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New firm will open in Decatur To modify GTOs; Lingenfelter involved

BY ERIC MANN

The GTO is out to GTM, meaning “Get the Mustang!”

A husband and wife from Australia joined three local officials on Thursday to announce that an automotive business, Revenge Designs, will open in Decatur in two months and plans to have 40 employees by the end of this year.

The company will modify the look, feel, and performance of new Pontiac GTO.

Peter Collorafi, whose wife, Bonnie, is co-owner, revealed at a news conference that Revenge Designs will work out of two large buildings on Patterson St. between 11th and 13th Sts. that once were used by All American Homes. The structures total 87,000 square feet.

Collorafi, who was a car designer in his native nation for Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, said there are some 60,000 unsold GTOs that were made in Australia, from which Revenge Designs will create its versions. He said 1,000 cars are to be produced at first, with eight orders having already been received from the Los Angeles area.

The four-passenger GTOs will come in two styles: the standard Revenge model, priced around $45,000, and a supercharged model modified by the staff of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering of Decatur, a world-renowned name in high-performing engines. The Lingenfelter version will sell for about $55,000. Annual sales could be around $10 million after the first year, it was noted.

GTOs have a top speed of 170 mph, Collorafi said, but the ones with the Lingenfelter touch will go from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 to 4.1 seconds, according to Tom Cress, owner of the Lingenfelter firm.

Collorafi said the GTOs will get 18 to 23 miles per gallon.

He pointed out that the name “Revenge” was chosen by General Motors because GM wants to get back at Ford's Mustang. He also reported that GM plans to redesign the GTO in 2009 so it looks like a modern version of the famous 1960s cars, since many people want cars with that appearance.

Collorafi said he and his wife visited Decatur a year ago and have come to like the city and its citizens. He called Decatur “this fantastic town” with “such a wonderful group of people.”

Decatur is “a genuine community with genuine people,” he said. “We have come a long way from Australia to make this happen. We feel really good here.”

He also praised the Lingenfelter firm for “setting the benchmark” in vehicular performance. Cress thanked the Collorafis for their “great plan” and said, “I'm really looking forward to this great adventure.”

Cress noted that another idea is to “keep the John Lingenfelter name out there” because of his legendary status in the automotive field. Lingenfelter died some two years ago of injuries suffered in a racing accident.

Collorafi indicated that customers can get a Revenge GTO or a Lingenfelter GTO by going through any General Motors dealer. Depending on the amount of work to be done, a car can be modified and converted in two to three weeks.

The firm can add such “aggressive” features as a reshaped front end; a wider body, with a “NASCAR look”; fenders moved out from the body to accommodate wider tires; streamlined side panels for better air flow; a Lingenfelter supercharger to create 530 horsepower; anew rear end, with a spoiler; dual stainless steel exhaust pipes.

Collorafi called the Revenge models “the ultimate in a performance vehicle” with “all the performance of a Corvette” and “great handling.”

The engine work will be done at the Lingenfelter location on Winchester Rd.; the body work in the Revenge site on Patterson St.

Mayor Fred Isch said he has “goosebumps” over this development and remarked, “I just want to watch it grow.”

Ed Coil, president of the Adams County Economic Development Corp. Board, welcomed Peter and Bonnie Collorafi and spoke of “the ups and downs of getting the right location for you.”

Mike Ripley, executive director of the county economic development corporation, said of Collorafi, “You can't help but like the guy. We wish you the best."

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The good people of Alabama would be wise to check with the good people of Decatur, Indiana, and Henry County, Ohio.