One big upgrade is the custom audio/video system in the '99's trunk. "I'd been to many shows with that and never turned it on," Baker says. "Then, in 2010, I went to the car show in Ocean City, Maryland, and met up with some Marine recruiters there. They all asked me the same question: 'Why don't you have your system on?' I said that I didn't have anything for the Marine Corps that I felt was honorable enough to play on the system. They gave me a recruiting tape of all the Marine Corps TV commercials, and that's what I play on there now. When I go out, I do the recruiting side for them, and I play the commercials on the system, and it's wonderful."
Are you inspired by this C5? Baker says if you're planning to upgrade a Corvette of your own, don't rush the project. (He didn't rush this one: What you see here took about five years to do). "Take your time and choose the things that you want on your Vette to go along with your personality, and have it mean something," he says. "Buy quality, and it will definitely make a change in your Corvette and how you present it. The year of the car doesn't really matter--it's how you put it together."
How Baker put his '99 Corvette together is not only a tribute to him and to America's Only True Sports car, but to all United States Marines--especially those whose sacrifice is symbolized by the car's sanguineous color.
| Spec Sheet: '99 Convertible |
| Owner |
Reginald Baker; Upper Marlboro, MD |
| Block |
Stock LS1 aluminum |
| Displacement |
346 ci |
| Compression Ratio |
10.0:1 |
| Heads |
Stock LS1 aluminum |
| Valves |
Stock 2.00/1.55 |
| Camshaft |
Stock hydraulic roller |
| Rocker Arms |
Stock 1.7 ratio |
| Pistons |
Stock hypereutectic |
| Crankshaft |
Stock nodular iron |
| Rods |
Stock powdered-metal steel |
| Intake Manifold |
Stock LS1 composite |
| Fuel Injectors |
Stock LS1 |
| Fuel Pump |
Stock |
| Ignition |
Stock coil-on-plug |
| Exhaust System |
SLP "Loud Mouth" stainless steel |
| Transmission |
Stock 4L60E automatic |
| Torque Converter |
Stock |
| Driveshaft |
Stock |
| Suspension |
Stock |
| Rearend |
Stock with 3.15 gears |
| Brakes |
Stock four-wheel discs |
| Wheels |
Forgiato Vizzio; 20x9.5-in front, 22x13-in rear |
| Tires |
Nitto Extreme ZR 245/30ZR20 (front), Pirelli Scorpion Zero 335/25ZR20 (rear) |
| Fuel Octane |
97 |
| Weight |
3,445 lbs with driver |
| Current Mileage |
56,000 |
| Miles Driven Daily |
30 (except in winter) |
Conceived as a tribute to...
Conceived as a tribute to the Marine Corps, the spectacular underhood mural was painted by Josh Smith of Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania. It features the Corps’ MV-22 Osprey, the Blue Angels’ C-130, and a 21-gun salute at the bottom.
Matching the Magnetic Red...
Matching the Magnetic Red color outside is more carbon-pattern trim in the interior.
Baker and his C5 are shown...
Baker and his C5 are shown here outside the Marine Corps Museum, on the grounds of the Quantico (Virginia) Marine Base.