Question: When is a Chevy Corvette no longer a Chevrolet? Answer: When it is customized and titled as a Pontiac. That’s the case with this 1959 Corvette which retains its original underpinnings and factory stampings but has a Pontiac 389 Tri-Power V8. It’s a clever conversion that harks to the many “Kustom” cars of the 1950s and 1960s. Located in Clermont, Florida, this one-of-a-kind potential show car is available here on craigslist for $34,900. Thanks for the cool heads-up here, T.J.!
Sales of Chevrolet’s sports car – the Corvette – approached 10,000 units for the first time in 1959 (9,670 to be exact). And it was the second year in a row the car wore quad headlights on a platform that dated to 1953. The automobile was still powered by a 283 V8, but you could squeeze more than one horsepower per cubic inch out of it with fuel injection. And both manual and automatic transmissions were available.
Somewhere along the way, someone decided to jettison this 1959 Corvette’s fiberglass body and powertrain in favor of customization. We don’t know when or why it was done or who did it and how well they pulled it off. The car retains its Chevy chassis and other unseen stuff and had an all-steel body bolted on instead of the super plastic. The physical end result is quite interesting and pleasing (depending on your perspective). It wears the slanted headlights that become popular in the late 1950s.
Rather than stick with Chevy power, the builder dropped in a 389 Pontiac V8 with triple 2-barrel carburetors. In 1959, that engine would have been rated at 345 hp, but we don’t know the output of this motor as it is configured now. Or if it’s even from a 1959 Pontiac, although the interesting auto has been titled that way. The builder elected to stick with a 3-speed manual rather than go with anything fancier. You’re sure to turn heads wherever you took this car and it’s said to be “historically significant” but why is that? Did it win any awards or was it recognized by any specific groups? Or maybe you should just buy it and enjoy it for the oddity it is.
Let’s see here…. Front looks like a catfish, rear looks like a ’53 Buick, dashboard looks like out of a dune buggy, dollar three ninety five steering wheel to top it all off. Have seen a lot of early customs but I thought the idea of a custom was to make it look better and unique. Sure must have gotten the unique trophy here.
“Just because you can doesn’t mean that you should”. I’ve seen some ugly customs but this is #1.
So what?
This creation shows excellent skills and imagination. What is ugly?
It isn’t compulsory to buy this, even to look at it!
There have been many mass produced cars with looks as appealing as this.
The front end reminds me of my ex wife…
I couldn’t wait to see the price on this,I figured maybe around 20k,but to see 35k.WoW!
Personally I think it is ugly, and then I thought the guy is a practical joker (well, maybe not practical). I wouldn’t even consider this.
Well, it would probably cost more than the asking price to recreate this- if standing out and being unique is your goal you couldn’t go wrong with this.
WHY would you want to recreate this at any cost???
Creating something like this should be considered a class A felony. I will never be able to unsee this monstrosity.
You just knew the haters would be out in full force for this one. Sure it looks, well a little peculiar, but do not lose track of the fact this was someone’s dream build around 60 or so years ago and was probably well received in its day.
Many designs don’t hold up well over the years, just like music and movies.
It probably has a fascinating history that perhaps someone out there can shed some light on.
Amen, brother. I think it’s really neat as well. Mid 60s, I was at the height of my model building hobby, and would strive for a creation like this. Fact is, I think it may have been one of the “3 in 1” versions. Someone took my and every other 10 year old kids dream, and made a real on. As someone mentioned, before bondo, so it has enough lead for a war, and probably killed the builder prematurely anyway. Not sure what it is about the “haters’ as you mention. I don’t think they are bad people, just could never do something like this on their own, so it’s best to just trash it.
Howard, with your wealth of automobile knowledge and history, you maintain a very high accuracy on calling it as it is. But you’re off here sir. On behalf of those hating this (myself included) the skill level to create such an aesthetically challenged vehicle isn’t what is being hated upon. As usual, I appreciate the context you offered to shed light on why one would bring himself to creating such a contraption. Thank you. However, let’s now take you out of the 60’s. Today, in 2023, this is nothing more than an overpriced quirky collection of parts welded/leaded together by apparently skilled set of hands and an evidently bad set of eyes, then covered in a nice paint job. In todays context, the only trifecta here is ugly, overpriced, and irrelevant.
Bondo came out in 1955. I believe this car was built around 1965 due to the GTO hood scoop.
I agree Howard. I know that there are people looking at this from todays design and technology perspective but this car has a lot of George Barris styling queues in it to my eye. Someone back in the day put a lot of time into this judging from the body panel work. To me this is a period custom from the 60’s.
