Steve Peterson’s 1964 Corvette by Chris Holstrom Concepts
This little red Corvette is a big deal.
At first glance Steve Peterson’s 1964 Corvette looks relatively stock. Check out the 19-inch wheels and the stance, though, and you’ll know something special is happening under the shiny PPG Rosso Corsa Ferrari Red skin. Combine Steve’s vision and the talents of the crew at Chris Holstrom Concepts in Puyallup, Washington, and the result is a Corvette that maintains its classic looks but performs like a new sports car.
Steve fell in love with mid-’60s ’Vettes as a kid and realized his dream a couple years ago when he bought this car at a Barrett-Jackson auction. It crossed the block in pro-street form (big rear tires, etc.) but Steve quickly realized it needed an overhaul to be streetable. He decided a more balanced retro-mod style was what he wanted and that’s when the talented team at Chris Holstrom Concepts got involved
Start with an Art Morrison Enterprises GT Sport chassis that features Art Morrison independent front and rear suspensions combined with Baer GP 14-inch disc brakes on all four corners. Forgeline RS6 wheels (19×19.5 front, 19×11.5 rear) are wrapped in Diamondback Classic redline tires (275/30/19 in the front and 325/30/19 in the rear). Modest 1.5-inch wheel flares help envelop the tires without altering the classic lines too dramatically.
Power comes from a modern LS3 V8 displacing 427 cubic inches and producing 550 horsepower. A Borla induction system and EVOD finned valve covers give the modern power plant a vintage look. A DeWitts radiator and fan combo keep things cool while an Eddie Motorsports S-Drive system spins the accessories. A T56 Tremec manual transmission with a custom shifter handles the gear-changing chores. Exhaust gases exit through stock C2 sidepipes.
The crew at Interior Revolution in Middleton, Idaho, transformed Steve’s ideas into a stylish finished product. Merging black and tan Relicate leather, featuring diamond-patterned inserts, with the black carpet and dash resulted in a strikingly modern touch that respects the vintage design of the original interior.
A custom console – with two cupholders, of course – houses the gear shifter as well as the power window switches. A stock dash houses Dakota Digital HDX gauges. A Momo Heritage steering wheel tops an Ididit steering column, a Vintage Air system keeps the passenger compartment comfortable, and Lokar pedals complete the interior details.
Is Steve happy with the results of his collaboration with Chris Holstrom Concepts? Most definitely. He says he wouldn’t change a thing.
Photos by John Jackson
