Now here's a beauty! The outstanding paint job, done in a deep blue metallic, caught my eye and drew me closer. Hmmm, color keyed Z-28 wheels, beefy low profile tires, trim stripped from the wheel arches and rocker panels, no "Corvair" or "Corsa" emblems, updated side view mirrors, functional Z-28 front fender air exhaust ports inverted and molded in as intakes in the rear quarter panels.

Then it hit me! This was Corvitis, the stunning custom late model coupe built by Ted Fahrenthold of Ted's Auto Body, Inc. Ted was busy judging the Concours event at the moment, but I managed to hook up with him later.

The story of Corvitis is an interesting one. The car was completely stripped and re-worked, using a Crown Corv-8 mid-engine configuration.

While the rear quarter panel scoop and its accompanying rocker panel scoop are mainly cosmetic features, the larger opening is functional, in that it feeds high pressure air to what is now the engine compartment, and formerly the rear seat area. The metal work seen through the opening is the track work for the rear quarter window. There might have been a few hours invested here!

The engine is a 350 cu. in. small-block Chevy V-8, tuned to 300 HP and dressed with Edelbrock ribbed air cleaner and valve covers, and nestled under an insulated box which closes flush with the window line.

At night, with the cover open, a neon lighting arrangement gives enthusiasts a surreal viewing experience.

The power train includes a '66 and later Corvair Saginaw trans-axle. The Crown sub-frame has been moved 1 1/2 inches aft, to provide a little more leg room at the driver's position. The wheel base remains unchanged, so rear toe-in is slightly affected, but not enough to prevent it being correctly adjusted.