The sort of thing that Kindig It Design came up with with TwelveAir, a machine crafted to order and redefining what a Corvette could be, is really something that I would not soon forget. This car is based on the traditional design yet has developed the modern performance and technology, thus making it one of the most discussed innovations in the automobile market. Its theatric look, its strong V 12 engine, and its craftsmanship made it a unique vehicle among all custom cars.

The project was completed over a period of five years and required total secrecy throughout the project. The car was commissioned to be built to Dave and Tracy Maxwell, who wanted to integrate the old school in crafts with recent cutting edge design techniques such as CAD and 3D printing. The vehicle was custom made in every inch and TwelveAir was a lot more than an ordinary custom Corvette. It turned to be an icon of innovation, accuracy and commitment.

1. The prestige in back of the Ridler Award

The Ridler Award is the highest award in the world of custom cars. The most creative, engineering and craftsmanship is at Detroit Autorama every year and sponsored by Meguiar. This accolade consumes years and huge amounts of money by the constructors. It is not only about creating a beautiful car to win the Ridler. It entails coming up with something that transforms the expectations completely.

Major Guidelines of the Ridler Award

• The car has to be shown to the world
• No images, illustrations or drawings are to be leaked early
• The car should be well functioning and should be able to drive
• Innovativeness, thoroughness, and engineering excellence are sought by judges
• The ultimate winner is only chosen among the great 8 finalists

Ridler competition is highly challenging since all the entries are required to do more than just appear impressive. These vehicles should be able to start, steer, stop, and move themselves. The first goal of builders is to qualify into the final 8 bracket. It is also one of the hardest awards in the automotive industry with only one car winning the Ridler Award.

2. A Corvette Like No other

The winner of this year is entitled 1953 Corvette, but has little in common with the car that was produced. The vehicle was designed by Kindig It Design (designed by Dave Kindig and his team) to Dave and Tracy Maxwell and required five years to be complete. The car is called TwelveAir and is a fully custom machine that is inspired by classics and features state of the art engineering and modern design.

Inspiration Behind TwelveAir

• Based on the 1953 GM Motorama Corvair
• Inspired by CF1 production cars of Dave Kindig
• Constructed as an entirely original ground up
• Developed on behalf of clients Dave and Tracy Maxwell
• Constructed in five years without short cuts

A combination of old and new design language creates the shape and personality of TwelveAir. Although the outline might make some people think of other Kindig works, all of the components of this car were designed to fit the project. There was nothing borrowed of another building or stolen off a production shelf and this makes the final product even more impressive.

3. The Dilemma of Confidentiality

The secret of the project was one of the hardest tasks. As Kindig It Design is also where the television show Bitchin Rides is being shot, there was always a chance that the cameras or visitors will accidentally expose the car. In order to prevent that issue, the team had been working on TwelveAir in a back room.

The significance of Secrecy

• Ridler rules are to be brought to the full public
• Any image that is leaked will terminate the eligibility of the project
• Television films were also done in the shop
• Employees were forced to be cautious of the people who viewed the car
• The secret construction took five years

Baylee Kindig, the daughter of Dave Kindig, later said that the process was the most difficult when it comes to keeping people off the vehicle. The pressure was also intense throughout as a single accidental photograph could have ruined years of work. Such a sense of secrecy just increased the excitement when the completed car was finally unveiled.

4. Starting with a Clean Slate

TwelveAir was a simple philosophy: it was all about originality. The Kindig It crew did not use an already existing Corvette body or frame, and instead constructed the car on its own foundation. Initial sketches were used to start the project, but the group soon transitioned to computer aided design and 3D printing to perfect each component prior to the start of the construction process.

Technology Adopted in the development

• Initial designs began with drawing designs
• CAD software processed all the details in a digital way
• Test components were created with the help of 3D printing
• Shapes could be previewed by engineers prior to fabrication
• New equipment minimized errors in construction

This combination of ancient craftsmanship and the latest technology contributed significantly to the success of the construction. Digital testing of parts would allow the team to make corrections at the outset and prevent costly mistakes at a later stage. It also enabled them to make shapes and details that would have been extremely harder to make with older methods.

5. The Aluminum Body is a hand shaped piece of aluminum

The outer body of TwelveAir was designed with the help of 3003 aluminum sheets which were manipulated by hand. The panels were formed by skilled craftsmen using a buck to ensure that all the curves and beautiful lines that are visible on the completed vehicle were formed. What has come out is a light shell that appears fragile but it was designed with extreme precision and strength.

