When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
New here and just purchased my first Corvette! I do have a bit of a background with Corvettes and have been working on them and selling parts since 2010.
I happened upon this beauty on a friends property out in the woods. It's a 77' with one heck of a wild body kit on it, looks era correct but I can't find any pics of it online. It doesn't appear to be a home made but looks like a professional kit of some kind. Anyone recognize it??
I usually dislike custom vettes, usually because the kits look cheap and just bolted on. On this one, looks like they customized every single body panel. Super cool paint job too. hopefully it can be buffed out!
I checked the frame and the birdcage well at least what I can see of it and fortunately it looks like this car was worked on just before it was allowed to sit for 8+ years so birdcage and frame are surprisingly good. It looks like the bonding strip on the left quarter has started to come off and there are a few other issues like interior and engine obviously. I'm considering dropping an LS in it and going the restomod route depending on the histroy of the car if any. I'll share more photos etc. and keep you guys posted on my progress. Would love to know more about this thing! thanks for all your comments and suggestions I'm a newbie so it's much appreciated.
In some ways it almost looks like something George Barris might have concocted, and the paint scheme looks vaguely like a few of his. I googled George Barris Corvette, but didn't find this one - although I did see some pretty wild vette's he did.
Really interesting when you find something like this - who did it, when, why is it there, etc.?
I can imagine this is how Heuvelmans felt as he first got a gander of the Minnesota ice man...thanks for sharing
Not to split hairs i would call this car flared, i call widebodies the ones with the can am style panels,
But this car is certainty wide...
Thanx chaz, you are mostly correct, skorpion did make a huge "bubble" flare seldom where huge flares like this sold,
I start looking for little nuances to try to decide whose parts or work might be on a custom c3,
Both ecklers and motion had slope rear windows that this car appears to have had a version of,
Tail light slits were a popular mod during the era,
I know i have seen that headlight treatment before,
The flares are really big and that running board from flair to car is ringing a distant bell,
Hoodscoops are sometimes telling, is the hood gone?
My vote is while they might have started with some companies aftermarket parts this is a one off built likely by someone very inspired by some of barris late 70s early 80s work,
Thank you for the comments. I appreciate the input.
Although this is my first Corvette, I'm not a total newbie I worked for a Corvette repair shop for 5 years in the parts dept so I know a decent amount. Currently I work at an Auto Recyclers specializing in 2007-2017 GM trucks and SUV's so I have access to motors. I still have some connections in the repop Vette parts world too so that will help.
I pick up the car this weekend, leading to my next question. How in the hell am I going to get this thing rolling? what have I gotten myself into but I'm in love with the look of it so there's no turning back now.
this should be interesting...
My buddy does have a backhoe, flat deck with winch etc.
Its way down in the earth, you might chain through the engine bay to frame and lift and pull up and forward with back hoe, it likely wont roll but will drag,
Sometimes rust will be so bad the frame will break, lets hope thats not the case but in this type storage there will be rust, one running board has a fern growing on it,
05-15-2018, 05:00 AM
New Member 1977 Widebody Barn Find
Great find
what have I gotten myself into 
but I'm in love with the look of it so there's no turning back now. 
