SP Rides: Nothing but Freedom
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Year, make, model: 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Owner: Michael Horn
Age: 34
Occupation: Parts/services liaison
Hobbies: Cars, motorcycles, wrenching, bowling, movies, barbecuing
Color: Arctic White
Engine: Stainless Works 2-inch primary long tube headers, Stainless Works 3-inch catless X-pipe, MSD 8mm sparkplug wires, Haltec cold air intake, HP tuners with custom tune
Exterior: Carbon flash metallic stinger hood decal, carbon flash Z06 front grille, Carbon flash Z06 front spoiler with Stage 3 winglets, carbon flash Z06 side rocker skirts, carbon flash Stage 3 Z06 rear spoiler with adjustable wickerbill, GS Creations LED side marker blackouts, GS Creations rear reflector blackouts, RPI Designs taillight blackouts, Corvette Mods third brake light Stingray decal, rear quarter window American flag decals, Altech Show and Go front license plate hide-away holder
Wheels, brakes, tires: 19-inch Corvette Stingray wheels, Corvette Racing yellow Brembo calipers, Michelin Pilot Super Sport in 285/35ZR19
Originally from Jersey, Michael Horn fell in love with the Corvette after taking a cruise with his father at the young age of 4 in his baby blue 1963 split window. One ride is all it took and since then, the Vette has been the dream.
This 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray isn’t his first Vette. He previously owned a 1978 25th Anniversary in 2014 that he essentially flipped after a move interrupted his build plans. Sad to see it go, he vowed that one day he’d own another.
Fast forward to the end of 2018 — he was rolling in a 500 horsepower AWD VW Golf R and happened to stop by a dealership. He figured, what the heck — walked in, traded in, and drove out with this beauty gracing these pages.
It’s only been five months and this ride still has that new car smell. It’s surreal. Horn can’t believe it’s real. Just starting it up is an experience, with a rumble and a tumultuous roar of the engine. It’s enough to wake up the neighborhood.
Horn is really happy that he purchased the Stingray 1LT, instead of a more complete package like the Grand Sport. In this way, he’s able to build this ride the way he wants it to look. Granted, the exterior perspective is still reminiscent of the Z06 model with additions such as the grille, the aero package that includes the Stage 3 front spoiler, side rockers and adjustable rear wing.
In addition to these mods, he’s blacked out his side markers and replaced them with LEDs as well as the rear reflectors. In addition, the tails were blacked out for a more menacing look. He also has a trick Show and Go front license plate holder that automatically retracks for show staging.
The performance isn’t exactly something to joke about, considering this baby pumps out 455 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, but Horn is looking at a future supercharger. That means his mods are in preparation for major horsepower gains and he’s added Stainless Works 2-inch primary long tube headers paired with a 3-inch catless X-pipe. MSD 8mm sparkplug wires add a bit more shock and a Haltec cold air intake provides more air for the mix.
Although he can calm it down with a flick of a switch thanks to the setup, when combined with the HP Tuners setup with a decent tune this ride is already an aggressive threat.
You’ll notice a subdued and stealthy riff on the American flag proudly situated in the rear side windows. When it comes down to it, that’s what this ride is about — the freedom for Horn to build this car the way he wants, to represent himself. Clean cut, respectable — just don’t get on its bad side.
