The 1970s and 1980s were a weird time for cars. Subaru was just getting its footing in the US, the gas crisis was still in people’s minds…it was a time for experimentation and trailblazing for car design. Chevrolet introduced the C3 Corvette in 1968, and with it produced one of the few exciting American cars during the “malaise era;” an era exemplified by cushy suspension, boxy styling, and stifled performance. Some people decided to go the other direction, and a series of body kits came about for various vehicles. You can find this Caballista-inspired 1977 Corvette here on craigslist in Tecumseh, Illinois. Special thanks to Pat L. for letting us know about it.
In 1957, a man by the name of Les Dunham made a business of fabricating custom cars. He became known as the “father of the pimpmobile,” and made an art form out of gaudy design, pseudo-inspired by the art deco cars of the 1930s. He modified a Corvette, and named it “Caballista.” It featured wild design but was mechanically pretty much just a base Corvette. The owner of this example was inspired by Dunham and made their own version of the Caballista out of fiberglass. Potentially divisive design aside, the craftsmanship looks exceptionally well-done, demonstrating a good understanding of symmetry and proportion.
Under the hood, you’ll find a stock Corvette V-8 mated to a stock automatic transmission going to a stock rear end. It’s only got 33,000 miles on it, mostly highway, so you probably won’t be having many mechanical issues with it. Inside, the interior is mostly standard Corvette. The plush leather seats look comfortable, and in good condition. There’s a custom horn button, but that seems to be just about the only modification, with the exception of the carpeted area surrounding the rear window, necessitated by the extended B-pillar.
This car’s claim to fame is its truly one-of-a-kind styling, done by the seller themself. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to agree that the execution is professional-quality. We can get as philosophical as you like debating about what constitutes “good art;” I have a degree in art and love philosophical discussions. I’m strongly of the opinion that the only bad art is art created for the sole purpose of selling, and this Caballista-inspired Corvette was done as a labor of love. The seller saw something they liked and actually went to the effort of building their own interpretation of it. That’s a truly admirable action and one that few of us will ever realize.
Why do I think the back-story here is more interesting than the car?
Left out the “trailblazing” part on this one…..
A prime example of the old adage:
*Just because you can do something, it does not mean that you should.*
That is one ugly Corvette. Not surprised the mileage is pretty low; who’d want to be seen driving around in that?
I’ve said this before. Anyone who does this to a “vette should be arrested, tried and sentenced to confinement locked in a Yugo for life without parole.
Nah, it’s not especially rare and not a very good car. If it’s your car, knock yourself out, just don’t expect to get it back when you sell.
General Ed….
I agree but this person should be in a non running Yugo and locked in at the same time…
Jail sentence…
Probably driven only at night to avoid being seen in it.
If Liberace owned a Corvette.
Put a candelabra on the front hood and presto! Liberace will come back from the dead…
O.M.G. That poor car… I’m so sorry someone did that to you.
Yeowch. “Style” is one of those words that is entirely subjective, like “fool”, that changes meaning when you add “ish” to the end.
Looks like it would be right at home in Tijuana
“Hop in, I’ll give you a ride.”
“Uh, no thanks. I’d rather walk.”
Titled in the sales brochure as the “longhorn delete” package.
OK, that’s FUNNY!
Makes me wonder how garish the “Longhorn Package” would be? Texas Longhorns mounted on the front of the hood?
Hahahaha!
Brain damage is a terrible thing.
This thing is making my eyes hurt. And my head too.
For more creative ideas.
http://dunhamcoach.com/home.htm
Thanks for the link, Tony. Compared to his other work, this is a study in subtlety and nuance…
Dang….some things just can’t be unseen. This is worse than walking in on your parents when you were a kid…
“Don’t worry son, we were just wrestling…”
Love that they decided to use shower drains for taillights.
Get a load of the 2X4 rectangular frame tubing that he used for bumpers… This is a perfect example of an amateur with too much money.
I can see why it has low mileage on it.
Didn’t John Cash make up a song about building a home made Cadillac one piece at a time? And when he drove it through town you could hear everybody laughing for blocks around?
This vehicle is worth about $2000, as a parts car.
I saw this yesterday at a flea market in Tecumseh,,,,,,but its Michigan,not Illinois……………..i wouldnt have the guts to be seen in it
I’m from Michigan. We’ve got enough problems. Thanks, or should say Ohio Thanks You!!
While the coachwork might be top-notch the design itself leaves much to be desired. A Vette with a Rolls grill AND a Continental Kit out back ?? I wonder how many 12 packs were under his belt when starting on this
A 632 rat motor like this one would do the trick, and yes, I’d drive it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22F30TsPHqY
They never showed the completion of the build!!!
Needs chrome side pipes.
Best looking Vette i’ve seen in a LOOOOONG Time
Sam Shive…..
So your saying these should of been mass produced?
Yeah right….
