BUILDING CORVETTES

{ Feature }

Corvette Venture

Couple’s business focuses on classic bods with modern tech

Story and photos by Felicia Frazar

Billy Dawson has always had an affinity for Corvettes. His first, a silver-blue 1958.

It is no wonder that his love of ’Vettes carried over into his professional and personal life.

It’s a passion he shares with his wife, Sherry Dawson.

Billy established the Seguin Speed Shop in 1964. It wasn’t until about 20 years ago, his business shifted and he created Corvette Correction — a shop where he custom builds and installs C-1, C-2 frames with an ’88-’96 Corvette suspension on classic bodies.

“We build a new frame to go under all of these cars,” he said. “We started out with the first generation car, which is the ’53-’62. Then we graduated to these cars, the Sting Ray, ’63-’67 cars. Then we branched off into the ’55-’67 Chevrolets, and now we do ’47-’72 Chevy pickup trucks too.”

It started with his purchasing a 1958 Corvette, similar to the one he had in high school.

“I bought it, tore it all apart, and the frame was just rusted almost away,” he said.

Billy found a guy that was installing suspension systems from 1988-96 Corvettes into the classic cars which created a smoother ride for the vintage hot rods.

Instead of spending a lot of money to have one built and then the body fitted to the frame, Billy decided to craft his own.

“I wanted a car that drove right,” he said. “These old cars, the original cars, drove terrible. They had no power steering, no power brakes, no air conditioning. They were basically a Model T Ford.”

The blend of genres helps put a modern spin on the classics.

“I started with that ’88-’96 suspension and it worked so well,” he said. “We use the carbon fiber springs just like GM designed it. We use the whole front cradle. I did it because it was easy, but it works too well, so I just kept doing it.”

Instead of fitting the body around the frame, Billy built the frame for the body. He then began building the classic “Vettes” from the shell up, some getting that fresh start in his fiberglass shop where the Speed Shop originally opened.

He outfits the classic bodies with modern technologies, installing new engines, exhaust systems, wiring, power windows, locks, power steering and automatic transmissions.

“It makes a modern driving car,” he said. “Almost everything is new, except the body. The suspension is used, but we refurbish it and cleaned up.”

When the couple began taking their modernized Classic Corvettes to shows, they were snubbed by other classic car restorators, but eventually, those builders came around, Sherry said.

“When we first got into this, the first shows that we went to these original guys would come over and they were extremely insulted with what we were doing to the cars,” she said. “Now, they’re driving them.”

The couple would take their “Vettes” to nine different shows throughout the year. But with the shutdown caused by the pandemic, Billy and Sherry decided to cut back on their time away from home.

They venture to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for Corvettes Over Carlisle, to Cruising the Coast in Mississippi and another show in Florida.

While they weren’t able to mix and mingle with other Corvette enthusiasts this past year, the couple’s business continued to grow.

The couple’s shared passion for cars is one they share with their family, including their grandsons.

“We both love cars,” Billy said.