I'm beginning the process of designing a custom rebody for the C3 Corvette. This design draws on several Le Mans racers from the 1950's and early 1960's, but it is not a replica. I've begun by buying two, 1:8 scale Monogram models of the 1982 Corvette. At over 20" long, they're far easier to work with than the popular 1:18 scale (most metal pre-assembled "desktop models" are 1:18 -- good selection, poor workability. Also rather small scale for custom modelling). Because this is a pure styling exercise, I wanted to be sure my design stayed close to the C3 dimensions, and identical with respect to wheelbase, track width, etc. Using a plastic model skeleton of a C3 helps me accomplish this.

I've decided to do a couple clay workups, unfortunately the mockups fall apart as the clay dries out. That's fine, once I've gotten an acceptable design, I'll do final modelling in body putty. Anyhow, I thought I'd put up shots of my first attempt. The clay has worked nicely, and I bought one of the smaller bricks of it, so it's not all that expensive to do (the model itself, I had to get from Ebay due to the fact that no one seems to make 1:8 scale anymore...and that cost a pretty penny...for a plastic model, anyhow.)

I apologize for the crudeness, this was done freehand, just sort of eyeballing the lines. In truth, this attempt was more about working with the clay and seeing how I liked it as modelling material. I will be doing later models with proper measuring and better tooling in the coming weeks. However, I'd like some early impressions. Essentially, I just did the forward driver side, which allows me to contrast it with the passenger side of the C3's lines. The tail will not be getting too much of a change, some general smothing and rounding out, and I'll probably play around changes in the rear deck.

Anyhow, you can take a look at my first run at http://home.cfl.rr.com/vtr/vlm.htm.

By the way, I do not plan to actually build the body over a C3 body - the weight alone of having basically two bodies on the car would be rediculous...just wanted to address that issue ahead of time. Also, this isn't set in stone. I'm liking what I am seeing in this early model, as well as the scores of drawings of done prior to this. However, until I make more precise models (and full models, not just 1/3 of the car), I really won't know if this is something I want to pursue of not. It's a heck of a lot of work, but if the design is sound, I'll probably go with it over building a replicar like a Cobra or Grand Sport, but I just don't know.


Andrew

 

Holy Cow Man!
That looks like it will be one tough job to pull off.

Keep posting pics here on the Forum so we can see how it all goes.

You really must like messing with fiberglass, huh?

-70Shark

 

Send an IM to 74-Roadster. He has done some mock up work on a scale model. He may be able to offer some tips. He's very talented.

 

It looks like a jag XKE styling or prewar german racer.

 

or Speed Racer's Mach 5! Which I heard was modeled after some 50's sports car. Joe

 

3 more shots added. Did some revising, the hood dried and cracked up -- washed clay off of it but haven't re-moulded it yet. Shaped the rear fender, scribed door outline, made a "sketch" of side gill -- will probably use early C3 gill.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/vtr/vlm.htm


[Modified by ProjectVLM, 2:08 AM 6/22/2002]

 

Here's a link to that 50's sports car: It's a 1955 OSCA Lemans car. An obscure Italian marque that is long gone. Joe
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=02234328

 

Looks Great! Art supply stores sell oil based clays that don't dry out. Might save some rework.


[Modified by johns73, 1:10 PM 6/25/2002]

 

Looks like your having fun but the reason behind screwing with the best looking body style ever produced for a sports car eludes me. :confused:

 

I was wondering how long it would take for the dissenting opinion of "the purist" to arise.

I typed up a lengthy reply discussing the reasons behind this project. Essentially, I came into this wanting to build a car similar to (but not a replica of) the bullet-nosed, front engined, European GT cars of the '50s and '60s. The C3 happens to fit the bill as a donor for this type of design very well.

I decided not to post it here due to the length (2 or 3 pages), but I did put it up in my webspace for now, and you can read it if you feel like it. Here's the link: http://home.cfl.rr.com/vtr/vlm_msg.htm. I'll probably leave it there for a week or two.

I'm not intending to offend anyone, I hope you all understand that. I'd like to continue documenting my progress here, and have no doubt this forum will be valuable as I proceed in this project.

Andrew