A Corvette with a metal body?
12-28-2009, 02:12 PM
#2
Team Owner
jack
12-28-2009, 02:51 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
12-28-2009, 07:23 PM
#7
Very italian design. What makes it a corvette ? I'm sure GM made one because the metal body stamps are so cheap to build... and throw away. Can I sell you a limited edition bridge ?
12-28-2009, 08:05 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
GM didn't make the body. Ghia did. GM had it made as european styling exercise. For a possible euro version? It has the 53 frame,drivetrain etc.. GM can name them what they want. They seemed to call this one a Corvette. Styling exercise or not.
12-28-2009, 09:34 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Two other Corvettes come to mind:
1) 1957 SS - magnesium body
2) 1953 #056 - has a factory metal hood (and still has it!) I've spoken to the GM engineer who built it. In 53, upper GM mgmt was concerned that the heat from the engine compartment would delaminate the fiberglass so they ordered George McGriff to fabricate a metal hood. As it turned out the fiberglass held up, so only one metal hood was produced.
1) 1957 SS - magnesium body
2) 1953 #056 - has a factory metal hood (and still has it!) I've spoken to the GM engineer who built it. In 53, upper GM mgmt was concerned that the heat from the engine compartment would delaminate the fiberglass so they ordered George McGriff to fabricate a metal hood. As it turned out the fiberglass held up, so only one metal hood was produced.
12-29-2009, 11:49 AM
#14
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12-29-2009, 12:42 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
12-29-2009, 12:50 PM
#16
John;
That is exactly what I have read. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for an Italian coach work company to buy a frame with power plant to design their concept feeding off the popularity of the Corvette name.
Barrett - Jackson would call it any name if they got their 25% selling fee. If it wasn't built in a GM plant by GM employees it is not a Chevrolet Corvette.
Lets start another rumor... a boat builder in Italy that builds his line called corvette commisioned this car with his company name. I like it !
That is exactly what I have read. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for an Italian coach work company to buy a frame with power plant to design their concept feeding off the popularity of the Corvette name.
Barrett - Jackson would call it any name if they got their 25% selling fee. If it wasn't built in a GM plant by GM employees it is not a Chevrolet Corvette.
Lets start another rumor... a boat builder in Italy that builds his line called corvette commisioned this car with his company name. I like it !
12-29-2009, 01:12 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
John;
That is exactly what I have read. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for an Italian coach work company to buy a frame with power plant to design their concept feeding off the popularity of the Corvette name.
Barrett - Jackson would call it any name if they got their 25% selling fee. If it wasn't built in a GM plant by GM employees it is not a Chevrolet Corvette.
Lets start another rumor... a boat builder in Italy that builds his line called corvette commisioned this car with his company name. I like it !
That is exactly what I have read. It certainly wouldn't be impossible for an Italian coach work company to buy a frame with power plant to design their concept feeding off the popularity of the Corvette name.
Barrett - Jackson would call it any name if they got their 25% selling fee. If it wasn't built in a GM plant by GM employees it is not a Chevrolet Corvette.
Lets start another rumor... a boat builder in Italy that builds his line called corvette commisioned this car with his company name. I like it !
12-29-2009, 02:25 PM
#18
Drifting
I thought I remembered reading about this car in the old "Corvette, America's Sports Car" by Carl Ludvigsen. The Pininfarino Rondine. The car was built on a C2 chassis and even retained the dual-cowl Corvette dash.
Here's a link to the story: Rondine
And a Picture or two
Here's a link to the story: Rondine
And a Picture or two
Last edited by Revette; 12-29-2009 at 02:29 PM.
12-29-2009, 04:46 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=Revette;1572574544]I thought I remembered reading about this car in the old "Corvette, America's Sports Car" by Carl Ludvigsen. The Pininfarino Rondine. The car was built on a C2 chassis and even retained the dual-cowl Corvette dash.
This one is very interesting. The one I listed is a Ghia from 53-54. Pininfarina were distinctly different. You will see a lot of the Lincoln Ghia body on it too. Ghia had a distinctive boxy style back in the 50s. Can't say I like it. I have always liked Pininfarina designs though.
This one is very interesting. The one I listed is a Ghia from 53-54. Pininfarina were distinctly different. You will see a lot of the Lincoln Ghia body on it too. Ghia had a distinctive boxy style back in the 50s. Can't say I like it. I have always liked Pininfarina designs though.