Holly-rod, Inspired by the C1 Chevrolet Corvette

For a car-crazed kid in the mid-1960s, rather few movies addressed the car enthusiast scene. One that did, focused on the evilness of a young Corvette owner….the John Brahm-directed Hotrods to Hell of 1966. It must have made some impression on me, as almost 60 years later I easily recall that movie when thinking of C1 Corvettes.

The screenplay for Hotrods to Hell was adapted from a 1956 short story. That makes sense, as the evil thug / hot rodder vs family man was far more a 1950s Greatest Generation ethos, than residing in the turbulent 1960s of the Boomer youth wave. (Though, the 1973 film Walking Tall certainly revisits the 1950s thought-theme.)

People come with all different kinds of behaviors. Most people have cars. So, I accept that there will be some bad-behaving car owners. I won’t blame the cars themselves, especially if the bad behavior is written into a movie plot.

 

And besides, the storyline this sculpture, Holly-rod, actually embodies the very best of behaviors of car enthusiasts. How else could you describe the art patron seeking a very special surprise present for her car-enthusiast husband?

She knew it had to be a Corvette, but it took some sleuthing for her to determine it should be a C1 of 1958-1960 vintage. It is easiest to divide C1 Corvette styles into three sub-groups: the single headlight cars of 1953-1957, the twin headlight cars with smoothly-arcing tails of 1959-60, and the razor-back cars of 1961-62.

Of further fortuitous timing, the restoration shop I’ve been toiling at each Wednesdays has been restoring a 1959 C1 over the past 18 months. There is nothing as helpful as a life-size maquette of the genuine article to aid sculpting inspiration and detail accuracy.

The article https://www.collierautomedia.com/corvette-goes-all-american, is a well written review of the transition from the 1955-57 C1 Corvette, to the larger-heavier 1958-59 C1 Corvette. The sculpture I’ve created is patterned after the 1959 model year.

 

THE STONE

The client wanted a black stone sculpture. Of the many stones that would fall under that heading, she was inspired by my recent Stone Cold Deuce, and its Antique Portoro from near Florence, Italy. Overlain on the black background are gold veining, but also more subtle veining in cream, light yellow, burgundy, and even pink!

The combination of the stone and the 1958-60 Corvette shape is quite stunning, and has a captivating presence in any room, or display space.