‘Vette Kart Craigslist Find Proves Roadkill Trend is Gaining Legitimacy

We can’t wait until race weekends start including a ‘Spec ‘Vette Kart’ event.

To get everyone up to speed, a ‘Vette Kart is a very fast, custom-built go-kart using a Corvette as the base. It’s an automotive genre that has become popularized by the Roadill Boys. With C4 Corvette prices still hovering just above rock bottom, the chassis has effectively become the go-to choice for ‘Vette Kart builders. Though, the occasional twin-turbo C5 tends to sneak through, as well.

This Craigslist find 1984 C4-based ‘Vette Kart is a strong example of the breed, and a symphony of sinister in its black-on-black-on-black appearance. This ready-to-roll example is powered by a carbureted 355-cubic-inch Chevy V8, with 10.2:1 compression, good for a claimed 455-horsepower. The infamous 4+3 transmission has been ditched for a more contemporary Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual. The signature exoskeleton/roll cage is built from unspecified DOM tubing. Our trained eye says it’ likely 1.50″ x .120″ DOM, and from the, admittedly grainy, pictures, looks well thought out. The door bars look solid enough, though the Harmon Racing fuel cell on the rear parcel shelf does prohibit the use of another diagonal cross bar. The harness bar section is paired with Simpson racing harnesses, which are guided through Corbeau Forza Sport seats. Oh, and it supposedly rolls on a clean title, though the only mileage specified is engine mileage.

The price? Well, that’s another story, as our Craigslist poster states that all prospective buyers should offer up. While a standard C4 Corvette may not command a high asking price, these one-off builds can go either way. Here is some reference pricing, should you be interested. In the office, numbers tossed around were in the $5,000-10,000 mark. Interested? Here’s the link to the add. The car is for sale now in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.

Jake Stumph

Jake Stumph is a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, and former content editor for Internet Brands Automotive which he joined in 2015. His work has been featured by several other prominent automotive outlets, including Jalopnik and Autobytel.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Ohio State University in 2013, then pivoted from covering politics and policy to writing about his automotive adventures, something that, he says, is a lot more fun. Since that time, he has established connections with most of the world's major automakers, as well as other key brands in the automotive industry.

He enjoys track days, drifting, and autocross, at least, when his cars are running right, which is uncommon.

Instagram