With its rather unique status as “America’s Sports Car,” the Corvette has offered its chassis to underpin a number of kit cars and similar creations. This 1976 Chevrolet Corvette Saber in Eustis, Florida, gained this Saber body kit in the 1990s. With intention the Saber, shall we say, “suggests” the styling of the original Dodge Viper. Offered as “1 of 2” here on eBay, it can be yours for the Buy It Now price of $39,950.
The rebuilt 350 cid (5.7L) V8 makes a reported 350 HP and the whole car has undergone a “NUT & BOLT” restoration, seemingly confirmed by the excellent photographs. Most potential buyers will be satisfied with the V8 sound and torque without needing the 600 HP Viper V10. This smart yellow missile will more likely find its way to the golf club than Open-Track day at Sebring.
Aside from some cosmetic details the interior is all Chevy. Why mess with success? The Corvette boasts a sporty and function driver’s cockpit. The three-speed automatic is a mechanical compromise for anyone wanting acceleration and high-speed touring, but this car’s value is not in its originality but uniqueness, so a modern upgrade could only increase its usefulness and resale value.
Making one car look like another is not as easy as it might sound, and this kit has done so with style and appeal from all angles. Personally I’d change the rolling gear and lower the rear suspension a bit, but those are minor questions of taste. Who do you picture buying this rare Saber?
What is it about Florida and these bizarre mutations? Heat, Humidity, Senile People, or Drugs? Perhaps a toxic cocktail of “All Of The Above” ? Another Corvette wasted and/or turned into garbage.
I don’t see any point in trying to make one car look like another. Also, having to explain what car it really is and why it was done would get old really fast. I wouldn’t want anything to do with it.
Why not just purchase the real thing with only 26,000 miles for $36K?
http://tinyurl.com/y27hqboq
I appreciate efforts to transform, but in this case its just not cutting it…call it rare, call it unique, but at the end of the day its not a Corvette anymore…. and for half the price there’s a real one waiting in the wings…..
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/chevrolet/corvette/2250718.html
That’s a very pretty 76, not my favorite year, but that’s really nice !
Only one word I could think of
WHY???
You put a Viper next to this Smog era slush box, and it’ll suck it into one tailpipe and spit it out the other. One thing Chrysler managed to do right. I stood next to an idling viper once and the ground shook! Good luck, 39 large for a 1/2@ss copy??
Cheers
The crusty GPC
I stood next to a 1967 427 Corvette and the ground shook. I saw Vipers traded in because they were so hot and uncomfortable. Hd only 2,346 miles on it. That Corvette would blow the Viper into the weeds;
This thing has been for sale for a looong long time. The real problem with it is that it’s just stupid. You have a slow 70’s corvette with a body that looks kinda like a Viper but is a hell of a lot slower and not collectable at all. You’ve lost the collectibility of the corvette too because of the body kit. Then – with probably a lot of money tied up in it, try to sell it for the same amount you could actually get a real Viper for and 2 or 3 times the amount of a corvette. ….hence…really stupid.
I wish to unsee this tragedy.
Should have called it a ‘Cipher’, because it’s has zero automotive merit.
If the institute for the blind was given the ugliest era Corvette with an auto and asked to create a custom car…………………
I’ll be the naysayer and say I like it, but I wouldn’t pay that kind of $ for it. I wouldn’t pay $20k for any 76 Vette either, you can get a nice C6 for under $20k. Rubber bumper Vettes are a dime a dozen, I need to check what kind of other kits are available to make them look better, they are fun to drive if you hop them up..
He definitely destroyed the car Corvette I’m not supposed to be changed in any fashion they’re beautiful as is. !!!!!!!
Sorta like makin’ a Pinto look like a Vega if you ask me.
If I owned that thing I’d be trying to sell it to………….anybody please………..take it away………..trade for a Gremlin maybe?
If you want a viper then buy one it’s not a bad car, but why destroy a Vette to KIND OF make it imitate a different vehicle? Makes no sense to me at all?
No
This is so bad on so many levels.
Mere disgust is not enough 🤣😂😥
While I agree with other comments, at the end of the day – it was only a 76 Vette… really – didn’t they make like 8 million of these?? What’s worse is that they were all pretty much used up junk at 4 y.o. In the mid eighties I worked as a valet & lot security for a few really big bars at the time, you could pretty much sneeze & hit one of these cars!! Everybody owned them & drove them like rental cars.
Granted I wouldn’t pay the kind of money they’re asking for it, but I think it’s kinda neat. BTW, those tail lights – GEO Storm/Isuzu Impulse.
What Jeff said.
This is great all it needs is a 572 crate engine to make it a ground pounding !
Lower it and change the wheels. To all you haters its the best looking ugly duckling yet for these junk vettes.
It’s the best attempt to make a vette look like something new ! I wonder if it drives like truck ? They all did in this style, I’ve had a few and couldn’t care for them then and for sure not now . This era vette has no value and never will without chrome bumpers and a big block ! This kit was to improve the looks of these cars at a different time and to make the ugly duck more desirable. The viper was too expensive when new . The kit at that time was a cheap way to hide the duck as bodywork then was cheaper . In the end its still going to be a duck.
You are right. When built it cost 1/4 of a viper
Today on “Rare for a Reason”
One of 2 … 2 too many.
39k?!? You could get a decent viper for 27k ish and a c3 for 6k and have money left for upgrades