After building Prodigy, Ross Spurling needed another challenge and came up with the idea of putting a 69 C3 convertible body on a C6 ZO6 chassis. After all, he had owned a ‘69 C3 427 convertible and a C6 ZO6, loved the driveability of the ZO6 and the timeless style of the C3 Stingray convertible.
For this build he decided to bring on some mates (Hans Peverelli, Roger Oliver and Bob Butler) into the project to pool expertise, and also make the cost justifiable to make moulds for the body and interior.
I joined the team in 2016 to build car # 5. After bidding for and losing on 3 ZO6s at online auction in U.S (there was a lot of written off ZO6s at the time) I won on a sad looking ZO6 with a pool of dirty engine oil and kitty litter dumped on the ground. This car was in California and is a 2006 car, some parts built on my 60th birthday which indicated to me that I was meant to get this car.
The car, body stripped from the chassis, was then shipped to Adelaide.
The first task was to fit a new radiator and oil cooler (oil cooler had been ripped off in the accident, hence the oil on the ground) and start the engine to assess its condition. Sweet as, so next was a driveway test, all positive.
Time to start dismantle, down to bare chassis. Off to Roger’s workshop (team member 3) for windscreen frame removal and mods to chassis to accept widened C3 windscreen frame and C3 doors. Next, off to Ross’ for removal of firewall and fitment of RHD firewall.
While this was going on, a C3 body was cut in half and placed on a chassis for body mock up. Wheel arches were moved to line up with the new wheelbase. The widened C3 windscreen frame was fixed to the chassis A pillars. My chassis was taken home and reassembled for display at 2018 and 2019 Corvettes at the Bay. After that, stripped down to bare chassis and more work done in preparation for fitting of the body. Chassis and firewall painted. Aluminium/ magnesium cross members and all suspension soda blasted and protected. Engine wiring, air conditioner repositioning and steering rack mods done.
As well as the body, dash, door trims, interior trims, inner guards, air conditioner had to be made. In total 70 to 100 moulds were made (lost count) to make up the body section moulds. Then of course 5x panels made.
All C6 electrics were used and wiring looms modified to suit RHD (huge headache). C6 window mechanism was modified to work in C3 doors, and wiper motor adapted to work modified C3 wipers.
Car was then put together and final body prep and paintwork done by professionals. The dash and door trims were custom made and retrimmed.
Only non GM parts used are the bonnet hinges. C3 parts include door frames (reskinned), Windscreen frame (widened), wiper mechanism and bumper bars (modified). All mechanicals, electrics, seats and wheels are from donor car. A Holden Commodore donated its boot hinges. All body panels, all interior panels and dash, all fibreglass work done by team. All RHD conversion done by the team.
It is 8 years since I started on this journey, and I gave up counting when I got to 7000 hours. I have averaged 20 hrs a week 50 weeks a year on this project. Would I do it again? 10 years younger, hell yeh! (though I might have trouble convincing Di). It has been a great journey, a big challenge and a great team of mates to work with.
Arthur Hasse (R4)