See, what’s happened, is we are so removed from cars like this today, some of you folks literally don’t know what was cool. We’re too far off for any attraction today. You couldn’t possibly know, judging by YOUR comments, what it was like in 1965. Why I’m explaining it, is certainly moot, but it’s 4 am and I’m bored.
This “contraption” came from somebodies head, not some computer generated build, it took a lot of skill, bondo OR lead( to be clear, bondo didn’t become popular until the 70s, I know, I hauled a TON of it) something I bet NOBODY here could do. You’re right, it’s 2023 and nobody cares. It’s not a Hemi something or LS crap. It’s tough hearing hearing comments like yours, trashing what I hold dear. If a stab in the gut was the motive, mission accomplished. And yes, situation pending, I’d love to have this.
And for the record, I was born 30 years too late, and you can have this 2023 BS.
So you are actually saying that you would be proud to own this and be seen driving it? Or that it is an interesting piece of history….for someone else to own? Not trying to pick a fight, honestly just curious
I was into the car show stuff in the 60’s when ‘full customs’ we’re cool. Look up Darryl Starbird, etc.
Yes, it would be a fun driver while fixing it up.
Don’t “hate” anything. Car’s just ugly that’s all. Lot of beautiful Customs came out of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. This just happens not to be one of them.
Someone else’s dream does not translate into a shared dream by others, and again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My “behold” is this is an ugly car. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I’m a hater …. and I hate that term anyway…
So, in appreciation for the skill that it took to build this car. I am the new owner of this ugly/unique/significant/monster. Can’t wait to drive it and see how it was constructed. I purchased a 67 GTO from the owner three years ago, they reached out to us to see if we would purchase. We will see what the future holds, most likely, it will be for sale at our dealership once it arrives. The asking price will be in the 20’s. We look forward to learning more about this piece of automotive history.
Very nice custom build no matter what some may say.
The chances of getting a legal and transferable title border on the non-existent.
Depends on the state you live in.
“ Vee Haf Veys, …. That are perfectly legal.
I am OK with the body work if that is your thing. The interior and dash on the other hand are just bad.
Well, here’s me thinking it’s pretty damn cool. Musta been built around 1965 (GTO hood scoop) and my first thot was if that is ‘glass how very cool. Since it is metal I can only guess as to the pounds lead (bondo) filler.
A talented person could use the body as a mold and make a ‘glass body, Tilt front end, open up the fender vents, do some smoothing and have a very cool custom.
At $20k it could be workable.
You can put a very early Pontiac V8 in a ’59 Corvette chassis, but it takes some work. This isn’t an easy swap.
The early Pontiac starter and fuel pump are on the driver’s side. The rear motor mounts are on the Pontiac bellhousing sides because the engine block has only a “chin” mount.
Exhaust routing can be a rat-bitch. The stock driver’s side iron manifold hits the Corvette steering box and some years it even exits at the front. The Corvette frame must be notched on both sides for clearance.
As for looks… only a blind mother could love this creation. Hard pass, even if the title could be straightened out, a top was thrown in, and there was somehow access into the trunk.
A ’59 Corvette in the mid ’60’s was just an old car. That someone would try their hand at customizing doesn’t surprise me at all. But I have heard stories that there was a lot of ice cold beverages consumed during these builds.
Interesting, bobhess first comment said the rear is like a 53 Buick to me it reminds me of the50s thunder bird in the back I don’t remember what car from the 50s-60s had the side stack headlights but I do remember someone did it. All steal body not fiberglass would definitely get people talking at the car show.
Desoto or Chrysler maybe on the headlights?
Plain and simple, that front end is uglier than anything u can imagine!!
i see olds in the front and the hood is not GTO. i recall some other cars had that hood thing in the 50s. head lights look more 60s Lincon or dodge type brand. tail light look from 61 or 62 just do not recall what car.
i like it and if i had the money would get it.
The hood is what was called a ‘pancake’ hood. Popular in the day. The hood SCOOP, if not from then certainly inspired by, a 1965 GTO.
The rear, to me, looks like two top halves of a ’55 Pontiac rear ‘fin’ (one upside down) welded together and the taillights ‘frenched in’.
Nice use of the ’59 vette grille.
I keep seeing a Bare rolling 59 Vette Frame, which was not much more than a 52 Chevy Sedan Frame and running gear. and Nobody would’ve tore a Vette apart Unless it was a Stolen Vette then striped and the Builder ended up with the remains. ? Or was this a good way to Hide the Crime?
No, most likely not a stolen car. As previously stated, this was built when the Vette was just another cheap used car. Someone with a creative mind ended up with it and wanted something a bit different. Maybe the body shell was damaged?
I bet they had a lot of fun with it after the build was complete.
