C3 (1968 to 1982) Chevrolet Corvettes were a common sight back in their day. But what was not common was a Corvette Caballista, a customized ‘Vette with a neo-classic look from the 1930s. Only 50 were built over a four-year period, and not only does the seller have one for sale, but it barely has 11,000 miles to its credit. Available here on Hemmings for $39,900 (USD?), you’ll need to factor in the shipping costs to get it to you from Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The Caballista was conceived and executed by customizer Les Durham out of the shop bearing his name in New Jersey. We don’t know what other interesting Corvettes (or other cars) he may have designed, but he chose the C3 as the base for the fancy Caballista. Between 1979 and 1982, about a dozen or so a year were produced for folks who had a taste for transportation vehicles like these.
Mechanically, the Caballista was the same as a stock Corvette. A 350 cubic inch V8 was the only engine sold in “America’s Sports Car” back then, in either L48 or L82 setups. The seller’s car has the more powerful L82 rated at 225 hp SAE net. While a lot of ‘Vettes used automatic transmissions by the late 1970s, this one has a 4-speed. The original owner likely forked over $60,000 for this set of wheels when new, nearly five times that of a base Corvette.
The custom bodywork is where Durham spent most of his time, and this Caballista wears it well with beautiful Silver Metallic and Claret Red Metallic paint. It still looks new after 46 years. The grey interior appears most inviting and is as nice as you would expect with under 12k miles.
Since this vehicle lived for years in a private museum, consumables like fluids and belts needed changing, and they have already been attended to. If you’re looking for interesting and unique, you’d be hard-pressed to find a car like the Caballista that hasn’t had the neo-classic thing taken to unreasonable excesses.
With the addition of an “n” and an “a”, you could make this a 1979 Chevrolet Canaballista, an appropriate name for what they did to this poor car.
I’m surprised that they could sell 50 of them!
Or you could add a few and drop a few and end up with Abomination which would be 100% accurate ;-)
Where now? And they say Wisconsin had some unusual city names. I don’t know about this one. I do appreciate all the work that goes into this, and how “Les” sold one overseas remains a mystery. While not ga-ga over the Corvette, this I think will have limited interest, and the shipping nightmare won’t help. I’d have to think folks that love C3s have a hard time with this. I don’t see much of the 30s here, not sure what it is. One of the 3in1 versions of the AMT kit?
Wow, surprised to see a stick shift in this stunning Caballista. Should bring a healthy number Howard.
Sporty pimp mobile.
His Caddy Pimpmobiles were much better! LOL
I love the 1970’s.
Original price of over $60k: that equates to $267k today. Crazy.
Fortunately they made many thousands of 79 corvettes and only 50 had to sacrifice their lives to become this.
That also means there are probably quite a few knackered ’79s that could sacrifice their bodies to return this one to original shape….
50 is too many. Way too many.
Actually like it…it kind of works for the period. The rear reminds me of a downsized Riviera or Grand Prix. I rate rate it in the top 25% of neo creations.
Of course THIS is a Corvette I would thoroughly appreciate! Too MUCH is NEVER enough! In the image of the Monte Carlo based Custom Cloud! 👍
Right on Rick 👍
I never knew my eyes could be hurt this way.
It’s awkward from most angles, but much better looking that the fake Mercedes, Stutz’s and other abominations of that era. At least it has a 4spd and looks to have been well cared for since new. It isn’t trying, and failing, to be a direct copy of preexisting cars that stood the test of time, for that reason it might be attractive to someone.
Steve R
Yes, the Stutz Bearcat of this time era was what first came to mind when I saw this car.
This car is nicely done but not for my tastes.
Hard for me to believe that anybody would think this looks great to buy one.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder they say. In my eyes this looks as awfull as them chopped up and shortened Sevilles we see every once in a while. Whats next a Zimmer Quicksilver?. At least whom ever forked over the moolah.to buy these had something.exclusive. All a question of taste
Were it were only a Bentley..it would have been the best Bentley ever.
Except for the rear passenger problem.
I guess this would be the only one at the Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Voitures et café. Non?
Fright pig.
His Caddy Pimpmobiles were much better! LOL
Great write up! (Somebody had to do it.) The really sad thought is that all those Museum visitors saw this thing and thought it represented America. Oh well, it might’ve kept them from visiting.
