Carl Breitenbach's 1968 Manta Ray

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This is my 4th Corvette, my first was at the age of 18. A 1959 that I paid $700 for, I was hooked right then. I eventually traded it for a nice 62 vette that a friend owned, and he gave me $ 500 because I had rebuilt the engine in mine. I ended up selling it fo $500. Two years later I bought my third Vette for $1,100. After spinning a rod bearing, and needing the money, I sold it for $700. 30 years later, while scrolling on Ebay, I just had to take a chance. I guess it was Fate. After ending up with being the highest bidder ($8,800.), it was how to get the car home.

Pictures

Click on a picture to see the larger version.

2005/03/16 - Cross country.

I was going to have it shipped back to Calif. but with a little persuading from a friend (David Embry) we took off on a Road Trip. Yea , around 3,500 miles to Maine. We took off in March with a lot of storms moving across the country, but got lucky, and with just some snow in Wyoming we made about 1,100 miles a day. We were back in 6 days.

2005/03/18 - Home

Now the fun would start. The car was really messed up. I was told it was a driver, but the only driving it was good for, was to get on the trailer. So What, I wanted it, I got it. Now, lets do whatever we want. I started with changing all the brakes (everything), the Intake and Carb, Radiator and Fan, A lot of wiring, hood scoop, and the list goes on. After looking in on the MakoShark2 websight and seeing that my car was just 1/2 right, I felt my car was due for a change.

2005/06/10 - Ouch

When my car decided to go on a demolition derby of it own, I knew it was time.

2005/06/24 - Transformation

Being in the Auto parts trade my whole life I checked around with all the good reputable custum shops for a good fiberglass person. I was told of a guy from Peru, Luis is his first name, (I'll get the rest later) that has put together some award winnig cars. After discussing with him the makeover to a Mako rear end, and knowing that Id like to see the Manta rear end instead, he convinced me he could do it. OK Here we are, after dropping the car off on Friday the 24th and work starting the 27th its alot to see. Luis started on the front end , fixing the mashed in front part and all the rest of the stress cracks while working on the back half at the same time. After cutting off the rear wings, he mixed up a foam in a can (as I was told) and covered the whole rear deck. From there he will carve and sand it down to the shape he needs, its better more then not enough. Its easier to keep carving then to add more. You can see whats taken place in a week, and I'll try and keep you posted over the following week.

Fiberglass: Rear Deck

2005/07/07 - First layer of fiberglass

2005/07/11 - THESE ARE SOME PICS FROM THIS MORNING, LOOKS LIKE NOT MUCH CHANGE BUT THE BOTTON OF THE V IS SANDED DOWN QUITE A BIT. ON THE CONCEPT CAR THE V DOES COME TOGETHER , AND I MIGHT LEAVE IT THAT WAY. LUIS IS STARTING ON THE UNDERNEATH TODAY AND I HOPE TO GET A FEW MORE PICS EITHER AT NOON OR AFTER WORK.

Fiberglass: Light Panel

2005/07/12 - Well here are a few pics of the light section cut off . Tomorrow is the start on the rear light panel.

2005/07/13 - Well we're starting to extend the rear end and fill in the V, to be closer to the concept Manta. I know it looks pretty far from what the original is, but I'm hopeing everyone can wait and relax. Keep up the comments they do help.

2005/07/14 - Well the rear is starting to take shape. It'll probably be Monday or Tuesday before the rear lights are added and glassed in. The car has been extended by about 4 inches, but I know to have gotten this almost exact it should have been about 10 inches longer. The car will not slope down as much and come to a point as the concept car but it will be close. It's almost like a Shorty Mako, but a Manta. I think if I had the model of the concept car a few days earlier, it would have made quite a difference.

2005/07/19 - Its looking ugly

2005/07/20 - Taillight housings being installed. Going on week 5

2005/07/24 - We tried putting the lights perpindicular to the ground and they didn't look right. so they do point upward now. This was the problem with not extending the back far enough, that would lower the light angle.

Fiberglass: All Together Now

2005/08/01 - Well were getting close to the end, the lower acess panel is off but the tops finally on.

2005/08/02 - Tomorrow is supposed to be the last day for the body work. The Gel coat should go on tomorrow.

2005/08/07 - Gel Coat.

2005/08/20 - Finishing Bodywork

2005/09/01 - Motor

2005/09/05 - You can see the hole in the floor board and the patching up of the tunnel where a lot of sheet metal also covered the floor. The front crossmember, we had to cut a notch in it for the pulley clearence. It will be cleaned up later. You can see a definite height difference in the air cleaner compared to when the small block was in the car.

2005/09/25 - We've done a lot of work to the firewall, the side with the heater box stood out about 1/2 an inch farther then the other side so we cut and shortened it. Put another layer of glass on the hood and now working on raising the hood scoop to clear the air cleaner. The door handles have been shaved. Where the windshield piller comes down to the cowl, you can see that the top edge of the door is even with the top edge of the cowl. Originally the cowl was 1/2 inch lower then the door. The lip that runs up the center of the hood but goes inward onto the scoop, will actually go outward the whole length of the car excluding the top. It may look funny now but it'll look good finished

Specs

The following table describes the major components of the car

Status

The following table outlines the work that I've done or stuff I have purchased for the car

Plans

Replica of the GM Manta Ray

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 carlbreit

All Content on this page is Copyright © 2005 Carl Breitenbach