Unfortunately today, the Vette is worth so much more in its original form.
looking at the hole front it is a 1950s cady or olds hood with a cut out for the new hood. i think they did a good job doing the front, and i bet they used mer. headlights it would be cheaper than Lin ones. so this looks like not one thing newer than 1961ish
the trunk is made from a hood also but i just can not tell what year or brand. i see ponac lines in it.
What was the name of that Johnny Cash song I got parts here I got parts there?
“One piece at a time”.
As a pre-teen car nut I collected new car brochures from dealers, in bicycle distance there were GM, Ford, and Chrysler franchises, and kind salesmen put up with me, I cut out the pictures that were comparable in size and made customs. One of my sons, 30 years later, did the same with model cars and planes We both made customs that were a lot weirder than this one.
That gets LOTS of attention, yes but for all the wrong reasons.
Somebody put in a LOT of time and effort and I actually like it. Well done Mr. Somebody.
Not a wealth of knowledge, but a lot of opinion maybe
MY take on it from front to back, but maybe not quite in that order:
58 Chevy headlights, canted @ 45 degree angle
60 Buick front fenders
57 Olds grill surround, 2 of them narrowed and diameter reduced then chromed expanded chrome mesh backing.
49 Olds hood that has had the front edge extended
57 Caddy top of the rear quarter panel
56 Ford tail light housing, extended, and stock Ford lenses modified ((amber for turn signals circa 1967 lenses are to big to be Buick)
62 Impala bucket seats, ( “Tijuana Tuck N/ Roll, baby!)
52-54 Chevy instrument panel, modified
57 Caddy Windshield and vent windows
59-62 Pontiac Tri Power intake, I’m thinking early was a front mounted thermostat housing and later had the thermostat housing sitting flat on top of the intake.
The wheels are the chrome backing for the wide space wire basket wheels that were semi popular about 1965-67. Take a long look at the Craigslist Ad, let me know if Iam wrong, as I get older, my brain will often fart on me.
🤮🤮🤮
Everbody talking about the body, what surprised me was the Pontiac mill. Knudsen was successful flipping Pontiac’s stodgy image with the widetrack campaign, and early ’60s success in NASCAR till GM supposedly put a stop to racing. Looking at the era this was built, thought the 394 Olds Rocket would have been a more popular choice.
Some people shouldn’t be allowed to fiddle with cars nor purchase Bondo.. If I had done this, I would have never confessed it started life as a Corvette..You are asking for trouble…
This is truly a one of a kind vehicle!! I really like the custom look of this one. Some one created a beautiful car that would be a show stopper any place it went. To all those “experts ” who hate it, “Grow up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” This is a drop dead gorgeous custom unique car!!!!!!!!!!
Hey George!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All those worthless exclamation points r even uglier than the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like it too. I dont know about gorgeous, but most customs I personally think are on the border between genius and insanity in the looks dept. I’d like to know the history of the car, if there is any. When was it built and by who ? The workmanship looks very good . Was it featured in any 60s custom magazine ? any custom car shows ?
If there’s a provenance to a well known builder, I’d have to leave it as is. If not, I’d change the dash to some highly modified 50s dash or perhaps an early 60s space age Chrysler dash; a period style customized steering wheel , some chrome reverse wheels with period thin whitewalls, some small chrome bumperettes and some “Von Dutch” period style pinstriping on the hood and trunk …. but thats just me .
Well said!!!!!!!!! By George, well said!!!!!!!!!
Maybe be you have given Birth to new punctuation!!!!!!!??????!!!!!
After having read the comments on this unique creation, just another thought. At one time just about anybody could go to insurance salvage auctions. Often times, the “scut” stuff would not get any bids. It could be just a frame w/ wheels under it, or such a total it would not be worth anything for a yard to bid on, nothing salvageable. More often than not the “scut” you could haul away for free, just to get it out of the lot. Could this be the origin of this?
Howard, I have no idea what era you are from (I was born 30 years too late), what you did for a living (I should know, I hauled a ton of it), nor where you live. But, I can say with certainty bondo was prevalent in the early 60’s on the west coast (bondo didn’t become popular until the 70s). In 1961 I used bondo to mold ’50 Buick taillights onto my ’50 Chev.
I was around for the tail draggin lead sleds and these full customs were right behind. This car, with it’s one piece front and back ends and pancake hood was beautifully executed.
I used 3M Body Filler on my Model A in 1962. By the quart. Body filler has been around for awhile.
I think I can take the engine swap. But the rest of it I really don’t know or maybe not say. No doubt there is a lot of work put into the vehicle. I am a 60’s guy, can’t remember any custom looking quite like this. I am still undecided rather I like this or not. Just feel sorry for the original corvette