This past November I purchased Corson # 25 just in time to store it for the winter with my Mera and F40. As Spring is drawing closer I am getting eager to start getting it ready for the road.
I'm looking for a Corson Motorcar builder's manual and a copy of Corson's promotion video. Anyone have these kicking around the garage?
[This message has been edited by Fieromaineac (edited 02-08-2018).]
Ahh... the Corson 412 BB replica... if it hadn't been for the shipping costs for the kit to Canada, I would have seriously considered buying one 20 years ago but I bought the Stinger 308 instead. Nice car. Rick, I think those wheels are CSA Cheviots. They only came in 15" dia's but they were a popular choice in the early 90's for Ferrari replicas.
[This message has been edited by Bloozberry (edited 02-18-2011).]
Whatever happened to this kit? I used to dream of getting one back when I had my Sport Coupe back in '87. I love the clean lines of this compared to the Aldino. Is there lineage between the two? You have a very gorgeous car!
I'm looking for a Corson Motorcar builder's manual and a copy of Corson's promotion video. Anyone have these kicking around the garage?
I don't have exactly what you're looking for, but I did dig up something you may be interested in. As I said earlier, I seriously considered buying one and sent away for the price and options list for the Corson cars back in 1992. I scanned in the letter and info package he sent. The first page is terrible because it's a faded dot-matrix printer, but the rest are OK. You should be able to figure out what your car originally costed back in the day from this. I may have more stuff hiding if you're interested (for example I have a copy of his V8 installation instructions (Gary Zumalt kit) and a few extra promo photos:
As requested, here are the photos that Randy Corson sent me back then. The first one is of an actual Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer and the rest are of his two kits... one a coupe and the other a spyder. (I had to scan in the photos so the quality isn't the best). I also have a copy of Kit Car Magazine somewhere in my shelves which featured his cars on the cover and in an article... I'll see if I can't find it for you:
I remember the "Typical Magazine Author's words" . . .
"The Steel Twisting Torque of the 305" - and the reference to axle problems.... (A little dramatic don't ya' think???? )
I think he went a little "crazy there" with his description. Other than that article, I don't recall hardly any axle issues with the V8 swaps (Unless it was a Z-Kit thing).. I know Archie didn't seem to having many issues from what I remember (Certainly not with the 235HP that the "Corson 305" produced - and whatever "monster torque" came along with that :-) ).
I know I didn't have axle issues with my 2 swaps at the time (appx 315 and 385 HP).
I had that Corson Picture on my wall for the longest time (I loved the roadster) - Man did I want one of those.....
I'll have to dig out that old mag....
[This message has been edited by 3084me (edited 02-19-2011).]
I too have the same article and photos which is why I bought a Corson Spyder (wish I knew the SOB that stole it) I thought I still had the build manual around but I can seem to find it.
We need the Police to reopen your case. Your case has been a "Cold Case" way to long !!
Does any of your paper work from Corson have your "Build" number on it? Do you remember your VIN? I would believe the thief would have swapped chassis but may have disposed of your chassis without removing all VIN's. There may be data out there for your old VIN with today's DMV computer network.
Via Ebay and the internet, I have only been able to locate 13 of the 98 cars / kits produced by Corson. Attempts have been made to form a Corson registry but the owners are not surfacing.
Your car was a Spyder, so I wonder just how many Spyder cars / bodies were sold?
With the coverage of the Pennock Fiero Forum we need folks to chime in with their Corson sightings, VIN, build number (or lack of) and plate number / state, especailly a Corson Spyder. These cars are unique, again especailly a Corson Spyder and will be noticed !!
[This message has been edited by Fieromaineac (edited 02-21-2011).]
Thanks for posting Kitcar magazine articles for July 1990 and September 1991!
I have both of those issues plus Kitcar Illustrated Apr 1988, Kitcar January 1991, Kitcar May 1991 and The Complete Guide to Specialty Cars 7th edition. All purchased this winter on EBay for their Corson articles. I'm trying to learn as much about the Corsons that I can while waiting for spring to roll out #25 !
Glad to help. I've only ever seen one once in person while visiting a brother in Phoenix Arizona. Probably was one of the coupes pictured above! They are gorgeous cars although the one thing that drew my eye more so in real life than in the magazine photos, is the length of the nose. Personal taste is obviously a factor here, but I think the cars would have benefitted from a longer wheel base. Also, one of the guys here on PFF recently started posting the history of his 308 replica where he bought the removable targa top that Corson used to offer, along with his chassis brace (I think Pisa bought it from him). If it was the same brace that Corson used for his Spyder, it apparently wasn't very well engineered to retain the structural strength of the car. The guy with the 308 ended up removing the Corson subframe and having something else built because his car was sagging in the middle, pinching his doors. Is yours a spyder or a coupe?
Edit to add: the guy with the 308 kit is Doc John here on PFF. Read about his troubles with the Corson targa and the frame stiffener about 1/3 of the way down the first page here: www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000006.html
[This message has been edited by Bloozberry (edited 02-21-2011).]
We need the Police to reopen your case. Your case has been a "Cold Case" way to long !!
