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Aussie company Corvette Clinic has built a right-hand drive Corvette ZR1. Photo Gallery
A small car company in Victoria has done what General Motors couldn't - build a right-hand drive Corvette ZR1.
However, be prepared to dig deep for the privilege of owning the Porsche-killing American supercar. The ZR1 will cost around $300,000, more than double its North American price.
Peter Whiston, who owns the Bundoora-based conversion company Corvette Clinic, plans to use the sleek American musclecar as his own personal transport but if anyone wants one he is prepared to do more. Whiston's company has 30-years experience converting the sportscars. It has a solid business with the C6 Corvette and Whiston believes the supercharged ZR1 could attract a small following. But he makes no apologies for ZR1's high price.
"There's a lot of local engineering input into the car," he says. Corvette Clinic even sources the leather dashboard material from the same orginal US supplier to Chevrolet. "We love Corvettes, and to be able to have this car - the first right hand drive example in the world - is a real thrill," he says.
The company is the only Australian operations with the compliance paperwork to work on the ZR1. "We don't make a big song and dance about what we do, but we really are proud of our work," Whiston says.
Although the ZR1 is based on the C6, the small operation faced many challenges to overcome. "The interior and dash is the most obvious and visual area of any conversion, and the ZR1's interior and leather-wrapped dash are unique," Whiston says.
Whiston says GM in the US has been on board with the project from the start and even Bob Lutz - former chairman and product tzar - gave the local team the thumbs up. So impressed were GM officials that they say the car could have come straight from the US factory.
The 476kW/819Nm supercharged and intercooled 6.2-litre V8 is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which pushes the powerhouse to 100km/h in less than 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 330km/h. It bristles with state-of-the-art technology, including carbon-fibre mudguards, roof and bonnet to save weight.
The high-performance Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are among the best-performing stoppers fitted to any production car in the world. The suspension has also been tuned to match the huge 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and tyres. The aluminium V8 is hand-assembled using heavy duty, lightweight componentry and is fitted with the latest intercooled Roots-type supercharger. The close-ratio six-speed manual transmission has been upgraded to handle the power and torque.
The ZR1 shares its Magnetic Ride Control with other GM products, including the local HSV GTS. Inside the "dual-cockpit" design features include lightweight, heated, electric leather seats, along with head-up display, navigation system and Bose sound system. Safety equipment includes a full suite of airbags, traction control and active damping system.
"The Corvette is such an iconic vehicle that there always seems to be a demand for cars and conversions," Whiston says.