Dreadful but but not a ‘cool dreadful’ like some of the Superfly Caddies that have been on here lately. Hard pass.
Just when I thought I’ve seen it all…
And they built 50??? That’s about 49 too many…one was more than enough
What a terrible thing to do to Corvette!!
It has the merit of being unique (where are the other 49?) and apparently well built and well preserved; all things considered I kind of like it, not enough to buy it, but hey, it’s a conversation piece, guaranteed! One more thing: I’d rather have this in my garage than a Cyber truck…..
Actually it doesn’t look all that bad in the header picture. The paint job goes a long way to help. I’d paint the silver part ivory or cream make up some badges and create the Saint’s Hirondelle.
This is the first backup light bracket that I ever saw that could be used as a trailer hitch! I “was” in a good mood eating my breakfast before I saw this.
Yikes. Just yikes
Take it to Divers Street Rods ( look them up). They could make it look good again!
It amazes me people can judge a Cadillac opera coupe so harshly then turn around and appreciate a monstrosity like this car..
As one who sort of likes it, once you get past the Corvette idea, it’s not so bad. As I said the paint job goes a long way into breaking up the Corvette look and lets it stand alone. Then also were it mine I’d turn it into a fictional Anglo/American car. But that’s just me.
Simply disgusting, wouldn’t want it at any price.
I was really disappointed by the C3 and late tail mods to C2 (the “DA” in place of the nice ‘Italianate’ rear haunches).
This is a bit ofan improvement but still no ‘savior’. The roof line & worse – ‘bump’ to join the back. A larger rear window w/a rear deck drop some compensation? Not sure if a paint scheme might change much, sure willing to take another look. I guess there’s no way for me to like the ‘Mako Shark”. If the wagon model never did, nothing can~
When I first spotted this one on Hemmings, I knew that it would be a great discussion starter here on Barn Finds. I’m not disappointed.
This is one Corvette custom that I have never heard of. Looking at it, I know why.
My God, is that ugly.
But it’s a MANUAL!!!
As my five year old grandson might say, “scawre-wee”
Whew! What Stinks? Oh, I see…
It amazes me that the Cadillac Opera coupe could be judged so harshly and some could see anything in this MONSTROSITY. And he had the nerve to ask 40k for it. I don’t see anything pimping about a VETTE.!!!
Post the dam comment.
“only 11,000 miles” – because he was embarrassed to be seen in it.
And rightly so!
I feel like I dropped acid while looking at a ’79 Vette.
No reflection on the write-up, Russ. That reads like the straight world OK.
Far out, man,, bad trip? :0
What GM did with the plastic bumpers on the C3 was a kindness compared to what happened to this and 49 others. This is just plain awful.
They ruined a perfectly good stick car! Fortunately this ugly kit can be removed and the corvette can return to its platform!
Sorry but that’s just plain fugly!
EEEWWWWOO
It’s amazing how much time and negative energy has been spent on this car. I stand by my approval. THUMBS 👍. IF I HAD the money, I would HAVE this car.
“It’s amazing how much time and negative energy has been spent on this car.”
Yes, but not nearly as much time and negative energy as was spent on “creating” it. 😉
We all just like different things- I wouldn’t give you a nickel for some of the vehicles featured here, and some folks would likely laugh at my taste in vehicles.
As I have said before, vehicles like this are great getaway cars…
Steve Wonder bought them all.
Oh that poor poor Corvette, got facelift that went sideways,
I guess it’s true what they say, ” Money does not = Taste “.
Obama, … Out.
I would like to applaud Russ for the write-up. Using “taste” and “vehicles like these” in the same sentence is quite impressive.
I wouldn’t buy one, but I kind of liked the Sportwagon from a few days ago, but this is horrendous!
I actually didn’t mind the Greenwood kits, those were cool.
You know, the front end is starting soften my hate for this car. (getting used to it I guess) ut the rest of the design is crap/ugly.
I just recognized the headlights. They are Marchals that I believe were used on Burlie (spelling? Burliay) truck in France. We used them in some of the custom Sciroccos that we built.
Those were not cheap, but I believe still available in France. They also should have parking lamps/ bulbs in them.
« Berliet »…..😁👍