National Corvette Museum Receives 1985 Lingenfelter Corvette Donation

A 1985 Chevrolet Corvette that has just recently been added to theNational Corvette Museum‘s collection. Before you roll your eyes and say “it’s just a C4,” take a look at some of the performance specs.

It’s been enhanced by a slew of parts from Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, and features a 383 stroker with a 638 block, ported stock heads, upgraded valves, a Scat 9000 crank, Lingenfelter 5 degree flat pistons, Lingenfelter 74219 cam, COMP Cams Pro Magnum SBC 1.6:1 rockers, Lingenfelter SuperRam, Lingenfelter cold air intake, a 58 mm throttle body, Bosch Design 3 30# injectors, F.A.S.T. EZ-EFI system (based off of speed density), and an MSD ignition. All of this equates to nearly double the factory power output.

The robust engine is matted to a modified transmission with a 3.54 rear end. Larger front brakes with force air cooling and slotted rotors were installed, as well as the following: Z51 suspension and steering components coupled with lowering springs and KYB shocks, Sumitomo HTR Z tires and 1996 Collection Edition Wheels, and last but not least the Lingenfelter headers and Borla cat-back exhaust system.

There are a few interior and exterior modifications, too, including Auto-Meter gauges which were used to replace the digital dash. A stellar car for sure, and it was first enjoyed by Bob Hunnicutt, a Floridian car collector and hot-rodder. Moreover, it was Hunnicutt and his well-known friend Jim Formato who actually transformed the Corvette, LPE was merely a supplier of parts.

Bob would race the car for a decade before selling it. The next owner then drag raced it for a season before sticking it in the back of a garage for another decade. It was eventually traded for a Harley, and after the third owner gave up on restoring it the car ended up in the hands of John Blinn from Austin, Texas.

Blinn finished the restoration, and after enjoying it for some time he decided to donate the car to the National Corvette Museum. About a week ago, on May 26, Blinn brought the car to the museum and drove it one last time around the track at NCM Motorsports Park.

“It’s a special car,” said John. “I don’t know of another that has all the Lingenfelter modifications on it. I’m getting older and thought it was time to do something with the car.”