PHR gets to flog Project X at GM’s Desert Proving Grounds

Regular readers who have followed Project X, our famous ’57 Chevy project car, know that something special is coming down the pipeline this summer. Actually, it’s two things in one, and together, they make for an awesome good time. The first is GM Performance Parts’ new line of 427ci big-block crate engines, the top dog being the all-aluminum ZL1 Anniversary edition. We got the first one, and it now resides in Project X. The second half of that potent one-two punch is PHR’s revitalized ’57 Chevy.

Project X has just completed its transformation at the hands of GM’s Performance Division. This outstanding work was headed up by project leader, Mike Copeland, with input from the horsepower gurus at GM Performance Parts. Last year, Project X went under the knife at GM’s Warren, Michigan, Tech Center, where it received a complete C6 Corvette front suspension, a custom triangulated four-link rear suspension, C6 Corvette brakes, the aforementioned 427 ZL1 big-block, and too many custom tweaks to mention here. (Did we mention, Project X is the only ’57 Chevy with On-Star?)

That’s a bunch of stuff for an ordinary build team, and it wouldn’t necessarily be a guarantee that it would all work together nicely. But this is no ordinary build team. The great thing about having GM build this car is that they’ve got the ultimate place to shake down any car, and it’s called the Desert Proving Grounds. I’ve been to GM’s Mesa, Arizona, facility before, and it never gets old. This place is full of history, and the people who work there are brimming with cool stories about the place. One of my favorites is the ’67 GTO that served as a tire-blowout training vehicle for almost 40 years. I saw it a few years back; its fenders cut open like a dirt modified to allow plenty of room for a deflated tire to flop around at full lock. Another story involves a man who wandered onto the GM property at night, thinking he could hitchhike into town. When none of the test drivers stopped to pick him up, he just assumed people in Mesa weren’t friendly! Then there’s the ghost of a beautiful woman who appears on the track—but only during third shift at night.

GM’s Desert Proving Grounds is a beautiful place too. There’s nothing like watching the sun rise over the campus, its rays poking the Superstition Mountains to the north. I take a sip of NOS energy drink as GMPD’s Mike Copeland fires Project X’s big-block, and begins making laps on the paved, banked oval. An F-22 Raptor streaks overhead in a tight turn, its engines ripping the clear blue sky. The symphony of powerful sounds combine with breathtaking beauty in a chance moment I’ll probably never experience again.

Now it’s my turn at the wheel. I slot the lever of the Richmond 5-speed into first, and let out the silky smooth clutch. The driving position is absolutely perfect; clutch and throttle are spaced in correct relation to the steering wheel and seat, and visibility is super. The steering is precise, with a great on-center feel, and the turning effort is just right. One of my favorite interior details is the ’64 Impala-like motif, with the console, upholstery, and rear seat “waterfall” all working together visually. The front seats are actually late-model Cadillac pieces, and they feel great. I hit the brakes, and they are authoritative and fade-free—just like you’d expect from a C6 Corvette.

My time with Project X quickly comes to an end, but I am consoled somewhat by the fact that I’ll get to drive it again this summer on the Hot Rod Power Tour. GM will be taking it on the road this summer, where PHR readers will get to take a closer look, and even see it in action. We’re putting together a list of tour stops, which we’ll be announcing here shortly, so keep your eye peeled!