Widebody C4 Corvette to Make Things Different

The Question

Here at Corvette Forum we scour the internet for article ideas, sometimes turning up leads from a simpler time, a time when cameraphone photos still sucked: 2012. Once such ember came from a piece in a rival publication, written about a video that no longer exists. The missing video showed a mysterious C4 Corvette spotted in Koblenz, Germany, a city spanning the Rhine River in the east-central part of the country, between Cologne and Frankfurt.

The publication in question did an image search, which came up empty-handed. “Is it a custom modification of existing aftermarket panels, or a bespoke body? There’s no way to know, but we’re betting the driver never sees another car just like his while cruising the Autobahn,” was their conclusion. 

Knowledge Base

And it wasn’t just other Corvette sites inquiring about the origin of Teutonic plastic. Here in Corvette Forum, members were looking for the same body kit at least as early as 2007. Forum members had already correctly identified the body kit as coming from the German firm Geiger—which of course explains why examples were spotted running around Deutschland—but were searching in vain for a U.S. distributor. 

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Found On Road Alive

However, several years on, we were able to come up with a few more images of the elusive Geiger kit on their Bradenton, Florida-based U.S. distributor’s website. Or should we say “kits,” because the site lists three different Geiger kits and what looks like two versions of an identically-priced also-German-made P&H Wide Body Kit? While most of the photos are unfortunately still low-resolution, the blue car pictured here is one of the better photos of the species we were able to find. About those prices, at “only” $7,199.00 they’re not exactly the cheapest kits out there. 

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The Kits

For your $7.2K you get a kit suitable for 1984-1996 Corvettes, both coupes, and convertibles, with angled taillights only. The nose section extends back the front wheels and the tail section is of a piece with the rocker panels, “for better stability.” The site also assures us that the kits provide ample air to both engine and brakes, and that, “all body-parts are smoothly stucked together and spackled.” Aside from the obvious aesthetic changes, the kits’ 7.35-foot widths allow for plenty of rubber—wheels up to 10x17 front and 13x17 rear will fit. 

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Beauty Contest

Versions 1 and 2 of the Geiger kit have a more angular Aerovette look than the other versions, one that softens the C4’s folded look and transforms it into a concept car. Other versions have an extremely rounded nose that molds the C4’s shape into an optimized mixture of various 90s all-stars, including C5 ‘Vette, RX-7, and Lotus Elan. The protruding nose with a lower, more rearward air dam also brings to mind the Vector W2’s prow. 

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Members Speak

Characteristically, forum members disagree on whether the widebodies are a home run or not. On the pro side, comments include this enthusiastic endorsement: “It's the one kit I would want... if I could afford it. Makes the C4 look like a real exotic!” A few members felt it was the best of a sordid bunch: “Of all the body kits… not too bad,” as well as, “It's definitely the best of the lot but still...” and the circumspect, “It is ‘dated,’ to a degree, but isn't the C4? The kit is aggressive and different. It doesn't emulate anything.” 

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Verdict

Other members had concerns of a more mechanical nature, one member wondering about parts availability and opening: “The front spoiler looks like it is fiberglass and will crack while going over a speed bump. These cars look like they were intended for shows and not as daily drivers.” Another expressed this concern: “With that much offset on the front and rear wheels, I'd think you'd be buying new bearings every month. I'd also suspect you'd have to put so much toe in into the front (to keep them from spreading to toe out) that it would steer like crap,” but admitted, “Looks nice anyway...”

Time to vote. What do you think of the German widebodies? Are you two thumbs up, or more in line with members who said, “It’s another kit that makes a Corvette… not look like a Corvette,”? 

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