Diesel-Powered C3 Corvette Rolls Coal, Runs 11s
Diesel-Powered C3 Corvette Rolls Coal, Runs 11s
Someone put a Cummins Turbo Diesel from a Dodge Ram in a Corvette and it is incredible.
The video above comes to us from the victoryredcolorado YouTube channel and it features one of the most unique 1968 Chevrolet Corvette race cars we have ever seen. While the huge cowl induction-style hood with a scoop sticking up through it coupled with the big, fat drag racing tires and wheelie bars out back make it clear that this is not your average C3 Stingray, the real surprise is under the hood.
Rather than stuffing a built big block into the Corvette or adding forced induction to a factory-installed engine, C3 Stingray owner Ryan Lusk went with a Cummins Turbo Diesel from a Dodge Ram HD when building this drag car. While it likely enrages some Vette purists, we think that it is freakin’ awesome.
Diesel C3
If this 1968 Chevrolet Corvette was parked in the staging lanes of your local drag strip with the engine off and the hood closed, you might not think much of it. Frankly, many C3 Stingrays built to drag race have the same general look as this one, so this metallic bronze Chevy sports car from 1968 doesn’t have any problem blending in with the racing crowd. That all changes when the hood opens or when the engine fires up, as this Corvette doesn’t sound like anything that has ever come out of the Bowling Green plant.
Under the hood of this 1968 Corvette is a 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel from a Dodge Ram. We don’t know how heavily modified the engine has been, but based on the amount of soot pouring from the side pipe as the car rockets down the track, it is safe to say that it is not a stock truck engine.
Smokin’ Down the Track
The video above offers three runs by this Cummins-powered Corvette. The first is against a stunningly quick GMC van and the second two are against diesel-powered, four-wheel drive pickups.
On the first run, the van gets out to an early lead but the Cummins Vette catches and passes the hauler by the half-way point of the track, stopping the times with a 12.60 at 120 miles per hour.
On the second run, the diesel Stingray takes on a black Dodge Ram that is also packing Cummins power. The Chevy gets away from the line first as a result of a staggered start, but the truck ends up getting to the finish line first as the Vette runs a 12.35 on an 11.60 dial.
Finally, the last run of the video has the Cummins Corvette taking on a Chevrolet Silverado HD. This time, the classic sports car gets away from the line first and never looks back, beating the big truck soundly as it runs an 11.60 at 129 miles per hour.
Crank up your speakers and enjoy!
