An Irish company called AVA has announced plans to recreate the iconic mid-year 1963 Corvette Sting Ray as a battery-electric performance car called the Hyperclassic.
The AVA Hyperclassic is being developed with input from Peter Brock, who penned the original sketch that eventually became the production C2 Corvette. AVA is also working closely with Ian Callum on the project, a former designer director for Jaguar and Aston Martin that has now started his own automotive design consultancy business.
Details on the AVA Hyperclassic, which is also being referred to as the AVA Stingray, are fairly slim at the moment. From what we can gather, the vehicle will essentially be a C2 Corvette restomod that swaps the gasoline-powered V8 for eco-friendly electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. It is expected to be offered in various states of tune, with power outputs ranging from 1,200 horsepower at the low end all the way to 2,000 horsepower for the range-topper.
“Only a limited number of AVA Stingrays will ever be built, with each car’s creation embodying the unique personality of its owner,” the company said in a statement. “The classic car has always stood for more than the sum of its parts. It is a force for artistic self-expression that embodies the audacity of an era – and reflects and propels the culture that surrounds it. To redefine the power of a classic is to reinvent ourselves.”
In a teaser video for the vehicle that was released this week, Brock says virtually every part of the C2 Corvette will be overhauled when building a Hyperclassic, except for the exterior design. That part, the famous designer says, is basically impossible to improve upon.
“You go back and you say, what could have been done better on the car?” Brock asks in the two-minute video. “We’re hoping the answers to that question are things like brakes, suspension, and safety, along with the new powertrain. As for the exterior design? It’s perfect as is, and it doesn’t need to be changed one iota.”
A factory 1963 Corvette
More information on the Hyperclassic will be released later this month. In the meantime, be sure to check out the teaser video for this new battery-electric classic embedded just below.
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Comments
I like most of the design of a “new” EV Corvette, based on the C-2 body, but I think that the front and rear wheel well openings should match. Either make both of them round, or both of them boxy like the originals. Also, what is the purpose for the V-8 side exhaust system, if it is an electric vehicle? This basic concept is a good start, but I feel that it needs tweaked some more.
That picture title explains that it is the real factory 1963 car, not the electric car.
I agree with the exhaust. If it is ev no need for FAKE EXHAUST!!
Yawn.
New EV with out the needed integrated design is just asking for trouble.
Less range and poorer packaging make for a poorer car.
I would ask the question why.
why would anyone want to tamper with a classic such as the C2 Corvette? There is no way in the world any Corvette should be electrified, are the exhaust pipes going to play “The Star Spangled Banner” as you drive along?.
As I’ve said before, auto manufacturers are missing a perfect opportunity to relegate the old classics to the past and embrace the EV revolution by comming up with a new “Hero” brand not try to reinvent something that shouldn’t be done.
This deal will go the way that most of the New Trans Ams have gone. They will build 1-2 if that many examples and it will disappear.
Not really much market for this deal.
If you want to do an EV then do it but get your own platform and design.
No……………just……no.
Screwing around with what is probably the most iconic vehicle ever to come out of Detroit is a patently bad idea, and anyone who assumes they can “improve” it in ANY way is ridiculously misguided. WTH is wrong with these people???
I believe the day will come that EV’s will be made mandatory vehicles on our roads and highways. As much as I would miss the sound of a small/big block cam, watching the world today makes me feel that electric vehicles are inevitable. Therefore if they could come up with a kit to replace the combustion engine for those who own these classics, would make it a nice option.
We replaced horses with Cars but we still ride horses.
I see the bulk of collectable ICE models still being around. Gas is not going away as it is used for more than just cars.
ICE vintage models will be like people who ride horses for recreation.
Accept for California where who knows what the fools out there will do.
This is NOT the way to do this. Trying to make the 1963 Corvette into something it is NOT is lazy. Design your own vehicle don’t COPY one to help your sales….WRONG!
There is NO WAY that anything I’m involved with on the redesign of the C2 coupe for AVA would have anything as pretentiously hidieous as the fake exhaust as shown in this commentary. FAKE NEWS!
You are not the real Peter Brock!
Peter Brock must be trusted with the design of the C2 EV. His track record speaks for itself. He has never been involved in the design of anything including cars that failed to be winners. I own two 63 SWC and I welcome Peter Brock’s next design. Now if I was able to ever own the EV version of the C2 Corvette I would be set.
It’s what’s next so may as well get into it. People hate change but things around us either help us change or force us to turn. I am not against EV’s and I can appreciate our classics converted to one but please don’t force us to put our ICEV’s out to pasture. Tim Allen is building a 33 Ford Vicky EV called The Vik, it’s pretty cool. See it on youtube under the Vik
Sacrilege
As the owner of a 1963 Roadster with side pipes I find that “exhaust” treatment garish at best.
I agree the exhaust treatment will not fly with a new C2 EV. That car resembles the car that was built for Bill Mitchell and has recently been restored and is displayed at various concours events. I am sure Peter Brock will do much better than that. He has taste and if anyone knows of a car or anything else Peter Brock has designed that has not been athletically the best ever, lets see it. From Corvettes, to Shelby cars, Datsun cars, hang gliders and car haulers what he designs is always ahead of its time.
As I stated earlier, I prefer the sound and power of an ICE vehicle, but to stick your head in the sand and pretend that those who are pushing for the Green New Deal or aka. THE GREAT RESET are going to be in for a disappointing future. It’s just a matter of time before us humans will be taken out of the equations to drive any vehicle. Whether it is an EV, ICE vehicle or others. BIG TECH’s push is for autonomous vehicles. Just ask BIG TECH like Google, UBER, etc. what their end game is. They’ve already stated it in their mission statement. Their will be a day that the insurance companies along with the government’s around the world will say, humans behind the wheel will be a liability to others and therefore should be removed from the equation.
Agreed. They’re rolling out our posthuman future whether we agree with it or not. As I stated elsewhere:
Sick Sad World
Aldous Huxley couldn’t have imagined things any worse
..they need an exhaust that goes vroom vrooom when you turn on the power…it will be an electric sound…maybe you will be able to sound like a lambo one minute and lamb the next…or maybe the silent lamb…when cruising by unnoticed…lol
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