Saw my first what I believe is called a Karl Custom split window 63 Corvette today. I have to admit the finish was impressive on the car and I am sure it does everything better then the orginals, but when I saw the prices I wonderd why not buy and orginal? Just who is this car marketed too?
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Re: Karl Custom C2
I assume it's marketed towards the customized RestoMod crowd. New powertrains/suspension/handling/technology with a nod towards original styling. RestoMods can often cost significantly more than a decent original, and the Karl Custom could be considered a turn-key RestoMod with tailorable options. -
Re: Karl Custom C2
I had occasion to visit Karl Kustoms when my C6 Z06 got a flat in the DesMoins area on a Sunday afternoon when I was returning from the June 2014 Regional in Colorado. (No, Karl's is not open on Sunday as I discovered are very few tire shops in that area -- but that is a long off topic story). They were more than helpful to me in my dilemma, and I got a hours-long tour of their operation when I returned with new tires during the week. FWIW: They did an outstanding job mounting and Road Force Balancing the new Michelines.
The fit & finish of what they do is remarkable. They obviously cared a great deal about the quality of their finished product. Not only will they do a '63 style coupe or convertible, but they also produce a '67 style in both body styles. They have plastic (I am not sure what the material actually is, although I am sure I was told. NCRS disease.) body panels made that have the required mid-year themes, but will bolt or in the case of the door panels glue, to the C6 underpinnings. The original C6 sensors and operating hardware remain in place, so one essentially can have from an operating perspective a C6, but from an appearance perspective (at least to the casual observer) a C2.
They also have the capability to modify the C6 suspension and power train to whatever level your pocketbook will stand. Their equipment is all top notch. There was a small group of 4th Generation Camaro enthusiasts there working with the chassis dynamometer at the time of our visit. I can not tell you all the details of what they were doing, but they had a "street" appearing car on the dyno and it was posting some really big numbers. No, I didn't get to see under the stock hood.
One of their outlets is Ken Lengnefelter in the Detroit area. Ken is a member of the Michigan Chapter, and that Chapter has used Ken's remarkable facility for meetings in the past and I am sure they will again. Ken had a booth at Mid-America Funfest this past weekend with one of the Karl's Kustom cars there for your viewing and purchasing enjoyment. We had one on the Road Tour a couple of years ago also.TerryComment
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