1977 John Paul "Greenwood GT Supervette"
Chassis No. 002
REQUeST A printable PDF document with Photos

This is one of the most successful and historically significant Corvettes in IMSA history. This Greenwood “Supervette” driven by John Paul Sr. was one of the fastest cars in the IMSA series and always a threat to win. In 2003 the car was fully restored to period correct specification both cosmetically and mechanically. Every component was either rebuilt or replaced with new parts. Since the completion of the restoration in 2004 it has only competed in five vintage events. It is completely sorted and race ready.

In 1976, the IMSA sanctioning body changed road racing rules to allow full tube frame cars to compete in the premier North American Road Racing series. John Greenwood saw a major opportunity to design and build the next generation of racing Corvette. With the help of chassis designer Bob Riley, the first Greenwood tube frame Corvette was built and rolled out for competition in 1977. This car was the second of only two chassis built.

After racing a Porsche Carrera RSR John Paul Sr. was looking for a major horsepower racecar and the Greenwood Corvette was it. In the off-season between 1977 and 1978, John Paul bought the second tube frame from Protofab Engineering. The JLP Corvette was assembled by AVC engineering, which included Charlie Selix, Bob Urban and Gary Pratt (later of Pratt and Miller). In an effort to reduce drag and increase top speed the design of 002 differed from the first car and was built with a narrower track and more aerodynamic bodywork. There was even talk of running the car for a land speed record.

John Paul drove the car in the 1978 IMSA season competing for overall wins in the premier GTX catagory. There was on going research and development with this car as the Porsche 935 were now the dominant car to beat. John Paul had many podium finishes with a best finish of 2nd overall at Hallett. Finally at the end of the 1978 season, John Paul retired the Greenwood Supervette and began campaigning a Porsche 935.

John Paul sold the car to Tico Almeida and Rene Rodriguez of T&D Racing. Tico and Rene raced the car once in 1980 and then rebodied the car with the new Greenwood Daytona body style for 1981. The car appeared in the 1981 Daytona 24 hours with John Greenwood as the driver however engine failure prevented the car from starting the race.

The 1982 IMSA season produced strong results for the John Greenwood/T&R Racing Team. The car ran with the Daytona Body style the entire season in IMSA’s GTO glass with impressive results. However, Porsche competition was fierce and the team retired the car at the end of the 1982 IMSA Season.
Tico and Rene then sold the car to Luis Burgos who was a club racer from Puerto Rico. Luis raced the Supervette in club events in Puerto Rico and later brought the car to Miami for the 1984 IMSA Grand Prix.

Burgos later sold the car to Paul Canary who stored it for many years in California. The Supervette was purchased by Goldin Brothers Racing in 2002 and restored for vintage racing. The restoration was completed in January of 2004

600 cubic Inches, 950+ hp
Kinsler Cross Ram Fuel Injection
Race History

1978
Road Atlanta 5th. John Paul
Laguna Seca 8th. John Paul
Hallett 2nd. John Paul
Lime Rock 3rd. John Paul
Brainerd 34th. John Paul
Daytona 250 51st. John Paul, Michael Keyser
Sears Point 19th. John Paul
Portland 17th. John Paul
Road Atlanta 23rd. John Paul

1979
12 hr Sebring 53rd. Tico Almeida, Rene Rodriguez

1980
12 hr Sebring 68th. Tico Almeida, Rene Rodriguez, Gabriel Riano

1981
Daytona 24 hr, DNS John Greenwood

1982
Road Atlanta 14th OA, 9th in GTO, Rene Rodriguez
6 hr Riverside DNF John Greenwood
Laguna Seca 7th OA, 2nd in GTO, Rene Rodriguez
Charlotte DNF John Greenwood
Mid-Ohio 6th OA, 2nd in GTO Rene Rodriguez
Lime Rock 9th OA, 3rd in GTO, Rene Rodriguez
Daytona 250 DNF John Carusso, Rene Rodriguez
Brainerd DNF Rene Rodriguez
Portland DNF Rene Rodriguez
Road Atlanta 5th OA. 1st GTO, Rodriguez, Greenwood
Pocono DNF Rene Rodriguez, John Greenwood
3 hr Daytona DNF Rene Rodriguez, John Greenwood

 

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