At 1200 horsepower and a top speed of 169 MPH, ABQ-Live was finally able to catch up with Trent Durham and NM’s fastest street corvette the famous DEATH VETTE
The thousands of cars built by Trent Durham all share one focus: FASTER! And there is no exception with “Death Vette,” the fastest of Durham’s builds to date. Its blazing speed and sinister look have turned heads on social media and drag strips. Durham was gratious enough to give ABQ-Live an in depth look at his monstrous creation.
A 1997 Chevrolet C5 Corvette, work on “Death Vette” began four years ago in Iowa with all modifications – except the reaperesque matte black paint job – being completed by Durham in his spare time. The eventual move to Rio Rancho, NM required re-tuning engine dynamics, in order to compensate for the lower air density at over a mile above sea level. “Death Vette’s” trademark, and Durham’s favorite characteristic, is the single custom 88mm turbo kit bulging out from under the hood. The vehicle also sports nitrous oxcide which is currently only used to spool the engine, but Durham says using it to boost top speed will happen, “someday,” as well as other modifications to maximize speed and appeal.
With 1200 horsepower and a top speed of 169 mph, Durham says the car is too fast for the highway and he prefers to cruise his neighborhood if not at the track. However, that hasn’t stopped the law from taking notice. Once, Durham was followed home by an officer, only to be bombarded by questions and enthusiasm for his creation. “Other officers pull me over once in a while just to talk about my car. It really turns heads,” Durham adds with a well earned sense of pride.
Durham doesn’t race professionally, stating, “I do not race, but I do like to see improvement in numbers.”
Well, he must of loved competing in the LSX Monster Shootout, a drag competition in which “Death Vette” hit top speed and set record times. Still, Durham wants more, “I want to add a bigger cubic engine and add another turbo to go faster.”
So far, Durham is enjoying the attention “Death Vette” has garnered across social media and says, “I would love to see the car in one of the films being shot here in New Mexico.” Such aspirations prove promising as the vehicle continues to gain a following around the web. Footage from the LSX Event and other videos of “Death Vette” action can be found via the Death Vette Facebook Page and the official YouTube channel.
Story by Daniel Cruz, ABQ-Live Staff writer
Photography by Kori Kobayashi
