This ’54 Corvette race car blows your imagination
Seeing is believing. Rob Ida of Rob Ida Concepts created this 1954 # 54XP Corvette to race in TROG (The Race for Gentlemen).
TROG takes place in the resort city of Wildwood New Jersey, known for its white sandy beaches.
TROG celebrates American racing heritage and hot rod culture. The event has a retro, carnival-like feel, with racers and attendees often wearing vintage-style attire. The first Race of Gentlemen was held in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in 2012. After Hurricane Sandy, it moved to Wildwood, a stone’s throw from Cape May which has a long history of beach racing
dating back to 1905.
By way of Background, Ida’s many creations have captured attention at major shows including at Monterey Car Week.
Like his 1950 Jag XK120 and his 1948 twin turbo Tucker.
Rob found the 1954 corvette on Ebay where it was listed as an incomplete project. The body was missing its hardware in the way of latches, trim, windshield, interior, top, lighting etc.
The original body now sits on a restored chassis.
The frame is powder coated and the original front suspension was rebuilt.
The engine is a 350 with a solid lifter Duntov 30-30 camshaft. The intake is a unique 2x4 low profile Offenhauser topped by two Holley 4160 carburetors with modified float bowls.
The MSD ignition uses a Mallory Unilite distributor.
The transmission is a T5 5 speed with hydraulic clutch and a modified shifter.
The rear axle is heavy duty as you might expect, from a 1969 Camaro with 4.11 gears and positraction.
Rob made a single windscreen, alloy cockpit cover, roll bar, custom stitched bucket seat, head lights and grill with opening deletes.
He painted his creation to look as close as possible like the original lacquer. XP stands for test vs competitor.
Rob says the fastest and coolest was to go was a stripped-down mule, inspired by the one that Zora Arkus Duntov built to test the Corvette SS slated for the prototype class at Sebring in 1957. The great Stirling Moss set a lap record in the mule but argued with Duntov that the SS, which had yet to show up, would fail, which it did in the 2nd hour of the 12-hour race.
Rob finished up in 2.5 weeks in time to make the TROG on October 3rd.
A vast majority of Rob’s builds are for customers. While # 54XP is a keeper, it seems like there are no shortage of buyers.
Photo credits: Rob Ida, Jack McIntyre, David Carlo, Johannes Huwe, TWiG Photography, Steven Halin, GM, Tom Burnside.