“Turbo Corvette” turns heads at most gear-head gatherings, yet that’s only the opening act with this 1972 Chevrolet Corvette in Fayetteville, Georgia. A late ’70s or early ’80s makeover and a functional turbocharger mark just the beginning for this interesting two-seater. Sometime before 1982 a turbo-charged 350 cid (5.7L) small block replaced the original LS5 454 (7.4L) V8, and the car gained what looks like a full Greenwood Turbo GT body kit, circa 1978. Offered at auction here on eBay, the ‘Vette has attracted least seven bidders who decoded enough to bid at least $6800.
I’m no engineer but, comparing this obviously turbocharged 350 to a stock Greenwood turbo motor, my first question would be “How is the compressed air charge entering the motor when there’s a giant air-cleaner on top? It could be a handy way to assure longevity: air filter as pop-off valve. Zero boost = longer engine life, and you can still show off the turbo when you pop the hood. Brilliant! Visit greenwoodcorvettes.com to learn more about the Greenwood Turbo Corvettes. Actual engineering comments welcome below!
The interior seems to support the claim of fewer than 68,000 miles. The supple seats and worn but not worn-out interior invite you to slide in, twist the key, and see what this “good running” turbo Corvette has to offer.
The Greenwood body parts preclude the idea that the turbo setup came from a wrecked Greenwood. No explanation is offered, but it’s apparently been in this state since 1982. Please share theories in the comments below. Regardless of its history, the turbo and body parts make it far more interesting that an average LS5 car, and the whole package may attract fans of the ’70s or ’80s even more than Corvette experts. How would you explain this one?
I don’t see an improvement on the C3 as far as appearance goes. Between the paint and the additional “stuff “ tacked onto the body I just can’t imagine much interest in this one…
The bidding is now up to $11900.00.
This car will likely appeal to someone who is a fan of the “excess” of the 70’s.
& for relatively low $$ it will likely draw quite a bit of attention at your local Cars & Coffee. :-)
I’m GUESSING that the air cleaner feeds the turbo, & then the turbo feeds the carburetor. (…possibly via some sort of “under the air cleaner lid” clever metal work.)
Perhaps there is also an option under the air cleaner lid for mechanically bypassing the turbo??
OR it might have a custom intake manifold that somehow incorporates the turbo??
It would have been interesting to see the air cleaner lid (or the entire cleaner) removed, as this would have helped to clarify how the turbo interfaces with the intake.
I wonder if the turbo could be a draw- through type.
Had a 79 turbo mustang that was draw- through. That was early years of factory turbochargers on US cars.
I just read the article on the Greenwood turbo vettes I was correct . Some of these used a draw- through system that was less complex than the blow through system. Late 70’s early 80’s turbocharging technology was far from where it got to be by 85 on ward.
This car is in the running for ugliest design of Corvette ever. What an eyesore.
The unknown reserve may keep this in the dealer hands. If they want to move it and it can be had for cheap… I say sandblast the sidepipes , paint the body black and you have a get noticed exotic car.
Not much 1972 left on this one. I could believe a base car being 1982? Seats and steering column are not 72, body kit hides the rest. Hmmmmm
Someone distroyed a LS5 ?
Is torture or execution am option?
My eyes hurt.
The more I look at this, the more I dig it. Yes, it’s tasteless and OTT, but nobody ever bought a Corvette for its discreet and subtle elegance. It looks to be in great shape, and it’s the 1970’s captured in a disco-ball snow globe.
I’m with you That Guy. With the orange peel on the stripes, it looks like they painted it in a dirt floor garage. And a few more motor pics would be nice. Still like it though.
This turbo setup is nothing new. Pontiac did a very similar setup in 80-81 for the factory Turbo Trans Ams. This can is a piece of history. This was cutting edge technology in the late 70s. Need to take the big block springs out, lower it a bit, and bewilder the masses, much like here. Yep, exotic late 70s American muscle that’s been forgotten.
I dont what the fuss is about the air cleaner why wouldn’t it work tha air fuel charge wouldn’t be affected at all judging by the photo
Someone is confused its a carb setup
Greenwood dominated the world with those corvettes and like the saying g goes there’s no accounting for taste
If anything the concern would be the piston choice that’s the real question.
“Hey man, I’m about to turn my ‘Vette into the ultimate disco racer! I got the big wing, the flared fenders, scoops all over, and a totally wild stripe to go down the side. It will be amazing….
(pause)
…and it will be BEIGE!”
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Even though I’m a product of the seventies, I will never understand it.
Any improvement gained under the hood is definitely lost on the exterior tenfold!
The plumbing clearly supports the idea that this is a pull-through/draw-through setup using a carb. This turbo compresses the air/fuel mixture, as opposed to compressing only air and then feeding it into the “mixer” (carb, in this case).
Bonus points to the commenter who correctly identified the early Fox body Mustang as using a similar setup (from the factory)! The factory turbocharged Corvairs were similar, although the carb was immediately adjacent to the turbo.
When the 1974 hemorrhoid Corvette was produced, that ruined the clean lines of the 1968-1972 machines. The rubber bumpers were a travesty.
Well, this car never had an LS5 unless someone laid a picture of one inside. The VIN shown in the auction has a “M” engine code. That is a 200hp 350cid.
Sure looks like the engine that’s in it now. If that’s the case, it’s unlikely much else in the listing is accurate. For all we know it may not even be a 72 body. May be a transplanted VIN. Too much unknown.
Hello ACZ. I couldn’t find any evidence of an “M” code Corvette engine in ’72, but there is a “W” on the picture of the title. Personally if I were selling this already somewhat-confusing car I’d try to avoid typos that throw additional shade. I wouldn’t claim to fully validate the car, but it’s being sold with a VIN tag and title for a ’72 LS5 Corvette.
The front license plate reminds me of a place I bought some Vette parts from back in the mid-80’s. I found this Corvette parts place in a small town in NH named Corvette Country. It was a word of mouth type of place and I met the guy and he took me to a large barn. When we approached, a beagle started baying loudly and when we got closer, the guy said “cheap alarm system”. Inside this barn were any Corvette part imaginable, and like 10 or 12 of each item. He must have been dismantling Corvettes for years and years.
Years later, I tried to find the place again and couldn’t.
I noticed also that the seats are from a ’79 or newer, the ’72 seats fold point was right at the bottom and were more uncomfortable.
I grew up in Cape Canaveral Florida during the hey days of manned rockets and vividly remember waking to several loud white corvettes screeching across the pavement on many a weekend from my parent’s Delta 88 Oldsmobile.
Not a 1972. Maybe a 1982. NO ONE would take a steel bumper 72 and hang those horrible plastic later bumpers on. I’m not sure the rear support panels for the 72 flat panel would hope that horrible rear end. The interior suggests 82 also. Frankenvette
I had this in my inbox this morning, https://www.corvetteonline.com/news/custom-turbo-c3-corvette-for-sale-on-ebay/. Anyway the auction has ended: Mar 05, 2019 , 7:39PM
Winning bid:US $14,500.00
[ 49 bids ]