According to Martorana, the driveability of the finished car is every bit as beautiful as its looks. In fact, after trailering the '65 to its first couple of shows, he resolved to drive it to all future appearances. After 30 years in the garage, this is one Vette that now thrives on the open road.
This C2 has been judged in six events-three put on by The Corvette Society, and three sponsored by the Long Island Corvette Owners Association. Martorana's Vette was awarded First Place on four occasions and Best in Show on two others. Six wins in six attempts make this Corvette ready to take on the world.
As for his decision to swap the Vette's 327 with a high-performance crate engine, Martorana doesn't look back. "It's just good, old-fashioned Detroit muscle with all-new, proven, and reliable high-performance parts. I would highly recommend this [modification] to other classic Corvette owners."
By combining cutting-edge powertrain performance with an original appearance inside and out, Frank Martorana has successfully accentuated the C2 Corvette's fundamental strengths without degrading its classic-car credibility. In an automotive world with no shortage of build philosophies, that's one formula anyone can embrace.
| Spec Sheet |
| Car | '65 Corvette Coupe |
| Owner | Frank Martorana |
| Block | GM cast iron with four-bolt mains |
| Displacement | 383 ci |
| Compression Ratio | 9.1:1 |
| Heads | GM "Fast Burn" aluminum |
| Valves | 2.00/1.55 |
| Camshaft | GM Performance Parts ZZ383 hydraulic roller; 0.509/0.528-in lift, 222/230-deg duration |
| Rocker Arms | Aluminum roller, 1.5:1 ratio |
| Pistons | Hypereutectic aluminum |
| Crankshaft | 4340 forged steel |
| Rods | Powdered-metal steel |
| Intake Manifold | Polished Edelbrock Air Gap |
| Carburetor | Holley 650-cfm with mechanical secondaries |
| Fuel Pump | GM high-performance |
| Ignition | MSD |
| Exhaust System | 171/48-in Hooker short-tube stainless headers, chromed stock side pipes |
| Transmission | M21 four-speed |
| Driveshaft | Stock |
| Front Suspension | Stock with "Steeroids" power rack-and-pinion |
| Rear Suspension | Stock |
| Rear End | Stock with 3.70 gears |
| Front Brakes | Disc with stainless-steel calipers and drilled rotors |
| Rear Brakes | Disc with stainless-steel calipers and drilled rotors |
| Wheels | Coy chrome five-spoke; 17x7-in front, 18x7-in rear |
| Front Tires | Goodyear Eagle F1, 225/45-17 |
| Rear Tires | Goodyear Eagle F1, 235/50-18 |
| Fuel Octane | 93 |
| Weight | 3,650 lbs |
| Best ET/MPH | N/A |
| Best 60-ft. Time | N/A |
| Current Mileage | 1,000 |
| Miles Driven Weekly | Approximately 50 |