Legendary custom auto designer Chuck Miller was the first to take the 3rd generation Corvette C3 platform and design what became known as the Sportwagon. Conversion kits were available from American Custom Industries (ACI) and Eckler’s in the early 1970’s. In 1976 John Greenwood would famously expand Miller’s design in an effort to make the wagon more aesthetically pleasing. His prototype was successfully debuted at the SEMA Show in Anaheim that same year. Greenwood would eventually team-up with Eckler’s in the late ’70’s to sell kits to owners yearning to make their ‘Vette undeniably unique. This ’69 Sportwagon conversion, shrouded in mystery, is offered at $25,000 and is available here on Craigslist in Upstate, New York.
Seeing a Sportwagon conversion for the first time is quite a shock. Combined with the staggering effect of this C3’s awesome red paint and orange flame graphics, I admittedly didn’t even notice the supercharger perched prominently above the hood until I scrolled to the second picture. The seller offers absolutely no information about the car in the ad, instead directing “serious” inquirers to first initiate contact via email, at which time a phone number will be provided. So what’s under the hood? I bet it’s not the base 350 cubic inch V8, is it? Considering the photo shoot for this Stingray was staged in a bus garage parking lot, is it safe to assume the seller is in the school transportation industry? When I was a kid my bus driver drove a Dodge Aries!
Because information about this car is not readily available it’s difficult for a novice like me to ascertain which conversion kit was used. I am guessing it was either an ACI or pre-Greenwood Eckler, but I could very well be wrong. Greenwood kits, from what I’ve researched, featured side windows that curved up over the roof. They also had a larger hatch opening and a more pronounced rear airfoil, all things this kit’s design does not possess. My favorite feature of these early C3’s, of course, is their beautiful chrome bumpers and optional side-mounted exhaust pipes. While the conversion on this Stingray allowed for the preservation of its rear chrome, unfortunately, the front bumpers were removed. Although the orange flame graphics are awesome, the nose looks a bit more Opel-esque than I prefer. Equally sad to me is the missing chrome pipes under the doors, having been swapped for a pair of matching red ones.
The red-on-red interior is really striking and things look truly immaculate. Is the car original or has it undergone restoration? The leather sure looks like it’s hardly broken in. The shifter reveals it’s got the automatic – could it be a 427 Turbo Hydra-Matic? I am hoping some Corvette experts out there weigh-in. Since prices on these rare Sportwagon conversions are all over the map, is $25,000 fair? It’s impossible to know without more information. Is anyone out there looking to become one of the very few that can proudly call themselves a Sportwagon owner?
Fugly
Ruined it, no thanks
It looks like the same kit that was used on this Barn find post from a year ago
https://barnfinds.com/1971-chevrolet-corvette-sportwagon/
Vin, you’re right! Even the same ugly beak…
The ugliness of a flying brick Corvette is competing with the joy of putting your foot into a supercharged Corvette.
I think I could live with the former to enjoy the latter
Just what you want in an ad: limited photos, no description, no mileage, no nothing! Maybe if they had left the front end along it might be more palatable, but as it stands – get me the Pepto Bismol. That one gives me a belly ache.
That front end is what you did to a vette back in the day if you were broke and wrecked it. If that weren’t enough the workmanship on the fit of the rear side windows . . ..Ewwwww
I’d drive the hell out of that. Then, just to piss off true vette guys, show up at every show with it.
A C Cobra really looks good next 2 that PILE
Terrible. The results of somebody who had the deadly combination of poor taste and money to burn.
427 Turbo Hydra-Matic ??
Chances are very low.
What’s a 427 Turbo hydromatic?
The only way I can find this car palatable is if I squint so the blower becomes part of the building in the background, then I imagine that I’m looking at a freakishy-elongated Lotus Europa…which is what I thought at first glance!
Even with the loud graphics, how do you miss that BLOWER, twin carbs and chrome scoop that is nearly as tall as the roofline?!?! LOL
Some things are not meant to be modified… ugh.
Wow, someone figured out how to make a truly ugly car even more ugly! Corvettes never did appeal to me at all, but this thing is overly ugly!
So then why do you keep commenting on Corvette posts how much you dislike Corvettes?
I am in titled to my opinion just as you are! Do you ask everyone that question? There are a lot of corvette haters do you think that I am the only one that doesn’t like these cars? Why do you waste your time commenting on a post? Comment on the car! Thats what all the rest of us do! Grow up! Don’t be a troll, go to Facebook for that nonsense! Have a great day!
Yes everyone’s entitled to their opinion and a lot of ppl don’t like Vettes….I’m ambivalent towards them myself….just find it funny someone would bother to post over and over how they don’t like something….we get it already….you don’t like Corvettes.
You sound like a total troll, im sorry yhat your life turned this way….
