40 years after its creation the Mako Shark I still attracts attention at the Corvette Museum and whenever it is taken out for display.  For the model kit review Mako Shark I.

The model:
Velics Janos from Hungary built this early version of the XP-755 that was later to be known as Mako Shark I

The kit was from Minicraft Models Inc. in 1:20 scale. As the kit gave a lot of parts for the Mako Shark which ones were neither on Shark nor on Mako Shark I. I decided to correct and complete the kit  for the Shark.

The XP-755  was still without front bumpers but with the same removable double-bubble top, wire wheels and interior as the XP-700. 

The engine was charged by a GMC-4-53 Roots compressor and on the bonnet was „Supercharged” readable on both sides of  the vents of compressor.

The model includes the famous Ferrari steering wheel

The assembly sequence had to be altered to give a possibility for the nice body paint – black-blue on top with a smooth changing to white at below.. Top and under halves of body and chassis was glued together  and than cut out the plain chassis. The chassis was completed with engine, compressor , inside exhaust pipes, etc. After the body had painted ready was  installed the car trunk and front grill..  Now had to be glued body and chassis together.  With completing the interior, cutting the windscreen from roof and gluing on place, make the remain roof  removable,  setting the windscreen wipers and letterings on body was the work ready.

Shortly:  no one part could be used without alteration or complete them or change with a new one. The most  important  alterations  were:

                        compressor for engine with transmission
                        openings  for the vents of compressor on the lid
                        removing  the front bumpers
                        change the rear lights to aluminum tube frames with transparent red lamps
                        totally new dashboard with gauges and switches (1958 production type)
                        new seats
                        metal grid in foot well area
                        set the famous Ferrari steering wheel
                        windscreen wipers
                        really wire wheels (own special know-how)
                        tires in correct diameter
                        car trunk bin with spare wheel fixed by rubber belt
                        exhaust pipes from engine complete
                        photo etched letterings and shark

If you would like to contact Velic  on this model his e-mail address is:  velicsj@axelero.hu

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Page updated  11/13/03