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N2A: A Corvette-Fifties Chevy Mashup
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A lot of strange and intriguing e-mail crosses my digital transom. There are the rants and the raves, the corrections and the questions, and of course, plenty of press releases. You learn whose notes you want to read first—the e-mail hors d’ouevres, if you will—and those always include old friend Dick Nerod.
Now retired from General Motors, Dick is seemingly as active as ever, even if it’s just sending out notes like the one I got this morning on the N2A. Rather than interpret his words, here’s what he tells us: “This is built by N2A (No 2 Alike) motors. Cost $75,000 over cost of new Corvette. The company is planning a production run of about 100 vehicles. Sits on a Corvette C6 chassis, front styled like a ‘57 Chevy, side like a ‘58, rear like a ‘59. Hence the designation "789."
Apparently, this design mashup made its appearance at Autorama earlier in the year and is the brainchild of Fred Kanter, a collector and entrepreneur who also happens to own the rights to the Packard brand name. From what we’ve been able to piece together, it took him about 14 weeks to produce the carbon fiber body, though pretty much what’s underneath is stock C6 ‘Vette. That means about 400 horsepower from the LS2 V-8.
We’ve seen plenty of similar ventures over the years, including the disastrous Excalibur, thirty-some years ago. Whether N2A will pull it off is uncertain, but the look is certainly intriguing. To our own, jaded eyes, the most striking angle is the rear, which really does capture the best features of the ’59 Chevy.
Responses (10 total)
By Nick Hlavaty | Posted: May 24th 2007, 06:39:00 PM
GM should have built this roadster instead of the ugly(er) Solstice and Sky.
By Colman | Posted: May 22nd 2007, 06:14:41 PM
Why a '59 rear? Certainly not for looks and not for handling either: we had a '60 Chrysler with outward angled fins, and it was quite unsteady on the highway when there were crosswinds. The curved fins catch crosswinds and really push you around. This was not ever a problem with cars with vertical tailfins.
By turbomooney@yahoo.com | Posted: May 22nd 2007, 02:22:59 AM
looks like a 57 chev front from the side and a blend of a 58 and a 59 chev rear from the side and the rest of it is just as ugly..
By Flyerbry | Posted: May 21st 2007, 11:11:21 PM
Too disjoined... It looks exactly like what it is - a mis-match of multiple models. to make it worse, the windshield still looks like it came from a Corvette. The front and rear wheel openings don't have a single common line or arc. The drivetrain is the best part - at least the underpinnings aren't out of a Mustang! It actually reminds me of the batmobile from the old TV series more than anything.
By Michael Comer | Posted: May 21st 2007, 04:49:56 PM
Is this the same group that did the nice '53 rework on a modern chassis? I remember it as built on a C5 and looked nice from most angles. A common failing in my eyes are the vastly oversized wheel/tire fitments on most of this type of project. They end up looking a bit too "Hot Wheels" and detracts from the retro-ness.
By Lee Stone | Posted: May 21st 2007, 02:13:20 PM
An excellent retro vehicle. Captures the best of the features of all 3 years. I guess the rear has teardrop taillights. Would like to see more views of this vehicle.
By Wayne Graefen | Posted: May 21st 2007, 12:37:42 PM
I'm a NO-WAY-Chevrolet guy, don't even park one in my drive way. BUT, I love custom cars and I think this is a fantastic styling exercise. I believe it will be successful but agree with above writer that it should be monotone as there is enough split personality in the design alone. But you STILL can't park any Corvette-thing in my driveway.
By Mark Tapscott | Posted: May 21st 2007, 11:16:03 AM
No, a 55-56-57, front to rear, would be better. Actually, forget the 56 and 57, just give me the 55.
By John Flood | Posted: May 21st 2007, 09:15:59 AM
I'd like to see it in one color, the two-tone doesn't do it for me. Perhaps a single color version would make it look less fragmented. But don't ask me to buy either way. Retro and Neo-classics aren't my cup of tea, although I appreciate the exercise.
By Matt | Posted: May 21st 2007, 01:28:39 AM
Given its low-slung lines, the initial impression I get is more of a Studebaker Hawk series car than classic Chevrolet models. Hint, hint.
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