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Éric Descarries
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Restoring a Legendary Corvette
Éric Descarries
Hits: 910
Specialized bodywork expert Jacques Briand, based in Laval, is a renowned authority in restoring Chevrolet Corvettes. Over the years, he has brought many models back to life, often enhancing them beyond their original condition.
This time, Québec race car driver Benoît Laflamme, a real estate broker in Laval and a regular participant in CVQ (Courses Vintage Québec) races, turned to Briand for a repair on the rear of his 1980 racing Corvette. Briand seized the opportunity to go beyond mere repairs.
The 1980 Corvette that Laflamme acquired last year has a storied history. Known as "Frankie" (short for Frankenstein), it is an almost perfect replica of the Corvette driven by legendary Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes, who won the North American Trans-Am Championship in 1981.
Back then, the car was piloted by Murray Edwards from Nova Scotia. While Edwards only finished 22nd in the championship, enthusiasts of the time remember that the car was sponsored by the iconic Cavendish Farms of the Maritimes.
An In-Depth Restoration
With the 2024 racing season over, Laflamme wanted to address minor damage to the car’s rear. He entrusted it to Briand, who envisioned a more ambitious project: "The car had undergone several repairs," Briand observed. "So I suggested to Benoît that we restore the entire car while correcting design flaws, such as improving engine bay ventilation to help him race without enduring extreme heat in the cabin," he shared with us.
During the work, Briand discovered that time and racing had taken their toll on many fasteners and brackets, while also exposing design errors. For the next season, Laflamme will benefit from a car that’s easier to maintain. Briand has re-engineered the body panel attachments (originally made by Motorsports Composite in Grafton, Wisconsin), making them easier to remove. Additionally, mechanical components, including the exhaust system, will now be better insulated from the cabin.
To meet Laflamme’s preferences, Briand plans to restore the Corvette’s original colors, including the iconic Cavendish Farms logo, using a vinyl wrap. Achieving this requires a flawless base coat of paint, a challenge Briand is ready to tackle.
Éric Descarries
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