Corvette Man
- Apr 17, 2014
An out-of-the-way garage in central Florida houses some incredible Corvette history.
Story and photography by Colin Date
We recently had the opportunity to visit Bill Tower in Plant City, FL. Bill has one unique and fascinating collection of early Corvettes! For those of you who may not be familiar with Bill, let us introduce you...
Bill Tower is a man of many talents. He’s done just about everything, from racing the American Bandstand-sponsored Top Fuel “Rat Trap” digger in the late ’60s to working on the Space Shuttle launch program. Bill is a GMI trained engineer, and worked for Chevrolet from 1965 through the mid ’80s. He is still involved with GM today, working with them on various engineering projects.
The central Florida-based engineer has built his collection of ultra rare, highly desirable Chevrolet-built racecars over the years. Bill’s philosophy is to preserve (rather than restore) his cars. We agree wholeheartedly. Flawless base coat/clear coat paint on a 50 year old piece of history simply does not belong!
1956 Corvette SR-2
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The SR-2 was built by Chevrolet specifically for racing. Buck Baker drove it 152 mph at Daytona, and Junior Johnson piloted it at mid-Ohio, Watkins Glen, various NASCAR sprints, and placed 15th at Sebring.
This car was used as a test vehicle for Rochester Fuel Injection and the Borg Warner T-10 4-speed transmission. The hand-built body features air ducting from the parking lights to the front brakes, and from scoops through the doors to the rear drums.
The original 336” stroked 283 was recessed 2” and offset 2” for racing. Air is ducted to the engine via the front fender.
This 2000 lb. car features a “high” fin, 10 lb. doors, 20 lb. hood, 46 gallon fuel tank, shortened column, quick steering adaptor, sloped cowl, a “one-off” wide gauge cluster and belly pan.
The bright red paint is a custom-mixed lacquer with white scallops.
1956 Corvette Factory Race Car
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This ’56 Corvette is an experimental “one of three” car used to race on Daytona Beach for NASCAR. Betty Skelton piloted this very car in the “Flying Mile” and attainted a top speed of 138.74 mph.
Legendary builder/tuner Smokey Yunick prepared the car utilizing heavy duty springs, a big brake package, air scoops and Halibrand Wheels. Of course, the engine was Smokey-tuned – his “stamp of approval” is affixed to the valve covers. The carburetor set-up was also used for Chevrolet’s testing purposes.
1967 Corvette L88
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This ’67 Corvette is one of only 20 L88 cars built. The ’67 and ’68 L88 427 cubic-inch engines used closed-chamber aluminum heads with a 12.5:1 compression ratio.
This particular car is even more unique in that it served as GM’s Proving Grounds test car, seeing plenty of track time. Estimated at cranking out over 560 horsepower, this Corvette came with no emissions equipment, and a “minimum of 103 research octane and 95 motor octane, or engine damage may result” sticker affixed to the glove box door.
After the car’s days at the GM’s proving grounds, it was shipped to Indy 500 winner Jim Rathman of Rathman Chevrolet in Melbourne, FL. Rathman and his team took the car north and ran it at Daytona, where they achieved an impressive 180 mph.
After the Rathman days, the car sold to a local man who kept it for a few years.
Bill acquired the car through another party sometime in 1971.
1963 Corvette Grand Sport
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Ever seen one of these? Chances are slim at best. There were 5 of these cars manufactured, and this one is #5.
In early 1962, Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus Duntov started top secret work on a Corvette that would be capable of competing with the Shelby Cobras of the day – at race tracks like Sebring and LeMans. Only five of these ultra lightweight beasts would make production, due to Chevrolet Corporate grinding the program to an immediate halt.
Bill Tower built the motor – a 377 cubic-inch all-aluminum small block. The engine puts out 485 hp at 6000 rpm. Carburetion: 58 mm side draft Weber carburetors.
The entire vehicle (including engine) weighs only 1908 pounds! No wonder it was nicknamed “The Cobra Killer.”
Grandsports were originally raced by: Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Dr. Dick Thompson and Augie Pabst.
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