In the automotive world, trends tend to come and go quickly, but an emerging one at the moment is “Safari” customization, which involves adding a suspension lift, beefier tires, bumper bars, and other rugged accommodations to prepare unconventional vehicles for off-road adventures. With that being said, this 1998 Chevrolet Corvette that’s available here on eBay takes safari styling to the next level with its wild list of modifications.
This ‘Vette is available in Emporia, Kansas with a clean title. It sports Kansas plates, and the seller notes that the doors and rear hatch “can easily be installed for winter driving,” meaning that you can legally drive this wicked ride on the streets.
A removable cage replaces most of the body panels on the sports car, the front bumper is from a 2018 Jeep model (presumably a Wrangler), and the front headlights are from a Polaris RZR off-road vehicle. This Corvette uses coilovers at all four corners and also BBS wheels with staggered sizing, the fronts use 265/65R/17 tires, and the rear use 265/65R/18s.
Inside the cabin, there are some modifications, such as a Brey-Krause harness bar, aftermarket seatbelts, and an aftermarket radio, but it is surprisingly clean and original for a vehicle of its nature! The rear trunk area features bedliner on the floor, as well as a battery box and some beefy fuel tanks.
This example still uses the 5.7-liter V8 powerplant, but there are some changes to the engine, such as heads with improved flow, a bored and stroked block, new valves and rockers, an LSXR FAST intake, a 620/650 lift cam, and a high flow oil pump. The engine pairs to a TR060 transmission from a newer C6 Corvette, which employs a Stage 3 clutch and a beefed-up driveshaft to drive the rear wheels.
At the time of publication, bidding is at $6,200. Would you purchase this Mad Max-inspired sports car, or would you prefer a more conventional Corvette?
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a car that is both incredibly dumb, yet kind of awesome at the same time.
The practical part of me thinks “What a waste of a good Corvette” and “It’s not like you can really go off-roading in that”, but the kid in me loves the idea of a V8 dune buggy that looks like it came from a Mad Max movie.
Nice POS .
I guess it might may some think its a cool vehicle but really is it?
I see junk snd destruction
Someday, we’ll call these “Covid cars,” created by boredom and insanity.
To my ears, this one says “DeLorean” more than “Mad Max”
Good one😆
Install paddle tires and be the hit at the Silver Lake Dunes on the cheap.
or not
…….and I thought the rat rod craze was stupid.
Maybe it’s my inner rednek but I LIKE IT!! Man I would drive this proudly..I’ve actually seen a fox mustang made up like this only a little more rough around the edges and it would flat out fly with all the weight saving (and a built 5.0)
With the body off, I’m imagining my own design on it.
I like this “Mad Max Vet” a whole lot better than the Johnny Cash “One Piece At a Time” Cadillac that was actually a Mercury Monterey…. I’m with Stangalang on this, I would drive this Vet proudly and have a blast while doing so…. I am the road warrior!
Road Kill inspired.
The big question to be asked here is, ‘WHY’ ?? And don’t answer, ‘BECAUSE’ !
‘because’!
It’s in Kansas. Someone get Tyler Hoover on the phone!
Wouldn’t it be fun to show up with this at a
Corvette concours,just to tick off the snobs who
take trophies too seriously?
At $6200 the engine and trans are worth it.
Now that’s one armed for the parking lot wars! Let someone open their door into rollcage quality external caging and watch them cry when it shows a nice dent in the edge of their door.
I can appreciate all the work that went into this one.
I can’t get past the fact that the “cage” would stand up to a rollover or side impact about as well as a tissue.
If you’re going to cage something at least do it right.
This one reminds me of this guy:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/20451/man-who-built-death-kart-exocar-killed-after-head-on-accident
When I was helping out at the local track, I would have looked for a valid reason to send it home. There is typically a very small percentage of cars or drivers that present a certain vibe, yet they account for the vast majority of oil downs and crashes. You learn not to second guess your instincts when it comes to safety.
Steve R
First is wtf
Second is why
Third is lol
Fourth is who the hell is gonna buy it exept cletus the hillbilly in the simpsons
5th is imagine the looks of wtf is that hhahahaahhahaahahahaha
Jeese louise
Speaking of Cletus, go to YouTube and search Cleetus McFarland. It’s a YouTube channel where some guys with a shop have a couple of modified Corvette’s that usually pull in 1,000,000+ views per video.
Steve R
I hate corvettes- but this one is kinda cool.
Running gear might be worth it to put another body on it.
What’s crazier – that this even exists or that there are 23 bids on it.
Even with the truck tires it sits too low for off roading around my area. Lots of sticky clay and rutted up logging roads. I could see someone trying, though. I can see somebody try rock crawling in it, too. Then you have the seating position. I don’t know how confident I would be approaching stuff with that long good.
Wonder if anyone ever successfully converted this or any earlier gen Vette to a mid engine layout. Tha would have really impressed me.
First impression is that it is a tribute car for Ready Player One. Unfortunately it won’t pass inspection in Pennsylvania.
Shut up and take my money!
finally a vette that is useful
I have a friend who is trying to unload a running and driving complete 1996 Corvette. He wants $4,500 out of it. Maybe I should buy his to flip. If this one is worth $6,200, my friends has got to be worth that too.
Nice. Take a boring Vette and do something different with it. Think I’d want mudguards on the front though, especially with no doors.