AutoArt 1:18 2007 Corvette C6R ALMS #4 O. Beratty/O. Gavin Bill Bennett likes the old school approach that the Corvette racing team employs - but how about the new school trend of producing sealed models? Review by Bill Bennett

Overview

When GM’s Corvette Racing Team showed-up at Laguna Seca Raceway (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) October 20, 2007 with two cars emblazoned with “Jake” the team’s skull mascot, the competition knew what they’d known all year: These guys were here to finish the season in their typical “Take No Prisoners” approach and demonstrate their dominance of the GT1 class !

For the final race of the season at Laguna Seca, the Corvette Racing Team decided to make their “Jake” skull logo the dominant design theme of their #3 and #4 Compuware-sponsored cars. AutoArt has brought us the Laguna Seca (and season) winning #4 car in a “sealed body shell” version of the racer that Olivier Beretta and Oliver Gavin drove to the 2007 American LeMans Series (ALMS) Driver’s Championship, and supported the team’s winning of the 2007 ALMS Manufacturer’s Championship for GM and the 2007 ALMS Team Championship for Corvette Racing.

Both the #3 and #4 ALMS C6.R’s are powered by LS7.R racing versions of the LS7, 7 liter (427 cu. In.) small block. The cars demonstrated GM’s concern for the environment by running E85 Ethanol fuel which is 85% ethanol (corn-based alcohol) and 15% gasoline. The cars are based on the sixth generation Corvette with hydroformed frame rails coming from the production car. But don’t be confused, these cars are purpose-built racecars constructed by Pratt & Miller in New Hudson, Michigan.

About Jake: Eddie Jabbour from Kick Design noticed that the Corvette Racing Team had adopted a skull design that represented their “take-no-prisoners” attitude toward their racing. One evening over beers, Jabbour drew the Corvette crossed-flag logo on a cocktail napkin and then drew a skull-shaped head around the logo. The design stuck and has been promoted extensively by www.badboyvettes.com. The 2007 Laguna Seca race was the first time the logo was the dominant design element for the team’s livery although Jake had been featured on the cars since the 2005 LeMans race.

AutoArt’s replica of the season-winning #4 ‘Vette is a visual stunner. The tuxedo black and rich yellow paint is absolutely gorgeous and the Jake graphics and contingency and sponsor decals look exceptional, even under the scrutiny of a high-powered magnifying glass. The body cut lines look crisp and realistic. The vents in the tops of the front fenders are reminiscent of the mouth on a baleen whale and are executed with an unexpected level of precision. The tiny antenna on the top of the greenhouse looks beautifully to-scale and is surprisingly rugged. Peering through the wheels to see the brake discs, they appear to be photoetch with radial brushing so as to appear remarkably realistic. And even though the interior seems to be complete, the only way to truly appreciate it is to take a flashlight and shine it into the car while peering in through the windows on the other side of the car.

I am a big fan of AutoArt and the cars they have given us. Their D-Jag and XJ-13 are two of my favorite pieces in my collection. So their move to making “Sealed Body Shell” cars has had mixed emotions for me and has not been generally that well received among serious collectors. On one hand, the visible car has the same high level of finish and detail that has been a trademark for AutoArt. And intellectually, I know that I would not be able to have the car as quickly, inexpensively or maybe at all, if they produced only units with opening doors, removable body panels, and fully-detailed running gear. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t miss the days when I could “undress” the car and see how the engineers solved the problems associated with putting together a successful race car. It reminds me of one of my favorite appropriately Motown groups, the Temptations, when, in the 60’s they sang; “Beauty’s Only Skin Deep”.

Legacy Motors has AUTOart's Corvette C6R ALMS #4 -- winner of the 2007 series -- in stock and ready to ship. Click Here.