This was the year of the 25th Anniversary of the Corvette in 1978—a remarkable milestone, as it was still the icon of the automotive industry. Chevrolet didn’t take this lightly and made extensive changes, including the compound-curve back window, and yes, the rear hatch was no longer functional to save costs. This change made the Corvette look more like a coupe. It was a time when horsepower had taken a back seat, with the base model offering 185HP, and 220HP with the L-82. Doug had them beat, though, with over 300HP from his upgraded and modified 350ci engine.
The coolest part of that year was the pace car at the Indy 500 race, the premier race of the time. Chevrolet built 300 pace car replicas, which featured a special rear spoiler and Dark Gray over Silver paint, making it easily recognizable. For those who couldn’t get the pace car, they made a tribute version in silver over Dark Gray, though it lacked the rear spoiler. Sadly, Zora Duntov retired in 1975, and was replaced by Dave McLellan. Unfortunately, the emission, safety, and economic regulations of the time made the Corvette more of a luxury sports car than the serious sporting classic it once was.
Doug’s bad-to-the-bone sweet red Corvette was driven often around the streets of Havasu. With horsepower more suited for a sports car, and the factory 4-speed transmission, it was a blast for Doug. The engine was a 350ci running on premium pump gas, with long tube headers, a Holley carburetor, and an Edelbrock intake and air cleaner. Of course, Doug had GM Fast Burn heads, Accell HEI, and a Comp Cam flat tappet hydraulic. When you came to a stop sign, it was wise to think twice about challenging him—you’d only see tire rubber and black smoke in your face, LOL. To beat the heat in Havasu, Doug installed a Be Kool radiator to keep things cool during extreme tire spins. The exhaust, a classic Corvette sound with 2-1/2” Borla exhaust, gave the performance an equally fitting note. Doug, being a racer, had a standard to uphold.
During the COVID experience, Doug and his friend Everette worked on the car almost every day when everything was closed. They disassembled and reassembled the car, stripping, doing bodywork, and painting it in a sweet Viper Red. The interior was completely redone, looking as if it had just come off the showroom floor. He used a custom combination of ’78 oyster white and red accents. The sound system was upgraded to maintain the stock look, but with all the bells and whistles. The front air dam and rear spoiler gave a clear hint that this ride was stoplight serious! Funny story—when Doug found the car during COVID, traveling and getting motel accommodations were a serious challenge, as they were turned down by a few places. This made their stops farther apart than expected, if you know what I mean.
Doug enjoyed going to events and cruises with his fellow Arizona Pharaohs, Lake Havasu Chapter, as he was an avid member. His favorite run was the Run to the Sun in Havasu, where he took home some shelf hardware during the last event. You could always find Doug looking cool at McCullah Street Cruise Nites.
A racer at heart, Doug owned a few rides, some of which were of very fast caliber. His next project was a 20’s Rat Rod. This author had seen it, and it was cool to the bone, guaranteed to be a head-turner and a fun ride for cruising.
