Scotty Hooper’s Subtle, but Supercharged, 1958 Corvette
When Scotty Hooper wanted someone to build his 1958 Corvette, he only had to look a few miles down the road from his home in Cullman, Alabama, to the nearby town of Hanceville. That’s where longtime friend and nationally known builder Paul Atkins has his shop.
Paul’s shop – Paul Atkins Hot Rods and Interiors – has been turning out high-quality interiors and complete cars for decades. Selecting a builder for your dream car often requires talking to and evaluating several possible candidates before making this significant decision. Not so for Scotty – Paul and his crew already had his confidence.
Why a 1958 Corvette? That’s the year when Scotty was born, of course. After finding a suitable vehicle, the team tackled the complete project in Paul’s shop.
After the fiberglass body was repaired and restored, it was painted in Glasurit custom-mix chocolate brown paint by the Atkins crew. The iconic side coves on the Vette were painted a lighter beige to match the interior components. The body was then attached to a Roadster Shop Fast Track Stage III frame that was powder coated in a matte Roman Bronze hue. Front and rear suspension systems feature Bilstein two-way adjustable shocks and Wilwood six-piston disc brakes. A Trutrac Positraction differntial incorporates 3.70 gears.
Power comes from a Chevrolet Performance LT4 dry-sump V8 that produces 650 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. Hydro-dipped valve covers and intake top give the illusion of carbon fiber. A Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission from American Powertrain changes the gears, utilizing a Tick Performance clutch master cylinder. An Axle Exchange driveshaft links the transmission to the rearend, which directs power to 19-inch Forgeline rear wheels complemented by 18s up front and wrapped in Continental Extreme tires.
Paul Atkins’ shop has been turning out eye-popping custom interiors longer than it has been creating complete rolling masterpieces, so the interior is where a lot of creative action resides. The Atkins custom seats are covered in khaki and sepia leather with thin brown inserts. A Corvette Collection steering wheel resides on an Ididit tilt column. An Atkins’ Dashworks piece houses the custom Dakota Digital VHX gauges. Other interior creature comforts include Lokar pedals, power windows, electric windshield wipers, and a Kenwood head unit that drives an 8-inch Polk subwoofer and 6×9-inch speakers.
The two-and-a-half-year project produced a stunning Corvette, an understated and quietly refined beauty that stands out in a crowd of brightly colored competitors. Scotty’s ride proves that a subtle color pallet can excel. And with power from a supercharged LT4, it can rapidly accelerate, too!
Photos by John Jackson
