Remember the De Tomaso Pantera, that sexy Italian sports car from the ’70s that used American V8 firepower? Well, the car you see here is…sort of…like that in that it’s a European design powered by a Yankee engine – a 1992 Corvette’s LT1, to be exact. The most obvious exception is visual: someone chose the lines of the quirky/conservative 1967 Volvo P1800S as that engine’s outer shell.
According to the seller, “All of the original Corvette features are 100% functional including heat/air conditioning, ventilation, power steering, power seats, power windows, stability ASR, etc.” The engine, drivetrain, and chassis are reported to be in great shape, although an AutoCheck Vehicle History Report indicates this “Volvette” was in some sort of accident back in 2004.
This oddity’s wheels are more Corvette than Volvo. (They’re wrapped in new rubber – 255/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rear.) In fact, this car is titled and licensed as a ’92 Corvette.
If you’d like to get it titled in your name, you’ve got until next Wednesday to place the highest bid. As of now, the amount to beat is $20,200, which doesn’t meet the seller’s reserve.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
