SEMA 2007: '34 Chevrolet Coupe E85
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 29th 2007 at 11:33AM 
Click the image above for more pics of the '34 Chevrolet Coupe E85.
Two things that are diametrically opposed – hot rods and going green – have been fused into one open wheel custom for the throngs of SEMA-goers this week. The General is bringing a '34 Chevy hot rod to the show, outfitted with a 2.0-liter Ecotec four tuned to run on E85, and equipped with GM's Performance Parts Stage III package plus a larger turbo. 35-inch Excelsior rear tires partnered with 29-inch gumballs up front assure that presence will not be lacking when it's on display in Vegas tomorrow. Other notable tidbits include a custom front suspension with lightening holes drilled into the hardware, a reversed Corvair steering box mated to custom fabricated linkage and what GM is calling "earth-friendly" interior materials.
Take a look at the full press release after the jump for all the details.
Gallery: '34 Chevrolet Coupe E85
PRESS RELEASE
FLEXFUEL CHEVY HOT ROD DEMONSTRATES VINTAGE STYLE AND MODERN ALTERNATIVE-FUEL PERFORMANCE
With a 500-horsepower engine, a channeled body and a chopped top, GM's custom street rod looks right at home on the salt flats of Bonneville. But instead of a traditional gasoline V-8, this '34 Chevy replica rod sports a turbocharged 2.0L Ecotec engine that runs on E85 ethanol. Appropriately, it has been dubbed the FlexFuel Chevy Hot Rod.
"Since the 1930's, hot rods have embodied American ingenuity, aesthetic flair and the quest for performance," said Bryan Nesbitt, vice-president of General Motors North American Design. "The ethanol Hot Rod is a modern statement that today's hot rodder can address energy concerns about the consumption of petroleum without sacrificing performance or style."
The car's low-slung stance and stripped-down essence suggests track cars and speed racers of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Open hood sides reveal the high-powered Ecotec engine, which has been pumped up with the help of GM Performance Parts' Stage III performance kit and a larger turbo. The higher octane of E85 enabled engineers to tune the engine for more power. It is backed by a GM Powertrain 5L40 five-speed automatic transmission.
"The engine was built using the basic recipe that is available in the Ecotec performance book available from GM Performance Parts," said Al Oppenheiser, GM Performance Division director of concept and vehicle integration. "Also, the E85 conversion is based on a kit that GM is exploring for regular production engines."
True hot rod aesthetic
Like hot rods built for the last 60 years, the FlexFuel Hot Rod is built from an assemblage of factory and aftermarket parts. The frame and body are based on the 1934 Chevy, but both were fabricated by the craftsmen at the GM Performance Division (GMPD). The body has been sectioned and channeled to give the car its true hot rod aesthetic, while the frame is a one-off piece designed, engineered and built by GMPD. The slanted grille – with a unique chrome mesh pattern – and hood are integrated for a smoother look, which includes a sun visor characteristic of period hot rod racers.
Like any good rod worth its salt, there are no fenders or running boards; the 10-inch headlamps are mounted to the core support. The front suspension is all custom-built, complete with period-perfect lightening holes drilled in it.
A sturdy 8-3/8-inch Winters Quick-change rearend is suspended by a parallel four-link suspension. It is filled with 5.20 gears, which are used to generate brisk acceleration with 35-inch-tall, racing-type Excelsior rear tires and 29-inch-tall front tires. The tires are mounted on custom 18-inch front and 20-inch rear "kidney bean"-style wheels from Budnik.
Steering comes from a custom-fabricated linkage that is connected to a reversed Corvair steering box. The linkage is mounted to the outside of the frame rail.
Hand-crafted cabin
Inside, the FlexFuel Hot Rod maintains its racing-inspired minimalist theme, but with contemporary feel. Hand-formed sheet metal and earth-friendly materials were used to trim the cabin, as well as the racing-style aluminum seats. The dashboard was hand-finished, too, and filled with traditional-looking Stewart-Warner gauges.
One of the interior's central points of interest is the racing-style driveshaft tube, which covers the custom driveshaft. It is a prominent fixture in the cabin because the body has been lowered around the chassis to achieve the streamlined appearance that was characteristic of old-school hot rods.
Road ready
More than just a conceptualized vision of an alternative-fuel street rod, the FlexFuel Hot Rod is a driver that GM Performance Division will press into service for a number of road events and tests.
"This thing is going to rack up a lot of miles," said Oppenheiser. "With the FlexFuel conversion, it can run purely on E85, gasoline or any combination of the two. That means it can be refueled anywhere the road takes it."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex 11:41AM (10/29/2007)
I can't get into hotrods. they do nothing for me. this one included. as nice as it is that chevy made a "green"ish hotrod, i have my doubts that this will change much of anything in hotrod circles.
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ryan 11:43AM (10/29/2007)
500 hp sounds like a good idea, but i wonder how peaky and annoyingly lag-tastic it is in that four. or durable.
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J.Crew 11:44AM (10/29/2007)
Looks like GM got the drop on Chrysler by showing their pics first of a Hot Rod at SEMA. I can't say it does much for me either, but it is an interesting blend of old and new tech.
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Russell 12:01PM (10/29/2007)
500hp from a four banger, wow. Ricers always point out that domestics can't make power and thus use large displacement. How about this, your GT-R is almost twice as big as this Ecotec yet make less power.
