Tiffany Blue Screamer – Angela Payne’s Big Block 427-powered ’69 C3 Corvette
Tribute cars are usually accurate replicas of an original – an authentic-looking ’69 Z28 Camaro or a ’70 Boss 302 Mustang, for example. For Angela Payne and Ron Scott, their autocross-racing Corvette is a personal tribute to the iconic ’69 ZL1 Corvette.
Starting with an original 427 four-speed car, their Tiffany Blue screamer is a tribute ’69 C3 Corvette on steroids. Starting with the stock body, Detroit Speed fender flares were installed, along with an electric headlight door kit from DSE. When it came to paint color, though, suppliers were out of the desired color at the time.
“Ron said I had to pick a color,” Angela says, “and my choices were red, black, white…standard colors. I had my heart set on my color!”
Thankfully, friend and fellow autocross racer Ryan Mathews of After Dark Speed in Mooresville, North Carolina talked to Brian Nelson at The Decal Source in nearby McLeansville and the color dilemma was solved. Angela’s preferred color was duplicated in vinyl and applied over a flat-black primer coat.
Under the hood, After Dark Speed assembled the 480-horsepower 427 big block. Chevrolet Performance aluminum heads are topped by GM 427 anniversary valve covers. A Holley Sniper induction system meters the fuel intake, while custom headers and external side exhaust pipes were designed and constructed by After Dark Speed’s Alfred Hamblin. A Silver Sport TKO five-speed transmission, guided by an SST billet STX shifter, manages the gear-changing chores.
A stock chassis was upgraded with a Detroit Speed Speed Ray front suspension, including rack-and-pinion steering. A Detroit Speed DECAlink rear suspension houses a GearFX Hammerhead rear with 3.73 gears. GM C6 disc brakes (six-piston in front, four-piston in the rear) control the Forgeline CT3C wheels (11.5×18 in front, 12.5×18 in the rear) wrapped in BFGoodrich tires. Fitting the big block V8 to work with the aftermarket suspension as well as the clearance at the fender flares presented several engineering challenges that were all managed by the After Dark Speed crew.
The interior is all business, with Dakota Digital HDX gauges residing in a stock dash, a Max Papis steering wheel atop an Ididit column, and American Autowire components directing the electrical power. The Kirkey seats and other upholstery work was handled by After Dark Speed. A Vintage Air Gen II heater with defrost (but no air conditioning) keeps the passengers warm and the windshield clear.
Built to perform as well as look good, this uniquely personal ZL1 tribute ’69 C3 Corvette saw some initial track time in 2022, and we expect to see it on track much more this year.
Photos by John Jackson & Terry Lysak
