Since he's had it, Kernya's '91 has been on the cover of at least one Australian car magazine (Unique Cars), and he's won class-champion trophies every time he's shown it at events in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. He even scored a Best In Show with it at the '09 Darling Harbour Corvette Show.
What's it like to drive? "I love the instant response when I hit the throttle and, of course, that it is still easy to drive in traffic," says Kernya. "When I first got it, every time I drove it, or even thought of driving it, I got an automatic smile on my face." That "inner smile" continues, according to Kernya, after all the time he's owned it (some 10 years now), and after all the upgrades.
Does Kernya have any advice for potential Corvette owners anywhere in the world? "When you are looking for your car, it should reflect your personality," he says. "When you have made your choice, you will be welcomed into a circle of Corvette lovers, where you can share your story of how you got to get your pride and joy. Choose carefully, and don't keep putting it off."
All the "aluminium" pieces...
All the "aluminium" pieces of Kernya's '91 have been polished, helping him score class wins whenever he's shown it.
Like a U.S.-spec '91 Vette,...
Like a U.S.-spec '91 Vette, just with the wheel on the right. Corvette Clinic in Bundorra, Victoria, handled the conversion.
Factory gear lever stirs a...
Factory gear lever stirs a modified 700R4 overdrive automatic, while the original FX3 Selective Ride and Handling switch is flanked by reversed seat controls.
| Spec Sheet: '91 Coupe |
| Owner | Les Kernya; Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia |
| Block | Stock L98 cast-iron |
| Displacement | 350 ci |
| Compression Ratio | 10:01 |
| Heads | Aluminum L98, ported and polished |
| Valves | Stock L98 valves with dual valvesprings |
| Camshaft | TPIS ZZ9 hydraulic roller |
| Rocker Arms | TPIS roller |
| Pistons | Stock L98 hypereutectic |
| Crankshaft | Stock L98 cast |
| Rods | Stock L98 cast |
| Intake Manifold | TPIS Big Mouth aluminum |
| Throttle Body | TPIS |
| Fuel Injectors | Stock L98 |
| Fuel Pump | Stock L98 |
| Ignition | ACCEL Super Coil electronic |
| Exhaust System | TPIS headers, Sports Cats, and after-cat exhaust |
| Transmission | 700R4 with HD rebuild |
| Torque Converter | Stock 700R4 |
| Driveshaft | Stock |
| RHD Conversion | Corvette Clinic; Bundorra, Victoria, Australia |
| Suspension | Stock RPO FX3 Electronic Selective Ride and Handling Control, composite leaf springs |
| Rearend | Stock Dana 36 with 3.70 gears |
| Brakes | PBR Grand Sport four-wheel disc upgrade |
| Wheels | Stock '91 Corvette aluminum, 17x9.5 in (front/rear) |
| Tires | BFGoodrich Comp TA, 275/40ZR17 (front/rear) |
| Fuel Octane | 98 |
| Weight | 3,483 pounds with driver |
| Best E.T. | 13.2 second |
| Miles Driven Monthly | Approximately 200 |