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nissanfreak87 12:22PM (10/29/2007)
The GT-R is also reliable, and much more affordable than this car, this 4-cylinder is tuned to it's breaking point, and can't take abuse like the VR38 can
also see Nissan's RB26DETT 2.6 liters, easily tuned to over 1,000hp
jay tee 1:45PM (10/29/2007)
nissanfreak87,
The 2.0 Ecotec's "breaking point" is upwards of 1400hp... 500hp+ Ecotec engines race regularly.. and do so quite well... and that isn't bad, considering it is an engine that weighs well south of 400lbs in race trim...
The RB26 on the other hand, is MUCH heavier (by at least a coulple hundred pound fully dressed) and noticeably longer... It's pretty much a solid block of iron with six small holes punched through... of course it can handle as much boost as can be made... The VR38 on the other hand, is a NEW motor, is NOT a solid lump of iron, but is a very stout aluminum V6 nevertheless... You can't really say a pre-production car with a brand new engine is more reliable and robust than a one-off custom car with a somewhat proven race motor, or vice versa....
Plus, the main point of a performance engine is to have as much horsepower while taking up as little space as possible right? Pound for pound, I'd be willing to bed the VR38 weighs very similar to the LS7, yet produces less hp, torque, takes up more engine bay space, has a higher centre of gravity... This Ecotec turbo, while only 2.0L, makes as much power as an LS7, while weighing less, and is E85-capable... I don't see anything to complain about
LoneWolf 12:12PM (10/29/2007)
This Thing looks great!
But in a Hot Rod a 4cyl, even one with 500Hp?
No. Why haven't they choosed a FlexFuel V8 Engine?
But the style is awesome, imho. The rear Tires are a bit too small.
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Shipey 12:29PM (10/29/2007)
Now now... lets not forget that hotrodding started with 4-banger Model A's and T's duking it out on the salt. It's perfectly in-line with the heritage... Except no hotrodder worth his salt would've been caught dead in a Chevy, or a coupe, for that matter. The early days were a (nearly) Ford-only show.
Chad 12:15PM (10/29/2007)
Very cool looking. Loads of style. Wonder how that sounds?
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cowboy bob 12:25PM (10/29/2007)
Like my neighbor kids Neon with his soup can muffler! Rrrruuumm Ruummmm. Ain't we bad! 'Course he only THINKS he has 500 poneys.
Chad 12:31PM (10/29/2007)
Yeah I don't mind the ricer stuff. You gotta cut the kids these days some slack. They really don't have many options. My first car was a 1970 Plymouth with a nice V8 and I paid $800 for it. These days those kind of cars cost $20,000. So they soup up what they can afford.
Justin 12:27PM (10/29/2007)
Sorry but a hotrod isnt a hot rod unless it sounds like one. i cant get excited aobut the sound of a 4 cylinder, regardless of how much boost/power its running.
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delrey327 5:39PM (11/12/2007)
A hot rod isn't a hot rod unless it sounds like one? The first rods ever used Ford's flathead 4s. So, really... This is pretty much the essence of rodding.
Justin 1:29PM (11/13/2007)
That's how they started, but I definitely wouldn't say flat 4's are the essence of hot rods lol. Every 30's street rod I see running around has a thundering v8.
I don't think I would be able to make it through watching the races in American Graphitti if they were all 4 bangers. This is my point.
kyle 1:02PM (10/29/2007)
I think that everyone is missing the point of this rod. This fits exactly into Hot Rod Magazine's "Dare To Be Different" template, which is not a bad thing. I mean, yes, it would have been awesome for GM to pack this thing with an E85-swilling V8 to make their environmental rodding point, but throwing the Ecotec in there just makes it that much more interesting. The V8 would have been just an itty bit more normal, and at SEMA, being even slightly normal is a death sentence, if you want your car to be noticed that.
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cheese302 1:03PM (10/29/2007)
i am totally into it. i am so done with people raining all over the parade of small engines. Yeah it'll sound different. but a lightweight hot rod doesnt need to have a huge engine. BRAVO GM. i would buy and drive it in a heartbeat.
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Moltenauto 1:15PM (10/29/2007)
From damon's summary: "35-inch Excelsior rear wheels partnered with 29-inch rollers up front".
I was thinking that the car must be a lot bigger than it looked because those huge wheels looked well balanced with the car. Then I read in the press release:
"The tires are mounted on custom 18-inch front and 20-inch rear "kidney bean"-style wheels from Budnik."
Shouldn't an Autoblog editor know the difference between wheels and tires?
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ron 7:47AM (11/14/2007)
i would like to know what if any changes i would have to make to run the e85 in my classic camaro which has a 454 (mild)anybody have any ideas?
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David 3:03PM (12/18/2007)
ron - open up a summit catalog, buy everything for alcohol conversions, jet to taste. most fuel line sold in the last 10 years can hold up.
Put this Ecotec up against an sr20det for a direct comparison. 500 ponies is easily attained. why pick on the skyline, it hasn't been built for 10 years. If I had GM's money, I could make a pinto motor live on boost and alcohol. Let's be honest, the ecotec isn't affordable enough, now, for rodders to get into. Come talk to me after 1 million are on the road.
"torque wins races, horsepower sells cars." - Smokey Yunick
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