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Insanely rare FOUR DOOR corvette on dealer site...
Not mine, not affiliated!
Anybody have any information about this? I googled it and found some info but was wondering if anyone on here knew more about it? At first I thought some madman had made a stretched C3 but NOPE! Amazingly this is a 1 of 6 (apparently only two left in existence) FACTORY four-door vette! Anyway thanks if you have any other info about it!
Not to my tastes, but in really excellent shape and very well done. Did you notice the asking price? Must have missed it.
One thing that really struck me was the complete lack of legroom for the rear seats. They were practically touching the front seats.
I did see the asking price. In my googling I saw either the same car or the other one going for $275k, so not really shocked by the $200k mark. The way things go on the auction circuit this might end up being a bargain. I mean one of TWO surviving factory cars? As for the back seat, I did not notice that until you pointed it out. But I don't think this will be a driver you'd take the kids to school in (ok maybe once LOL!). This is a museum piece all day long. Question is, who has a museum with a slot open?
If I remember correctly, these aren't 100% factory, like the Nomad concepts, but moreso sanctioned conversions.Still abhorrent abominations imo
What info I did get via googling is that these were in fact made by Chevrolet by welding two C3s together. Not too sure about that, tho. Of course they are custom nearly 1-off cars so not surprising a coachbuilder would be involved since nobody set up an big assembly line for these particular six cars. But Chevy supposedly had them in production either in Kentucky at the plant or who knows. Just not sure. They were thinking of marketing them as "Corvette America"s. Maybe Corvette Murica would be better. ;-p One guy had one for sale at $275k a while back. Not sure if that is this car tho. As for the abomination comment, I would tend to agree if this was some random kit car, which is what really blew me away. (I used to work at a mercedes shop and saw a couple home-made kit car conversions that surely deserve that title).
What is it called when something is a really well made version of something no-one wants? I'm sure there is a 47 letter word in German for "good execution bad taste".
It's so very red. Why did it have to be red on the outside, too?
Here is another one.
I copied the article dated Feb 6 2017.
Here goes:
For all those enthusiasts out there who have always wished they could take the whole family in their Corvette, here’s your answer.
What is claimed to be the only surviving four-door production 1979 Corvette America (not to be confused with the Corvette parts company of today) is up for sale on eBay, with the bid climbing to $12,650 right now.
The seller claims that Chevrolet actually planned on annually producing 40 of these Corvette America cars, to be built by California Custom Coach in Pasadena.
There was a lot of overhead in building these cars since each required cutting two cars in half and mating them together to extend the wheelbase by 30 inches, enabling installation of four seats, four doors, and four T-tops.
For some reason, the idea never took off, though, probably because a base Corvette sold for about $13,000 back then so the outrageous $35,000 asking price of the Corvette America made it economically unfeasible. It would make more sense to buy two Corvettes if you wanted to haul four people or just buy one and let your family be patient and take turns riding in it. Or duh, maybe you could just buy a Camaro or a Chevelle instead.
In all, a prototype and five other Corvette Americas were produced before Chevrolet pulled the plug on the project, according to the seller, who claims that his is the only one believed to have survived until today.
He also claims that one of the Corvette Americas sold for $500,000 five years ago, though we could find no evidence of the sale on the Internet, and that another one was on eBay for $300,000 six months ago. He’s offering his at the “Buy It Now” price of $60,000.
We wouldn’t be inclined to pay that kind of price, but the car is kind of interesting, as an oddity. The seller notes that there are no exterior door latches on the customized doors, and you unlatch the doors electronically by punching in a code on the keypad on the driver-side windshield by the A-pillar. He also points out that the car has a rear opening hatchback that was a preview of the actual 1982 Corvette.
The seller says he has all paperwork and documents from the factory in Pasadena and that the car is complete with original blue plates and documents.
I’m not as horrified by it as the rest of you. I think the lines aren’t bad. I like the tan interior though the copper exterior does nothing for me. Prefer the red. In the $10 to 12k range, I might actually go and have a look. At$60k, I’d laugh. At $200+k, on drugs, please share.
Originally Posted by Big2Bird
It's rare because no one wanted them then, nor now.
Originally Posted by Bikespace
What is it called when something is a really well made version of something no-one wants? I'm sure there is a 47 letter word in German for "good execution bad taste".
It's so very red. Why did it have to be red on the outside, too?
Reminds me of the 3 speed manual. Very few made and none sought after. Also, I’m trying to find the German word.
The 4 door Corvette America was built by California Custom Coach in Pasadena CA .
Supposedly between 4 and 6 built, all of them either 79’s or 80’s
According to Super Chevy (March ‘01),-
"After five personalized production vehicles were built, however, the project was scrapped due to the exorbitant cost: While a standard, new 1979 Corvette cost roughly $13,000, these four-doors stickered at about $35,000."
The seller has been trying to get rid of that car for quite a long time. It's been listed three or four times. It's not worth the asking price. These were aftermarket conversions and never sold well.
02-10-2019, 11:53 AM
Insanely rare FOUR DOOR corvette on dealer site...
