Specter Werkes C6 Corvette GTR: Radical Coachbuilt 535 HP Corvette Revealed In Detroit

Yesterday evening we saw the Specter Werkes C6 Corvette GTR make its public debut here at Cauley Ferrari in West Bloomfield, MI. It's rare to have the chance to cover a car from its earliest concept sketches, through the build process and all the way until its public unveiling. But yesterday evening we completed that cycle with the Specter Werkes' special Corvette. The GTR shares only the roof, rear hatch and glass with the exterior of the 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 upon which it is based and has a footprint widened by four-and-a-half inches.The overall design effect is one of taking the C6 Corvette, mixing it with a touch of Viper RT/10, and adding a liberal dash of kick-in-the-pants.

After the nine-foot-tall leggy models pulled the wraps off the GTR, buyer number one Rollie Purifoy pulled the car into the crush of an enthusiastic crowd, giving us an opportunity to spend a couple of minutes talking to company owner Jeff Nowicki. Understandably, Jeff was pretty happy with the end result of over a year of hard work. And why shouldn't he be? Instead of tacking on styling like most aftermarket niche builders, Jeff and his team took the approach of enhancing the Corvette shape with unique styling elements that have the effect of turning the 'Vette up to eleven.

Though many levels of engine tune are available, this first model is based off the Z06, and snorts out 535 HP with 530 lb-ft of torque breathing through a beautiful-sounding Corsa exhaust. It certainly does sound like an eleven.

Let's be honest here though for a moment — this is a $35,000 custom-built body option. You can drop it onto any C6 version of your choosing, making a car with a price range of $75,000 all the way up to more than $100,000. That's not exactly chicken scratch and certainly not an option Joe Sixpack will be taking, but for those few who know what they want and have the cash to buy it, this is a damn impressive-looking car.

The level of fit and finish points to the fact that this is more than just a rebodied car, and the level of design cohesion drew compliments from even the GM Corvette team members in attendance. It's the little touches — like the relocation of the electric door opener from the trailing edge of the door to the wheel well — that make this one of the most badass aftermarket Corvettes we've ever seen, and we congratulate the team at Specter Werkes for a job well done.

SPECTER WERKES/SPORTS UNVEILS C6 CORVETTE GTR #1 TROY, Mich. - Specter Werkes/Sports unveiled the first C6 Corvette GTR at Cauley Ferrari, in West Bloomfield, Mich. Wearing signature wide bodywork, suspension upgrades and equipped with a Matrix II LS3 V-8 rated at 535 emissions-legal horsepower, it was built for Rollie Purifoy, of Purifoy Chevrolet, in Fort Lupton, Colo.

The all-new, C6-based Corvette GTR retains the intrinsic character of the Corvette, augmenting it with appearance, performance and luxury enhancements. It is a distinctive and exclusive sports car with exceptional capability, whether on the street or track.

The GTR package is available on all C6 Corvette models, including the base coupe and convertible, the Z06 and ZR1. Orders are being accepted immediately, with product and ordering information available at www.spectergtr.com or 248-583-9559.

"We are very proud to launch the C6 Corvette GTR with Rollie Purifoy, from Purifoy Chevrolet, and Jeff Cauley, from Cauley Chevrolet and Cauley Ferrari," said Jeff Nowicki, Specter Werkes/Sports founder. "The new GTR offers enthusiasts everything they're looking for in a sports car - performance, great looks and guaranteed exclusivity."

The GTR's expressive, widened bodywork is complemented with the use of exposed carbon fiber details. Standard and optional GTR features include:
Unique GTR bodywork, including:
*Front fascia, carbon fiber splitter, extractor hood, front fenders, doors, rocker panels, rear fenders, rear fascia, carbon fiber rear diffuser, carbon fiber mirror caps, Cleartastic paint protection, paint and assembly
*Custom GTR headlamp bezels with exposed carbon fiber appearance
*Unique tail lamps and center high-mounted stop lamp
*Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Zero Press tires; 285/30ZR19 (front) and 335/25ZR20 (rear)
*Forgeline or HRE wheels; 19-inch in the front and 20-inch in the rear
*StopTech ST60 front brakes and ST40 rear brakes
*Carbon fiber fuel rail covers and carbon fiber, low-restriction air box
*Hotchkis stablilizer bar kit
*GTR-embroidered seats and serial-numbered dash plaque
*CORSA/Specter stainless steel performance exhaust system
*GTR badges

The Corvette GTR package carries a base price of $34,995, with a variety of high-performance powertrain options available for additional cost. Custom paint treatment is also available. Each vehicle is hand-built, numbered and fully documented for the customer.

