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History The Coachbuilt Corvette

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by Ryan, Feb 10, 2016.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    The Coachbuilt Corvette

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
    Eric H, LOU WELLS, swoopc and 2 others like this.
  2. ynottayblock
    Joined: Dec 23, 2005
    Posts: 1,954

    ynottayblock
    Member

    @Ryan funny I watched this video yesterday on Petrolicious and figured it would right up your alley. Neat little car, and quite the collection the fella has too.
     
  3. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,089

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    Look forward to watching g the video a little later on but I can't believe how much that front end shot looks like the t bird reboot from a few years back at a first glance.
     
    Squablow likes this.
  4. BrerHair
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 5,005

    BrerHair
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Enjoyed that, beautiful car. That is some serious chutzpah, managing to get GM and an Italian coach builder together to make your one-off, personally designed car. Impressive.
    Hard to escape the hard truth that here is a guy who took a modern car and popped a different body on it, transforming it into something completely different; but like the owner says, it is still like driving a '61 Corvette. A time-honored tradition, one that we still see going on, just so rare to see it done with a scratch-built one-off body. Beautiful.
     

  5. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The only 928 similarity I see is the backlight/deck lid. The rest looks more Maserati to me. The theme of long nose, short deck has been used on many of Europe's best efforts, especially from Italy's most exclusive coachbuilder/designers. The wheels wear me right the fuck out (!), and seem like they may have inspired Mr DeLorean or his crew at Pontiac. So delicate but robust as well. Thanks for the story and video. Inspiring...
     
  6. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,133

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Might have some awkward angles today...but compared to what else was out in 1961, even the Corvette it's based on...this thing was a spaceship. Love the wheels...wonder what they are?
     
  7. autobilly and falcongeorge like this.
  8. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 21,633

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    I don't know of any 60's era Ferraris with such an abrupt deck. The closest would probably be something like a 250 GT, but even it has a good ten inches of additional sheet metal past the rear wheel opening. I mean, this thing was crazy:

    [​IMG]
     
    63fdsnr likes this.
  9. typo41
    Joined: Jul 8, 2011
    Posts: 2,571

    typo41
    Member Emeritus

    What I find good to see, like I saw at Jay Leno's, that you have to be careful walking around his shop so you don't trip over all the trickle charger cords. He does drive them.
    I would love to know what was used from the Vette and are the wheels the wide pattern Pontiac?
     
  10. Wheel and brake change?
     
    Shop boy likes this.
  11. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,913

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If I cover up the 3/4 front/side view from the front door edge forward and ignore the wire wheel, it looks like a Pinto hatchback to me. I'm serious.
     
  12. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Not just Ferrari my friend, many of the exclusive customs from over there had a tendency toward that ideal. Although earlier, and surely a bit more car in total, Cunningham closed or coupe designs look very related as well. I'm there though, it's so abrupt and "ends" so fast it has a vibe all its own. The only thing I'd have liked added to this one is some bright trim around the door/window appature. As it is though I'd only change the name on the title. Awesome one off hybrid...
     
  13. 50Fraud
    Joined: May 6, 2001
    Posts: 10,101

    50Fraud
    Member

    One more Italian coachbuilt Corvette: the Pininfarina Corvette Rondine (1964):
    [​IMG]
     
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  14. jcmarz
    Joined: Jan 10, 2010
    Posts: 4,631

    jcmarz
    Member
    from Chino, Ca

    I wouldn't call this car's design a "interpretation" of the 928. It's the other way around, as far as the back end goes. The 928 didn't exist back in that time period. Cool video though and the stock Corvette interior blends well with the new body.
     
  15. von Dyck
    Joined: Apr 12, 2007
    Posts: 678

    von Dyck
    Member

    Not much of that interior is stock --- used to own a '61 Corvette! I like the body design. However, it is based on a chassis that was essentially the same from '53 to '62. The same design chassis was introduced in 1949 on the much improved Chevrolets. They were OK driving along a smooth, even highway --- as shown in the video.
     
  16. Wonder what the windshield is from?
     
  17. PRE48V-8
    Joined: Sep 23, 2006
    Posts: 730

    PRE48V-8
    Member
    from H.G., CA

    Jag meets AMC Pacer...squirt, squirt....next.....
     
  18. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    I'm not feelin' it, personally. Neat history and all and glad it survives intact but I can't say I'm fond of the design. The side view reminds me of the BMW Z3 coupe, AKA the Bavarian Clown Shoe. And as mentioned above, the first thought in my head seeing the front end pic was the T-bird reboot, which was another I'm not real fond of.

    The Pininfarina and Scagletti cars on the other hand, both look like very pretty designs to me.
     
    Rui likes this.
  19. P2120020.JPG Think i've seen this car before...... P2120030.JPG View attachment 3132529 P2120016.JPG

    Friend was asked to work on it years ago because he worked on it when it came back from italy, he knows the old FI units. might have actually sat in it :)
     
    Dog_Patch likes this.
  20. Somebody has to say it......they fucked up a really pretty car. While 1961 isn't my favorite 'vette, it's more proportional than that thing...
     
    milwscruffy likes this.
  21. I like it. But that D-type!! Hubba hubba!!!
     
  22. front 3/4 view it isn't bad, from the rear it makes me think "baby with a full diaper". a little Porsche and a little Datsun Z car blend......two of my least favorite cars but because of the drivetrain i can stomach it.
    neat story i appreciate the vision and ability to get it done.
     
  23. Blade58
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 363

    Blade58
    Member
    from apopka ,Fl

    Intresting ,GM has in there collection a Firebird with a Ferriari engine ,the front nose was redesign with a Italian flavor not sure if the body was shipped over seas for the install or a group of them came over to do the work here
     
  24. I was thinking a Ferrari Gto and amc pacer had the love child
    image.jpg image.jpg

    image.jpg
     
    Leakie and Crusty Chevy like this.
  25. Great story, I'm glad these things happen. Thank you for sharing.
    As to the car... well it is a piece of history and it materializes a man's will. That is a noble thing and something to really look up to.
    But I dont like it. My beaten up 56 4 door is prettier.
     
    31Vicky with a hemi likes this.
  26. Gr8laker
    Joined: Sep 15, 2011
    Posts: 70

    Gr8laker
    Member
    from Michigan

    Concur with the observations of 928, Cunningham, & T-bird cues. Good on you, Ryan as a history exercise, but I can't say I'm a fan of it.
     
  27. Jonnie King
    Joined: Aug 12, 2007
    Posts: 2,078

    Jonnie King
    Member
    from St. Louis

    Great, eye-popping body on the car ! But, even though it's a '61 Vette underneath, nothing was mentioned about whether they "tweaked" the suspension, or, drivetrain, to accommodate placement of the body panels when they did the final design and got it on the road. If they did, I'd sure like to know what it was...'cause that thing still seems to run, and track, like a scalded cat !

    Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net
     
  28. GaryC.
    Joined: Mar 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,557

    GaryC.

    Bertone also did one. The "Ramarro". Ramarro13103513852.jpg
     
  29. GaryC.
    Joined: Mar 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,557

    GaryC.

    This one "The Moray" was done by ItalDesign. Italdesign_Giugiaro-Moray_Corvette_mp141_pic_41433.jpg
     
  30. GaryC.
    Joined: Mar 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,557

    GaryC.

    Scaglietti did three of these Corvettes. scag-vette-2.jpg
     
    autobilly likes this.

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