1974 Chevy Corvette - Maximum Bite

Nonetheless, 1974 was a banner year for Corvette, the second-largest production run to that date in the marque's history (1969 was the highest). Chevrolet produced 37,502 '74 Vettes, including 32,028 coupes and 5,474 convertibles. Three engines were available: the L48 and L82 small-block 350s, rated at 195 and 250 hp, respectively; and an LS4 454, rated at 270 hp. Today, these soft-bumper Vettes are in plentiful supply and reasonably priced, making them excellent candidates for every kind of restoration imaginable.

That's why we're inviting you to travel with us to Australia, as we dredge up the story of a chromed-out carcharhinus (that's a genus of shark, in case you slept through marine-science class), a '74 coupe that pays tribute to the great Baldwin Motion Vettes of the past.

In the 1990s, Cummings extracted the Corvette's L48 mill, in favor of a GM Performance Parts ZZ3 350 HO crate engine. According to Dr. Jamie Meyer, associate marketing director of GMPP, "The ZZ3 was one of the best-selling crate engines of all time. It featured an iron block with four-bolt main caps, a 3.48-inch forged-steel crank, powdered-metal steel rods, and 4.00-inch high-silicon aluminum pistons. It was topped with GM aluminum heads with 1.94/1.50 valves, 1.5-ratio rockers, and a 9.8:1 compression ratio, giving it a rating of 345 hp. Its successor, the currently available ZZ4, is an improved version with 355 hp."

Cummings didn't stop there. He gave his Vette the best road manners he could rustle up, installing tubular A-arms and a spreader bar from Vette Brakes and Products, along with front Bilstein shocks and a dual-mount spring.

Along the way, Cummings volunteered the Vette for its share of appearance mods, too. He painted it Bright Dark Teal, and installed '80 front fenders, '82 rear quarters, '77 sports mirrors, a '78 Pace Car front spoiler, and a Chestnut cloth interior.

Meanwhile, 9,500 miles away, Evans was so intrigued by the Corvette that he flew to Detroit, checked it out, bought it, and transported it back to Australia. While his original plan was to enjoy the car as it was, a peculiar pair of paint dimples ultimately led him down a different path: to transform the Vette into one of the most sinister-looking Stingrays ever to grace these pages.

Enter Detroit Custom Bodyworks, the Sydney-based muscle-car-restoration firm Evans enlisted to strip the Corvette to its shell, gut its interior, and transform it into a sensual road rocket. "We added a '67 Stinger hood and painted the car Arctic Silver with a Corsa Rosa stripe. We also laser-cut some Bowtie-themed front grilles and Chevrolet-logo side-pipe covers to add to its customization," Evans says.

Next, Concord Motor Trimmers in Concord designed and installed the beautiful two-tone interior. The shop utilized four different black and red Belgium leathers to fabricate the seat covers and matching door panels. Additional cabin accoutrements include Simpson racing harnesses, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a custom billet console and gauge bezel, an MSD tachometer and transmission-temperature gauge (augmenting the stock units), and a roll bar.

Not yet ready to call it quits, Evans turned his attention to the Vette's under-bonnet appearance. He called upon Peter Huckstepp, who outfitted the bay in billet, polished aluminum, and other brightwork, including the alternator, a Tuff Stuff power-brake setup, a five-core radiator, a 3,500-cfm electric fan and shroud, and various trim pieces.

Hooker Super Comp side-mount headers, Spiral Turbo Specialties baffles, Speedy 17x8-inch wheels, and Kumho 255/50ZR17 rubber round out the "restification." What remains original on the Stingray? "Not much," Evans says, "except for the factory four-wheel disc-brake setup and the IRS."

The Vette's track times are winners, too. In a recent outing, the car blasted through the quarter-mile in 12.97 seconds, a full three seconds faster than it was capable of when new.

"I always wanted a Corvette, and I'm glad this one wasn't a numbers-matching car," Evans says. "It made the rebuild more fun, and it enabled me to build the car the way I like."

There's no doubt the '74 Vette was lacking in performance by today's standards. But thanks to one dedicated Australian, there's one more shark prowling the waters with the bite it needs to back up its name. "Corvettes are meant to have power, and to draw attention wherever they go," Evans says. "Before, this car was a Corvette in name; now it's a Corvette in spirit. To me, that's the best it can ever be."