1964 Corvette with LT4 Power in SEMA Builder Battle Finals

This C2 Corvette might look stock in passing, but it packs modern performance under the classic skin.

There aren’t many Chevrolet Corvette entries in the SEMA Show’s Battle of the Builders, but the 1964 Stingray shown here is one of the finals in the Hot Rod category. It was built by Kyle Kuhnhausen, owner and fabricator of Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts in Creswell, Oregon.

Oddly, we couldn’t find any details on Kuhnhausen’s Corvette on the SEMA website, but we found a wealth of information on the shop’s website. The pictures here are also from the Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts website. There are many pictures on the company website, including extensive photos showing the build while in progress.

Ballistic Beige 64′ Corvette

Kuhnhausen calls this classic Stingray “Ballistic Beige 64′ Corvette”. It was built for a customer who owned a saddle-tan 1963 Corvette in the 1990s. The car maintains the classic look inside and out, but under the surface, it is a modern supercar.

Under the hood of this 1964 Stingray is an LT4 crate motor, offering 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. The supercharged V8 is mated to a 4L75E transmission, which sends the power through a QA1 carbon fiber driveshaft and a Strange S60 IRS differential. Michelin rubber wrapped around Forgeline 19-inch wheels put the power to the ground.

This isn’t just another C2 Corvette with a modern crate engine. This beautiful Stingray rides on a modified Art Morrison IRS Chassis with JRI double-adjustable coilovers. It also has 6-piston Wilwood brakes and a Woodward steering assembly, yielding sharp handling capabilities.

On the outside, this 1964 Corvette maintains the classic look, with few hints to what hides beneath the surface. It even has functional sidepipes, but aside from the huge wheels tucked under the lowered body, this Stingray doesn’t look far from stock. Meanwhile, it likely handles just as well as a modern LT4-powered Corvette Z06.

The actual 2020 SEMA Show in Las Vegas was canceled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It was replaced with the online-only SEMA360. The Battle of the Builders is an annual centerpiece of the SEMA Show. That is no different for the online event. Nearly 300 custom vehicles were entered into the competition across four categories.

“Since the competition debuted in 2014, the SEMA Battle of the Builders has given hundreds of builders added exposure,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA VP of Marketing, PR and Communications. “This year we have seen more builds from builders who have been working tirelessness through the pandemic.”

This Corvette will compete with a 1971 Plymouth Cuda and a 1963 Chevrolet Full Custom 2-Door Wagon for the Hot Rod class title. The judges for the finals are 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders winner Cam Miller, Top 12 finalist from the 2018 program Jeremiah Proffitt, Meguiar’s RJ DeVera; and Mike & Jim Ring from the Ringbrothers, who won the 2019 Battle of the Builders. Those judges picked the 12 finalists and the builders showcasing those 12 vehicles will now judge each other to determine the overall winner.

The contest proceedings are being filmed and will run on A+E Networks’ FYI and HISTORY’s DRIVE block.

“The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition has become a coveted honor for builders and a great way to celebrate the passion and excitement of the industry,” said Gabriel. “We’re excited to again share the experience of the SEMA Battle of the Builders with the FYI and HISTORY’s DRIVE block and looking forward to engaging their audiences.”

The winner of the SEMA360 Battle of the Builders will be announced on November 6. While we are a bit biased, we think that this 1964 Corvette has a great chance of winning.

Click here for a closer look at the scores of pictures on the Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts website.

Photos: Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts

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