Work of Art: Dave Kindig’s “TwelveAir” 1953 Corvette
Pushing the boundaries of custom car building to the stratosphere
Here's the winningest custom street machine in America, earning 18 major awards since its debut at the 2024 Detroit Autorama, most notably the coveted Ridler Award. Introducing Dave Kindig’s custom 1953 Corvette, TwelveAir. This all-aluminum, one-off “secret build” by Kindig-It Design is far more than a reimagination.
With its radical, futuristic design, bespoke V12 engine, F1-inspired suspension, and extraordinary level of handcrafted detail, TwelveAir redefines a classic icon through modern design and cutting-edge technology, standing as a showcase of uncompromising vision and craftsmanship.
To qualify for the Ridler Award, a custom car must debut publicly at the Detroit Autorama with no prior leaks. To prevent disqualification, the team built the TwelveAir in total secrecy, creating a hidden room, telling no one about the project, which was challenging over the car’s five-year build.
Aluminum not Fiberglass
Inspired by a 1954 Corvette concept, the body is entirely hand-fabricated from aluminum and packed with one-off details. The process began with hand-drawn sketches, then evolved through modern computer design and 3D printing. From there, a traditional buck was used to shape the aluminum, much like the legendary coachbuilders of the past.
The roof and outer skin were hand-formed from 3003 aluminum and built in three main sections: the top and outer panels, the floor and lower structure, and the doors and hood. This was a true ground-up custom with no donor car. Every component was designed and fabricated entirely in-house from scratch. The finished body wears a striking Modern Classik “Infrared” paint, complemented by chrome accents and a satin bronze finish called “Sagebrush,” used throughout the interior, engine bay, and undercarriage.
Custom V-12 engine
Ever seen a Chevrolet LS-based V12? Shane and Matt Corish of Race Cast Engineering in Australia are the minds behind it. What began by cutting and joining two LS1 blocks evolved into their own purpose-built V12 architecture, available in either aluminum or cast iron.
This engine wasn’t simply shoehorned into the chassis; it was engineered to serve as a structural member of the vehicle. Every component was carefully considered from a design standpoint, from the custom velocity stacks to the intricately detailed valve covers, all flowing seamlessly with the car’s overall aesthetic. And it’s not just about form: the platform is capable of producing over 1,000 horsepower, though this application is tuned to a more street-friendly 650 horsepower.
Cantilevered Suspension
Rather than utilizing the stock Corvette frame, Kindig used a unibody design for the car, with a custom F1-style front and rear suspension with cantilevered coil-over mono-shocks. The braking system incorporates custom-machined stainless rotors hugged by Wilwood calipers, neatly tucked away behind the one-off, five-spoke billet wheels designed by Dave, measuring 20×8 and 21x12, and turned into reality by the experts at EVOD Industries.
Bespoke Cabin
The same can be said about the cabin, where most of the components were 3D-printed and then upholstered in premium Sienna-colored leather. The cabin blends old-school with new-age, as evidenced by the obvious C1 throwbacks, such as the one-off dashboard shape, gauge clusters, and steering wheel. The latter borrows the C8 Corvette's squared-shaped rim and combines it with a C1-inspired central hub that was built entirely from scratch.
Elevating Custom Car Building
Some cars are restored. Others are customized. TwelveAir was born from a different philosophy altogether, one driven by pure imagination, master craftsmanship, and innovative engineering. This all-aluminum, 1953 Corvette-inspired creation is the car Chevrolet never made. Proving that just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new custom car build can still leave anyone speechless.
Kindig-It 1953 Corvette TwelveAir Awards
2024 World of Wheels Detroit Autorama – Ridler Award
2024 World of Wheels Detroit Autorama – Great 8
2024 World of Wheels Chicago Autorama – Legends Cup
2024 World of Wheels Salt Lake City Autorama – Wasatch Award & Best Custom
2024 Triple Crown of Rodding – Street Cruiser of the Year
2024 John D'Agostino – Crystal Award
2024 SEMA Roadster Shop – Best of the Rest
2024 31st Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals – Most Bitchin'
2024 World of Wheels Houston Autorama – Millwinders Award
2024 ISCA Custom Class & Grand Champion
2025 Goldmark Award at the Boise Roadster Show
2025 Big Kahuna Award at the Road & Custom Show in Medford, Oregon
2025 Grand Sweepstakes Rose Cup, Portland Roadster Show
2025 The West Coast Challenge Grand Champion – Sacramento Autorama
2025 Sam Barris Memorial Award – Sacramento Autorama
2025 Captains Choice Award – Whiskey Throttle Fair, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
2025 Pro Builder of the Year - Hot August Nights
2025 Grand Champion – Hot August Nights