Distinctive design
Styling that accents the Corvette's design is a hallmark of Specter Werkes/Sports and the C6 GTR takes that philosophy to the next level, with a completely redesigned body. Like the original C5 GTR, the C6 version is based on widened bodywork that supports the larger wheel/tire combination. It also gives the car a more aggressive stance - as do the racing-inspired front and rear fascias.

"The GTR's design sharpens and embellishes many of the Corvette's design cues, but doesn't eliminate them," said Nowicki. "It is a design that respects and celebrates the Corvette's design heritage, but builds on it to suit the interest of our customers - enthusiasts who are looking for a unique and exclusive product."

At 77 inches, the GTR's bodywork is 4.5 inches wider at the rear fenders (2.25 inches per side) than a regular-production C6 Corvette and 1 inch wider than the Corvette Z06. The physical difference may seem small, but the overall effect, along with a slightly longer overall body length, creates a unique proportion to the GTR that is aggressive and suggests speed even when stationary.

Specter Werkes/Sports replaces the front and rear fenders; front and rear fascias; doors, rocker panels and hood - everything except the roof panel and rear hatch - with special, hand-formed GTR panels. Each car is completely repainted and re-assembled with the new bodywork at Specter Werke's Troy, Mich. facility.

GTR standard equipment also includes a number of exposed carbon fiber details, including:
*Front splitter
*Rear diffuser
*Outside mirror caps
*Headlamp surrounds

A bold, LED-lit rear center-mounted stop lamp is integrated in the rear fascia. It was originally designed for the Cadillac CTS, and gives the GTR an unmistakable rear appearance.

GTR #1 details
C6 Corvette GTR #1 is powered by Specter's emissions-legal Matrix II engine package for the LS3 engine. It is a "stroker" engine package that boosts displacement from 376 cubic inches (6.2L) to 416 cubic inches (6.8L). That is achieved with a Callies 4340-forged crankshaft that delivers a 4.00-inch stroke. Forged rods from Manley and forged pistons from Mahle round out the rotating assembly.

The camshaft is a special grind from Comp Cams and the LS3 heads' combustion chambers were enlarged from 71cc to 72cc in order to maintain an 11:1 compression ratio. With stainless steel long tube headers and a low-restriction air intake, the engine is rated at 535 horsepower and 530 lb-ft of torque. The engine also features carbon fiber fuel rail covers and a yellow-painted intake manifold.

The Matrix II LS3 channels power to the pavement via Forgeline VR3P wheels, measuring 19 x 11 inches in the front and 20 x 12 inches in the rear. They wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Zero Press tires (285/30ZR19, front, and 335/25ZR20, rear). Behind the wheels are StopTech brakes, featuring ST60 six-piston calipers and 15-inch slotted rotors in the front and ST40 four-piston calipers and 14-inch slotted rotors in the rear. The calipers' yellow color contrasts with the HRE wheels' black center sections. The GTR also features Hotchkis adjustable stabilizer bars.

On the outside, C6 GTR #1 is painted a gorgeous BASF liquid silver color, the richness of which appears wet to the touch. It is a premium color choice and represents the nearly unlimited paint options available to customers. Inside, GTR-standard embroidered seats and Spinneybeck leather trim details contrast elegantly with the Corvette's black interior. A Specter Werkes/Sports production plaque is mounted on the center console.

GTR legacy
The Specter Werkes/Sports GTR was first launched a decade ago and saw the creation of nearly 30 specialized cars that were delivered across the country - including the two most notable GTRs, which were created for Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr., in 2001.

Specter Werkes/Sports is an automotive prototype and fabrication facility based in Troy, Mich. It specializes in race-proven engine performance enhancements and creating specialty accessories for C5 and C6 Corvettes, the Cadillac CTS and more. The company's flagship project is the Corvette GTR.

Since its founding in 1990, Specter Werkes/Sports has been recognized internationally for unparalleled achievements of excellence, helping automotive industry leaders design, model, and prototype innovative, top-of-the-line products at competitive pricing.

For more information, contact Specter Werkes/Sports at 248-583-9559 or on the Web: www.spectergtr.com.