The Coupester

Owned by Jeff Hess, Woodland Hills, CA       Photography by Carl Kravats

An easy-drivin’, head-turnin’ ’66 Corvette turns heads and wins trophies

This ’66 “Coupester” is a complete frame-off resto-mod, powered by an LS7 engine mated to an automatic transmission. It features SSBC disc brakes all around, Bilstein shocks, single mono-leaf carbon fiber transverse springs (front and rear), complete custom interior, console with Auto Meter gauges, vintage A/C, and many more subtle mods, including charcoal graphics.

We were inspired to build a '72 or older car after attending "Hot August Nights" in the summer of '05. On the drive home from Reno to Woodland Hills, CA (approx. 9 hours), my significant other, Sheila, and I decided we'd do a 'Vette. A mid-year coupe, with automatic transmission (due to the voluminous California freeway traffic.)

To make our Coupester dream a reality, in ’06 Sheila and I turned to John Vestri. I had met John several times at the Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. John is a vendor at the auction each year. As I discussed our game plan with John, he expressed that I was not his typical customer. I'm a "car guy" (have been since I was 14-15 years old). I have had the good fortune to own numerous custom cars and I had conceived the car I wanted by the time we met.  Most of John’s customers are Fortune 500 CEO types who just want to drive something "different!"

The following are some of the subtle modifications, and others not so subtle: '64 'Vette grille; '67 big block hood; custom mesh in side vents and hood (made functional); LED signal lights in front bumper and backup lights in rear bumper, LED third brake light above rear license plate, door handles from a C5, side view mirrors from a '78-'82 'Vette, Double-D Calloway exhaust tips (below rear license plate), very subtle charcoal graphics (two shades) down the stinger, over the roof and down the rear "v", '67 gas door - custom painted with the word "Coupester" (our name for the vehicle), powder coated frame, taillight bezels, rocker panel moldings and a complete HPC exhaust system with headers.



John and his team at Vestris Vettes really came through. The car was completed in the fall of '07, taking sixteen months to complete. In the relatively short time we’ve owned it, the Coupester has won numerous awards. It twice won awards at the Grand National Roadster Show, as well as the Super Chevy Show, John Force Cruise Night and many local Southern California shows.

Bio:

I am a retired insurance agent, originally from Long Island, NY. I had a successful 35+year career in the business; selling all forms of insurance. I am 68 and have been foolin' with cars for over 5 decades. The customizing side of it is where my passion lies. My first ride was a 1956 Olds that I fully customized, in the style of the day. Nosed, decked, Frenched, lowered, Continental wheel, custom hood air scoop, dual spots, dual rear antennas, steel packed duals, etc. It was somewhat radical for the east coast in the ’50s.

Then as now, The Golden State is the car Mecca. You can do something car related practically 24-7 / 365 days a year here. My wife Sheila teaches history at Pierce College here in Woodland Hills. She really loves her career and will find it tough to retire from. We love driving the “Coupester” on sunny California days!

Did you know?

While we’re on the subject of sunny Southern California…

One of the largest “informal” gathering of car guys and gals happens every Saturday morning at the corner of Adams and Magnolia in Huntington Beach, CA.

What started out as four guys stopping by the local donut shop for a break from cruising has turned into the largest, most well-known hot rod gathering in the world. Check out their website:

http://www.adamsavenuedonuts.com/The-Donut-Derelict-Story.html