While best known for carrying the Corvette banner in international competition through the 1970s and early 1980s, John Greenwood’s self-named team and firm also produced a handful of radical IMSA-style street Corvettes during the era. Fittingly dubbed “Daytona,” the first was built on a 1980 Corvette as a prototype that would be further refined on the track. Much as Porsche had creatively stretched FIA regulations to create its turbocharged 934.5 and 935 racers, Greenwood’s Daytona bodies featured super-wide fenders, integrated front to rear with super-wide sills and equipped with numerous purposeful scoops, vents, and molded-in front and rear spoilers. Body components were supplied by Eckler’s, and a rear-opening window was supplied by Cars & Concepts. Five Daytonas were built in all by Greenwood; most were similar, yet with unique differences. Four of the five cars were painted red, including this example, Car No. 4, which also utilized Greenwood’s trademark five-link rear suspension system including coilover shocks. Power and performance to match the Daytona’s intimidating looks are delivered by a 350 CI V-8 engine fortified with a Turbo International turbocharger, engine oil cooler, and water injection, matched to an automatic transmission. Supporting features include an altered accelerator bracket, thicker carburetor-to-manifold gasket and insulated wiring. Underpinnings include the Greenwood-designed ball bearing idler arm and adjusted steering box, 5-link rear suspension by Greenwood with NMB rod ends, Bilstein coilover gas shocks, altered front sway-bar linkage and specifically sized front springs. Daytona No. 4 is obviously the product of an exacting build process when new, including such details as body-panel seams filled with fiberglass matting, sound insulation materials, low-pressure front and rear fender openings, tubular front- spoiler braces, an extended tail, aerodynamically optimized rear spoiler, and louvered wheel wells. Finished in red acrylic lacquer over high-temperature baked fiberglass body panels, the Daytona is very well equipped for fast grand touring with T-tops and a tan interior including a Vehicle Improvement Products racing steering wheel, 8,500 RPM tachometer, 165 MPH speedometer and a turbo boost gauge. Maintenance includes cleaned and lubricated hinges, moving parts and treated rubber parts, plus draining and replacement of the transmission and rear axle fluids drained and replaced with competition-grade oil. Featuring far too many special features and upgrades to fully mention here, this electrifying Greenwood Daytona Turbo Corvette takes IMSA racing technology to the street with BBS lightweight 3-piece racing wheels mounting BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires.
