Another body piece that has been the subject of scrutiny as soon as the car hit the market is the rear lower panel. The factory paints them black. Walker’s Test Mule uses body color. At the present time, Walker knows of a few vendors who are making carbon fiber back panels.
   This lightweight, very strong material has become more and more popular in new Vettes, such as the ’04 Z06 hood. Carbon fiber fuel rails were no stranger to C5 mods. Walker says they “jazz-up” the engine bay. On his Test Mule, the jazz-up is unique. The covers- strictly prototype for now- are carbon fiber with very trick inscriptions. The words Corvette and LS2 are fashioned from “aluminum-based fiber” inset into the carbon fiber itself.
   Aluminum fiber is a new material on the market. Walker explained, “We’ll be developing more products out of this aluminum fiber.”
   These covers are still prototype. They are not yet GM-approved and GM-licensed. Time will tell.