FIRST LOOK: C7 PRO MOD BODY
(10-07-2014) HAWK POINT, MO– Tim McAmis Performance Parts is ready to unveil the latest in badass Pro Mod bodies: the 2014 C7 Corvette.
The swoopy new body is the first to be fully developed by the pairing of Cynergy Composites and TMPP’s body molding division, Velocity Composites. Previously, Dragzine introduced you to the concept and set the record straight about the sleek new doorslammer skin, as there was quite a bit of misinformation running rampant in cyberspace. This past weekend, TMPP pulled the very first 2014 C7 body from the actual production mold, and once again, Dragzine is here to deliver the exclusive first look!
With input from McAmis, Tim Hodgins of Cynergy Composites designed the body entirely in 3D CAD, making the 2014 C7 the first race car body to make such a claim. The plug for the mold, crafted in-house at Cynergy, was cut on a CNC mill, and is expected to deliver the most accurate and symmetrical body ever built.
Said Hodgins, of the process, “After the plug was milled, we created a splash to test the full size design for the first time. At TMRC we created a mock-up chassis and verified everything we tested in our CAD design. It was very satisfying to see that everything we created in a digital environment transformed flawlessly into a full scale product.”
Based on these photos of the very first actual production C7 Pro Mod body, those claims certainly appear to be true. To meet the needs of as many teams as possible, the C7 will be offered in fiberglass, carbon fiber, and lightweight carbon fiber.
The body sprang to life first as a concept in the minds of Hodgins and Stu Wotypka of ID Motorsports Design. As the pair developed the concept further, chassis specs and dimensions, as well as actual human models, were used to ensure exacting fitment and scaling of the body, meaning fewer issues when mounting the body on it’s chassis.
Tim McAmis summed up the design perfectly: “We spent a lot of time working with Tim [Hodgins] to ensure the body was also user-friendly for the racers and builders. All too often, bodies are produced without this taken into consideration. While they might look cool, they leave a lot to be desired in terms of comfort and visibility for the driver and occasionally require an unusual chassis configuration. With the C7, you get the best of both world — a great level of comfort for the driver, a solid platform for the builder and a bad ass exterior design that is sure to draw attention.”
The CAD renderings you see here are just a small glimpse inside the painstaking design process. Thanks to such care being taken in the design process, the sports’ largest governing body, the NHRA, has already accepted the body for use in Pro Modified competition, so expect to see these sleek bodies adorning the ride of a few Pro Mod teams starting in early 2015.
The actual production of each C7 body will be handled by Velocity Composites in Hawk Point, MO, which acquired Cynergy Composites’ molds to diversify its body offerings and to bring Tim Hodgins on board as a consultant.
The C7 is available now to order through Tim McAmis Race Cars & Performance Parts. You can find more pictures and information by clicking here.
Article courtesy of Jeremy Patterson & Dragzine.com