All you haters need to find your innersince of adventure and just image yourselves hitting that throttle out of your local grocery store parking lot.
And gashole, I will continue to speak what I think about any cars that I have opinions on! I have been on this site far longer than you! I don’t just pick on corvettes if I don’t like what I see I will let it be known! If you can’t take it, I highly recommend Facebook for you!
You seem a little worked up there pal.
Worked up? Lol I don’t think so, I am too old to get worked up! You asked me a question in the beginning so I answered your question! You keep coming back at me and I keep trying to set you straight! Have a great day young man!
That’s a lot of exclamation points. Have a fun weekend.
I just use proper etiquette for texting! You might learn that if you use a period while texting it shows basically that a person is rude or angry! Texting doesn’t have the same typo rules as typing a sentence! How about that, a almost 80 year old guy got to teach a young fella something new! LMAO
One puts a “.” at the end of a complete sentence, it does not denote being “rude” or “angry” in any way. Conversely, an “!” at the end of every sentence indicates anger, irritability, frustration, agitation, or a high level of excitement.
You are so wrong Mr Gashole! Take a refresher course! I actually just watched a show that taught proper etiquette in texting are you smarter than they? I think not!
I’m going to go get in my classic truck, put the windows down, cruise and enjoy my weekend. You can text all the sentences with “!” points at the end of each one and complain about corvettes. Have a fun one!
Wrong way? Exactly.
I just threw up in my mouth
Love Corvettes and have had them from a 57 up to a 77 with four others in between. Can’t understand why someone would spend money to take a nice looking car and to turn it into a pure ugly one.
It’s sort of like a mullet haircut – all business in the front, a party in the back. And a big ‘ol mullet is just the right haircut to have when you drive this car. I love it.
I’m sorry … did you say $25,000 or $2500?
Kill it with fire
Tom you hit it dead on the head what I was thinking, MULLIT HAIR! That would fit this car to a T. I am a Corvette guy after I decided to try an 08 Z06 after reading the specs and it was a 100k less than what I was going to buy. I loved the car, that 427 was a very pleasing engine in every way, I must have really liked it since I traded that one in on a 2016 Z06 with a blower that I am well over 700 hp with today. When I look at my car I don’t think of a MULLIT haircut!
Not worth 5000 let alone 25000
Silly s-it.Exactly,why comment on a car you dislike? I don’t care for the later model mustangs,so I don’t go to that site.Dint like vetted? Then go somewhere else.Your wasting UR time here.
This car goes a long way toward making the sad little Lotus Elite (shown elsewhere on BF) look like it may have potential. Perhaps if the blower went away, and a stock hood were added the car might be less embarrassing. Not at all my cup o’ tea.
Or yank than motor and put it in something that ain’t a clown car
I agree with thegas…that being said..but that blower though omg man
……….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like cars . !
Now THAT’S funny
Lots of time and money, no taste. At least it’s not a 61-62, my personal favorites.
Can’t we all just get along!!!
3 words :
THIS IS DISCUSTING ! ! !
This particular Corvette isn’t exactly my cup of tea but I’ll leave it at that. Punctuation is a different thing. I’m 58 and freely admit that I do not know and follow every rule we were taught in school. That being said, texting should most certainly follow the rules of writing a sentence! Teenagers are really the ones that got the ball rolling as far as texting goes. They certainly did not start it but they made it a main stream form of communication. Nothing wrong that. For decades now teens have been wanting to be ‘cool’ with their own lingo and that’s okay. My generation was the same. Some of the bad grammar stems from that, some stems from laziness, most of it stems from not having proper grammar pounded in their heads by teachers and parents. I have a 16 year-old son and a 12 year-old and they have been been taught correctly.
FYI, texting doesn’t follow grammar rules at all! I am almost 80 years old and I have a good education college included! I was tired of the kids complaining about my texting so I had a chance to watch a video about texting! The guy jumping me for not liking corvettes was just a guy wanting to argue and get enjoyment out of agrevating me they call these people trolls! There was others before my post that said things about this vette before I ever did, but he chose me to troll! I have been active on this site far longer than he has that’s a fact! Maybe you can understand what was going on! Have a great day!
I know nothing about rules for texting, however most texters seem to know very little about proper grammar or use of the English language. I do know that for proper grammar one needs to place some form of punctuation at the end of a sentence. A sentence that is a simple statement only requires a period. I think that you would be farther ahead to try and teach the kids proper use of English rather than confirming to their misuse of it. In my opinion when someone is using Barn Finds they are not texting, they are posting to a forum.
Uh, nope, not for me. It looks like somebody gobbled down a truckload of some kind of hallucinogen and went stupid on what was once a fine piece of machinery.
Still fo sale?
So, what was the ”wagon” addition? Was it functional or just for looks?