Body Construction Details

• It was composed of 3003 aluminum on the outer shell
• Shaping of panels was done by hand ovr a buck
• It is extremely light and easy to carry off
• The design is free flowing in front and back
• The body was divided into three major sections

The car was assembled in different parts such as the top structure, floor, and door and hood assembly. All of these pieces assembled into one continuous form once they were completed. Although the body is seen as something simple and clean on the outside, it harbors an amazing engineering beneath the beautiful exterior.

6. One of the Designs is a Chassis that is inspired by Supercars

TwelveAir is not mounted on a classic frame, unlike most traditional custom builds. Rather it incorporates a monocoke unibody design, which is reminiscent of present day supercars. The lower body and floor were made of heavier 6061 sheet metal and reinforced by a powerful internal lattice construction to provide additional rigidity.

Chassis Engineering Highlights

• TwelveAir is made by a monocoque unibody
• The bottom is composed of 6061 sheet metal
• Strengthened parts enhance rigidity and strength
• The drivetrain is connected to the structure
• The design conceals numerous mechanical parts

This type of construction made the car more robust, lighter and more presentable. The team of Kindig also did not need an independent frame since it enabled the drivetrain to be included into the structure. This also made additional room to conceal mechanical parts and keep the continuous and flowing look that characterizes the car.

7. The Custom V 12 Engine

At the center of TwelveAir sits one of its most exciting features: a custom built LS based V 12 engine. Sourced from Race Cast Engineering in Australia, this engine is built from cast aluminum and designed specifically for projects like this. While the motor is capable of producing close to 1,000 horsepower, it was tuned down for reliability.

V 12 Engine Specifications

• The engine is an LS based V 12 design
• Built by Race Cast Engineering in Australia
• Constructed from lightweight cast aluminum
• Tuned to produce around 650 horsepower
• Delivers nearly the same amount of torque

Even with reduced power for the show debut, the engine still produces about 650 horsepower and nearly equal torque. In a lightweight vehicle like TwelveAir, that is more than enough to provide serious performance. The engine also gives the car a unique personality because V 12 powerplants are extremely rare in Corvette based customs.

8. Smart Engineering Around the Drivetrain

Power from the V 12 is delivered through a modified C7 Corvette automatic transaxle. The Kindig It team extended the torque tube and strengthened its housing so it could handle the extra power. They also designed a special nose cone component that combines several different functions into one clean and efficient piece.

Multi Function Nose Cone Features

• Houses the rack and pinion steering system
• Includes the cooling system pass through area
• Provides mounting points for the front sway bar
• Supports the front spring assembly
• Improves packaging and overall cleanliness

The nose cone was cast by Race Cast Engineering and became one of the most innovative elements of the build. Instead of using separate brackets and mounts, Kindig’s team combined multiple systems into one elegant part. This saved space, reduced clutter, and supported the overall goal of creating a clean and sophisticated appearance.

9. Suspension Inspired by Race Cars

The suspension system in TwelveAir was inspired by Formula 1 and IndyCar engineering. Rather than using a traditional setup with visible springs at each wheel, the car uses pushrod suspension with one horizontal spring in the front and one in the rear. This advanced layout keeps the body low while still delivering excellent handling.

Front Suspension Components

• Uses a pushrod suspension design
• Includes one horizontal spring in the front
• Features an upper A arm layout
• Uses a lower H arm attached to the oil pan
• Includes a two piece sway bar system

This setup is both beautiful and practical because it hides much of the suspension hardware from view. It also allows the car to remain extremely low without sacrificing ride quality or stability. The system reflects the same design philosophy found throughout the rest of the build: advanced engineering hidden beneath a clean exterior.

10. A Sophisticated Rear Suspension Design

The rear suspension follows the same pushrod concept but uses a slightly different arrangement. The lower H arm connects to the transaxle housing, while the upper parts attach directly to the reinforced structure of the body. This design provides excellent strength and allows the suspension to function smoothly without taking away from the car’s appearance.

Rear Suspension Advantages

• Uses a cantilever inspired rear layout
• Lower arms connect to the transaxle housing
• Upper sections attach to the body structure
• One spring works like two separate springs
• Provides stability while keeping the car low

Because of its special design, the rear suspension can create the feel of a more traditional multi spring system even though it only uses one spring at each end. This helps the vehicle stay balanced and controlled while also preserving the smooth lines and low stance that make TwelveAir so striking.