The Chevy Corvette is without a doubt one of the finest performance machines to ever ply the blacktop, but some owners simply need more practicality from their ride. As such, some customizers have taken to reshaping America’s sports car with a new wagon or shooting brake body style, just like the crazy C3 Corvette wagon featured here.
From the off, we should state that this is not a kit car — rather, it’s a fully customized, one-off 1973 C3 Corvette that has been redesigned as a wagon. Now, as initially spotted Jalopnik, this crazy-looking Vette is up for sale.
The story behind this C3 Corvette wagon starts in the ‘70s with The Funk Brothers drummer Uriel Jones. Jones wanted a Chevy Corvette with enough rear cargo room to haul his kit to and fro, so he turned to custom car builder Chuck Miller, who tapped Harry Bradley for design work.
In addition to working as a car designer at General Motors, Bradley also worked at Mattel making Hot Wheels. No surprise then that the end result of the collaboration between Miller and Bradley was a series of high-quality Corvette wagons, a design which was later sold as a kit car.
However, Miller also created another, even-crazier Corvette wagon for Mike Betterton in Visalia, California. This second long-roof Vette included Lexan side windows, plus tail lights taken from a 1971 Ford Thunderbird and six front headlights up front. Built over a three-year period, the custom job cost about $25,000 to create, and ended up plastered across numerous magazines and feature stories.
Unfortunately, the custom Corvette wagon was crashed in 1997 and never repaired. Now, it’s up for sale.
Clearly, this thing needs a good deal of restoration work, and it doesn’t run. However, for those enthusiasts looking to resurrect this crazy C3 Corvette wagon, it’s currently up for grabs on Top Classic Cars, listed at $20,000.
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Comments
Bring the front back to stock and it would be pretty cool.
Kenny Dantley had a lot less to work from to build his dream.
Ya ! That front end is hideous ! but if doesnt have frame rot and the powertrain is ok it prob would be worth putting an oem front end back on it and paint it
I believe they created a hole in Kentucky for such an abomination. Please take it out back and shoot it, it shouldn’t be allowed to suffer any longer. ☹️
They did in my back yard. I would put a mailbox on it lol
Hey Scott, it’s obvious by the huge gap between the top of the front tires and the wheel well that there is NO powertrain in the car.
In Northesat Philly area there was a guy making C3 “cambacks” in late 1973 thru 1974 .. he did excellent work, looked natural, not like this junker .. he was at the Pendel Denny’s late night a lot .
Call rust to riches let them guys restore it I would love to watch it get restored it would be interesting to watch
It’s a awful “Thing”!!!
I remember a similar vehicle from the late ’70’s called Corvan. Looked much better than this one tho.
How about 5,000! Just what kind of mess is that? Were you thinking Corvette Summer with that front end? And you can get those wagon cats in Canada for two grand? And why is the rear driver’s back bumper bent? 4 speed does help it out but serious what will you take for it, and don’t say 20 grand you’re just making yourself look silly?
Are you joking me? It’s worth $5,000. You can buy those cats here in Canada for two grand!! The only thing you have going for it is 4 speed car. Why is the driver’s back bumper bent ? And with the front end what’s that supposed to be some half-ass Corvette Summer? Now if you want to be reasonable I’ll come down and pick it up it depends on the frame? But it looks like to me you got a mess going on that you want to get rid of I might be wrong!
When I was in high school we grafted a vega wagon roof on to a 74 Corvette the end result was about the same as the look this one has ,minus the curved side glass we just made flat panels . With a hatch back .
Well that’ll be cool if you ever finish it!! If I were you I would get rid of the front end and go original. Drop in an LS and a 6 speed, put in a cool leather interior glass roof panels some Corvette rallies steel of course then you got something cool!! And if you do want to sell it let me know I’ll finish it I’ve got 45 years experience with Corvettes. Good luck mark
I have seen another one of these before, I have pictures if anyone is interested