Ben, You sir are a very polite writer and I commend you for that…
The builder of this Corvette had a vision, and that’s fine.
Executing that vision is a different story.
Yeah…like Ray Charles or Ronnie Milsap
Much like an over-groomed French poodle – underneath it all is a humilated dog.
Na, the poodle is actually a pretty nasty beast under the curls…not so much for this abomination.
“This is Dr. Johnny Fever at WKRP radio with an update on our ugly car contest: No more calls, we have a winner.”
I’ll add something my mother used to tell me: “The fact that you can does not mean that you should.”
Proving yet again that Turkey’s cannot fly
There is a fine line between art and vandalism and all I can say is I feel sorry for that poor defenseless vette
This would be a shoo-in for Worst In Show at the Concours d’Lemons. Is that honor worth spending twenty grand? Not to me.
Aim high! Take it to Bloomington Gold.
Its been a while but again…..sometimes, what happens in the barn should stay in the barn.
Wrap crime scene tape around this thing. The photos can be used as evidence.
Never seen one before.
Never want to see one again.
Did the corvette get stormed in January?
The vette is sooooo ugly one has to sneak up to slip under the cover to enter .
I have worked in the car business for the last 22 years and I thought I had seen just about every stupid thing people can do to a car. I was mistaken…
Symmetry and Proportion?
I hope you don’t kiss your children with that mouth.
🤦🏼♂️
Well at least he didn’t …. oh wait he did.
I think I threw up a little. Just kill it, this is inhumane.
The design has the styling cues of a shipping container.
That is a death sentence waiting to be carried out. Good thing he’s not in Texas. No chance of an appeal for this crime.
o my !!!
Maybe the ugliest Vette in the world. Nope changed my mind it IS the ugliest Vette in the world.
Can we say fugly on here!
need a fox tail on the antenna
My friend and I have had a “World’s Ugliest Vette” contest. We have a new winner. It’s going to be very hard to beat this one.
scary
Eccccchhhh!
Wow, just wow
Oh great, now i can not eat for the rest of the day!!
Hideous is an understatement! The owner should be banned from ever owning anything other than a Yugo.
Ralph. No, wait, double Ralph.
I never thought I’d see anything that would make a Zimmer look good by comparison. This is totally and irredeemably tasteless.
yuck
ugly
What a terrible looking car.
Really needs a set of Appliance wire wheels and lose that pinstripe down the door. Side pipes would be a plus. I’d then totally be seen in it.
No…no…noooooooooooo…ugh.
I have tried to be complimentary (or somewhat complimentary) on every post I have ever left but this car JUST MAKES ME SICK.
I had a car salesman friend (since deceased) who would often say “there’s an A$$ for every seat”……I think he might turn over in his grave if he saw this. I wonder if this guy would try to turn his Roll’s (or Bentley) which is shown in the photo’s into a Corvette. Asking $20,000. I’ll offer $2,000 if it includes delivery to my house after dark. Lot’s of good parts!
🤮 sorry this is just wrong
I get the idea that the members (and non-members) of this “club” don’t like different.
Different is good, it inspires conversation (and a lot of bad comments).
This thing really isn’t so bad, just different.
I like different. The front grill and bumpers are interesting. The Continental kit is you either love it or hate it. I see a lot of members who hate it. Without it, what would you have done with the rear end?
I have to agree that the shower drain taillights could have been more thought out. One thing I never cared for on these conversions is the squared off “formal” roofline. Just too angular.
But, when you’re inside driving it, it’s just another Corvette.
I don’t know. I kinda like it. I wouldn’t BUY it, but, I like it.
Different is good.
This design wouldn’t be that bad if they removed the red tape from the hood. (It enhances the negative aspects of the frontend.) They also could remove the luggage rack, continental kit, and change the taillights to something less pedestrian. The profile is okay, less the add-ons.
Clark Griswold would love this one.
Finally, someone with vision enough to go through with it. You pictured it and you built it. Cool Ride.
They never showed the completion of the build!!!
Remember what Mum and Dad said, “ Don’t do drugs.”
Hideous!!!
TerryC, turkeys can, in fact, fly. No apostrophe needed or required. And to Angel Cadillac Diva, you are spot on.
Thank you for correcting my writing, I would be forever lost without you.
As for the turkey reference, it was a classic W.K.R.P. episode with turkeys and a helicopter.
You should find and watch it.
Henry Rollins once said of hardcore fans that “only a gym teacher could get so many dudes to dress the same way”. Corvette guys have the same energy.
I never liked the “Liberace Look” on any vehicle, be it the Mercury Cougars, Grand Prix, or this monstrosity. Any idea of how many were sold?
Hopefully he only made one.
jeesh, a vette? Didn’t even recognize it. Clicked cuz of the lill ‘subaru’ w/the thumbnail.
I’d do this to same era vette as I don;t like em. Nowa ’56/60 I’d go get my long gun. Same w/somea da “cash 4 clunkers” ‘murderers’.