Corvette 'TwelveAir' Made By Kindig-It Design Wins Ridler Award 2024

Chevrolet Corvette 1953 is named 'TwelveAir'. (Photos: streetmusclemag.com)

JAKARTA - The prestigious Detroit Autorama 2024 custom car exhibition has just ended, and the winners are Dave and Marijual Maxwell with Chevrolet Corvette 1953's name 'TwelveAir'.

For information, Detroit Autorama is known to be one of the most respected custom car exhibitions in the United States, with the Ridler Award as the highest award. This event has been a tradition in the world of custom cars for more than 70 years. And it is at this exhibition that you can see a classic American car being remade or modified with a large engine optimized for speed and acceleration.

Launching Autoweek, March 6, Dave's Chevrolet Corvette 1953 andZE Maxwell, the results of Dave Kindig and his team at Kindig-It Design managed to steal attention with designs inspired by General Motors Motorama's concept car in the past.

Unlike the Corvette concept car in general, which is exhibited under the spotlight of General Motors Motorama lights, Kindig's creation was actually made by hand using aluminum. This is certainly unique news for Corvette fans, because no 1953 original Corvette was sacrificed to turn into an exhibition car.

In addition to the stunning custom body, Corvette 'TwelveAir' is also equipped with a special push-rod suspension that supports custom aluminum rims measuring 20 inches up front and 21 inches behind. The rim is wrapped in Michelin's 4S Sport Pilot tires measuring 345/30-20 and 345/25-21. For braking, Wilwood Aero6's Kaliper is in front and Aero4 is behind which clamps the stainless steel rotor.

It's incomplete to talk about a custom car without seeing the engine. Kindig's creation is packed with a V12 engine made by Race Cast Engineering with a capacity of 9.2 liters, double the original Corvette 1953 engine.

Despite using the V12 engine, this engine architecture is still based on General Motors LS, so it is not too far offset from Chevrolet characteristics. The management of the V12 engine is entrusted to the Haltech Nexus VCU.

Detroit Autorama is not just about competition for the Ridler award. This event is an event for car lovers, builders, and sellers of automotive knick-knacks to gather and show off their favorite cars.

During its implementation, the Ridler Award has been won by many well-known designers and automakers, such as Chip Foose, Jerry Pennington, Troy Trepanier, Jerry Pennington, and Dave Kindig.

Short Profile Of Don Ridler And His Services

Don Ridler is known as a person who has a high competitive spirit. This spirit can be seen from his achievements in athletics while studying and at Michigan State University. Thanks to this achievement, he was then immortalized in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

After graduating from college, Don coached the Lawrence Tech basketball team and served as Director of Athletics in the 1940s. Interestingly, after the match he often brought famous artists such as Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller to enliven the dance.

In addition, Don Ridler is also known to be active as a producer of the Michigan State Fair Grandstand exhibition and handles public relations for the racetrack in the Detroit area.

In 1950, Autoramic organizers needed promotional assistance to improve the quality of events. They also appointed Don Ridler. Thanks to Don's creativity and professionalism, car lovers flocked to the Coliseum at the Michigan State Fairgrounds. They are not only spoiled with a row of cool cars milling around Motor City, but are also entertained by artists such as Little Anthony, The Imperials, and The Big Bopper.