As expected, the Lingenfelter Corvette delivered thrilling, traction-limited 12.0-second/122.9-mph elapsed times in the quarter mile and ripped 0-60 mph in only 3.9 seconds. But the shock was how well-balanced the whole car is. On the road course it crisply clipped corners and pushed ahead with a powerband more flexible than U.S. trade policy. It wasn't just quick, it was easy-and regardless the situation, there's always something to save you: big brakes, loads of power, and scads of lateral grip. Except for the extra $24,364 over the cost of the original car (which is still less than Chevy asked for the not-nearly-as-quick ZR-1 option), there's absolutely nothing ill-mannered about Lingenfelter's modifications.
The source of that friendliness is an ultraflat torque curve. At only 2250 rpm, the Lingenfelter 383 produced 363 pound-feet of torque at the rear wheels on the Pro Dyno dynamometer and peaked at 386 pound-feet at 4750 rpm. The consistency is such that the torque numbers didn't drop below that 363 pound-feet until 5750 rpm, and then only down to 355. Boil it all down, and what that means is no matter where you are between 2000 rpm and redline, there's always at least 350 pound-feet of torque at your command.
Lingenfelter will put this same engine in a Camaro, Firebird, or Impala SS (or Buick Roadmaster or Cadillac Fleetwood, for that matter) if you like-all of which have practical advantages over the two-seat, hard-to-get-into Corvette. But to experience the engine in this car is just downright metaphysical.
Engine: 6.3-liter OHV V-8Major engine modifications:Increased displacement, modified heads, reworked intake systemHorsepower @ rpm: 470 @ 5800 (est.)Torque, lb-ft @ rpm: 463 @ 4800 (est.)Transmission: Stock 6-speed ZF manualBrakes, f/r: Alcon discs/discs, ABSWheels, f/r: 17 x 10.0/17 x 11.0-inch, FikseTires, f/r: BFGoodrich Comp T/A R1 275/40ZR17/315/35ZR17Other mods: 3.92:1 rear gears, 30mm front anti-roll barModifications and labor: $24,364
Techart Porsche 911 Carrera - 468hpA Supercharged, Carbon-Fibered, $150,000 Thrill Ridehis screaming yellow scorcher is fast and furious, but let us warn you right from the start: Bargain hunters should look elsewhere. The fact that a new Porsche 911 Carrera in stock form stickers at close to $65K should be a tip-off that such a heavily modified machine is no Camaro competitor in the budget department. But there's a small cadre of performance enthusiasts for whom spending $87,430 in modifications is pocket change. That's in addition to the price of the stock car itself, friends, which brings the total near a heady $150,000.
What you get for this mortgage-sized tally is a virtual Oktoberfest of go-fast components, swoopy body parts, and high-tech interior trim pieces. Claus Ettensberger Corporation (CEC) is the sole authorized North American importer and distributor for TechArt equipment, and it delivered to our Arizona test venue its freshly completed show car-yes, its show car: the kind of pampered and polished turntable artwork that's more accustomed to velvet-glove rubdowns than leadfooted track use; the kind that usually blows up 30 seconds after being unloaded from its climate-controlled transporter because no one has thought to calibrate little factors like air-fuel mixtures. Although this car had arrived only recently from TechArt's facilities in Fellbach, Germany, and hadn't been fully prepped, CEC's Mitchel Zahner was confident of its abilities. With his blessing, we got in and drove like demons.
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