My Corvette : Peter Brock

Re-shaping a classic: Brock's '63 split-window Stingray

By Claudio D'Andrea

Peter Brock approached his work in re-designing a 1963 Corvette Stingray with two things in mind: Keeping the original lines and form and making it more functional.

Brock, known by Autoweek as the "master of motorsports" and known for his work in his performance racing brand Datsun and Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, had his 550-hp V-8, split-window C2 on the auction block at Barrett Jackson recently. And it's a beauty of a car.

Car and Driver reported on his work earlier this year and said how at age 19 Brock was asked to draw up the then-new Chevrolet Corvette. Bill Mitchell, the department head at the time, chose Brock's original sketch in 1957 and six years later it went into production.

"Two main points on this redefinition of the design," Brock told the magazine. "One, keep the original lines and form as close to the original as possible. The car is already a styling icon. Two, my original design details that were compromised for production had to be made functional."

Brock used a C2-generation Corvette donor body with modifications by Mike Staveski of Restomod World in Florida. Car and Driver said "it's almost a shame to call this just a restomod" because this Corvette "is a master class in subtlety."

Wider wheels were used on the body and vents and scoops were fully functional. The trademark split-window glass was widened to give better visibility out the back.

"By stripping out most of the chrome, the timelessness of this shape is further enhanced, a designer's sketchbook rather than plenty of shiny brightwork to lure in buyers," Brendan McAleer wrote.

The exterior is in dark grey and the interior tan leather and greys with some chrome accents.

"As the last surviving member of the original team behind the Stingray, this is a unique opportunity to own a Corvette that marries modern driveability with a special touch," McAleer concludes. "Peter Brock had to wait nearly 70 years to get the C2 Stingray just the way he liked it. Here it is, and it's lovely."

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