Does any of your paper work from Corson have your "Build" number on it? Do you remember your VIN? I would believe the thief would have swapped chassis but may have disposed of your chassis without removing all VIN's. There may be data out there for your old VIN with today's DMV computer network.
Via Ebay and the internet, I have only been able to locate 13 of the 98 cars / kits produced by Corson. Attempts have been made to form a Corson registry but the owners are not surfacing.
Your car was a Spyder, so I wonder just how many Spyder cars / bodies were sold?
With the coverage of the Pennock Fiero Forum we need folks to chime in with their Corson sightings, VIN, build number (or lack of) and plate number / state, especailly a Corson Spyder. These cars are unique, again especailly a Corson Spyder and will be noticed !!
It has been so many years, approx Mar. '94 that I haven't a clue what happened to the paperwork, although it was likely lost when my house was flooded a few years ago. After the insurance company reamed me I kind of lost interest in the project and Randy sold his molds to someone in Mesa, AZ IIRC. I "think" but am not positive that my build number was 017 but the car was nowhere near complete. It was being built on an '85 GT 4 speed with a Zumwalt SBC swap that had never been fired. And the rear clip wasn't even fitted. I had the car stored in the KC Underground (old limestone mines now used for storage) and my entire trailer was stolen alone with 3 other cars, so it was likely an inside job as dozens of RV's were broken into as well. The company I was renting storage from has long since gone out of business.
Found this Corson 512bb on CarDomain.com. Says it belongs to a Joe in St. Jean Quebec Canada. Anyone recognize it? I'd like to find out the Corson build number and the wheel and tire information.
[This message has been edited by Fieromaineac (edited 02-08-2018).]
I'm still looking for 17" wheel ideas for my Corson.
Anyone know who's car this is or especially know the manufacture of those rims?
Judging from the license plate the car is a kit from somewhere in Europe. Odds are the wheels are European also. Nice looking set. Do you want larger wheels for you Corson?
A guy over on Madmechanics believed the car was in the UK. My Corson has the original 15" wheels with what I believe to be truck tires ...... I need to move up to 17" wheels so I can have a much wider range of rubber options. I see this 355 has left side drive so I'm thinking Fiero donor and I do like those wheels.
HOLY WOW! Almost 39,000$ for a kit car eeeek. really high considering you can buy a real 308 for 20,000-40,000$ but then again many say why do i put so much money into my 2 fieros. i say because it better then wasting it in a exotic that cost 100k$
Randy is still around, he runs an aviation business out of the Scottsdale Az airport now. He still has the spyder and has brought it to recent AZ Fiero Club events. Truley an awsome car!
HOLY WOW! Almost 39,000$ for a kit car eeeek. really high considering you can buy a real 308 for 20,000-40,000$ but then again many say why do i put so much money into my 2 fieros. i say because it better then wasting it in a exotic that cost 100k$
Buying a real 308 isn't very expensive (relatively). Maintaining one is. (maintenance for any Ferrari, that is) If the maintenance isn't done by a Ferrari certified shop, kiss your resale value goodbye. Ferraris live and die by their maintenance records.
I believe that Randy Corson was active in the Fiero Kit Car business in the mid/late 1990's. Randy produced some good stuff and some bad stuff. His replicas looked nice but I believe that Ferrari came after him and he had to dispose of the molds. Corson also developed (or copied) a V8 kit similar to the one that was sold by Gary Zumalt but the kit wasn't durable. Either his axles were sized improperly or who ever manufactured his axles did a terrible job on them. IIRC there were several reports of broken axles from those using the Corson V8 kit. Corson was just one of about a half dozen Fiero V8 kit suppliers at that time. Today only V8 Archie and one other supplier remain. I beleive that this was a side business for Randy Corson. I heard it mentioned someplace that he was a commerical pilot. .
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Either his axles were sized improperly or who ever manufactured his axles did a terrible job on them. IIRC there were several reports of broken axles from those using the Corson V8 kit.
Perhaps this was true for some of them, but I bought his V8 conversion kit for my 308 Stinger kit and have been driving with them since 1996 without any problems.
[This message has been edited by Bloozberry (edited 05-29-2011).]
Perhaps this was ture for some of them, but I bought his V8 conversion kit for my 308 Stinger kit and have been driving with them since 1996 without any problems.
Maybe it was a problem on one lot of axles or one that was later corrected. There were several reports of bad axles back then. I don't know if he is still on this forum or not but Walt Zettner used Corson axles on his V8 swap and he snapped them. Glad to hear that they are holding up for you.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
After three months of rain, rain and more rain, not to mention below average temperatures!!
Finally some summer weather and some time to work on Corson #25.
First and for most a good cleaning. Last owner let #25 set outside in the weather. Removed a bucket of leaves from each headlight well and more from all the vents. Passenger HID headlight was full of water!! Glad I discovered that before turning on the lights.
(Above) These vents were packed with leaves. Of course I put a Ferrari Club of America sticker on the rear window.
(Above) Flipped the taillights putting the yellows to the outside. Painted the rear lower vent silver and install new licence plate mount.
(Above) Ferrari wheel center on the knock offs and shined up the real ASNA exhaust tips.
I'll post more later.
[This message has been edited by Fieromaineac (edited 02-08-2018).]
