When I first laid eyes on this 1969 Chevy Corvette dubbed “Wild Thing,” I thought for sure it was an ex-movie car, something akin to the now infamous “Wild Cherry” van we documented here a few months ago. I was wrong: this is actually equal parts show car and road racing warrior, a custom-built Corvette with a monster motor under the hood. It’s now for sale here on craigslist with an asking price of $85,000 that takes into account its unique history and preserved condition. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find.
This Corvette did duty as an ordinary street car for many years, before an accident led to an insurance company taking ownership. From there, the Corvette ended up in the hands of a dealer famous for building championship track cars, known as V.V. Cooke. They didn’t build a track car out of this Corvette, however, choosing instead to build a show car with the goods under the hood to back up the wild Eckler’s Can Am II kit. The Corvette’s bodykit was one of the signature pieces of the Wild Thing, and has been carefully restored over the last several years.
The custom paint job isn’t the original combination, but rather the work of the first owner to take possession of the Corvette after the dealership put it up for sale. Its history of preying on other muscle cars at SCCA events and time trials continued with the next owner, who provided a detailed accounting of his time behind the wheel in this excellent Super Chevy article. Note the full roll cage and custom fuel cell out back, along with deep dish mag wheels. Thankfully, these wheels have returned to the car instead of the too-modern / too-flashy chrome ZR1 wheels the previous owner installed.
The engine build was nothing short of incredible, with Super Chevy detailing the significant tweaking that took place at the hands of V.V. Cooke: a four-bolt main block and ZL1 internal components, coupled with extensive porting and polishing and paired to a “…blueprinted M22 and custom-balanced ZL1 clutch/pressure plate assembly help send the power back to the rear wheels. Koni shocks, heavy-duty front springs, a Daytona rear spring, urethane bushings, and large anti-sway bars fore and aft make sure the power reaches the ground.” This Wild Thing is exactly that, and is a rare car that combines equal parts show and go.
It looks similar to a plastic model custom Corvette that I built when I was a teen back in the late 70s. It was made by Monogram with input from a car guy named Tom Daniels.
“Way under market”? What, specifically, is the market? Old SCCA race cars? Modified Corvettes? I’ve always been a fan of the Greenwood look (well, maybe not the whale-tails)..
And why were the photos taken at a Mecum Auction? Flipper, you say??
All it needs are Coca-Cola graphics and a seller with grammatical skills.
The price would be significantly higher if the seller (flipper?) was more than semi-literate, ccrvtt… ;-)
That’s the longest run on sentence I have ever seen. I wonder if he’s the Nigerian prince with a 9 figure bank account that’s been trying to contact me.
I once was into cars like this. I outgrew it 50+ years ago.
That is one very bad ass vette. If i had the money it would be in my driveway. Oh and one other thing that makes it bad ass is that it is red.
Is this not a Mako Shark?
Nod to John Greenwood’s FIA and IMSA Corvettes.
Personally, I would not consider this thing for two seconds. Not because of what it is, a very cool piece of custom car history from a specific time (but clearly not to everyone’s taste). My issue would be that seller seems at best semi literate, and would in probability be difficult to deal with.
Equally troubling is the absence of a VIN, and the all important block numbers proving it is an L-88. Just my utterly worthless opinion.
I’ve seen it in person as a friend owns it now . It’s in a collection , nice car.
There are a lot of other cars I’d get for a whopping $85,000 besides this one. I think it’s overpriced by at least double.
IMHO I cant see the value in this fugly vette. Will be interesting to see if it sells. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Seems better done than most. Lotsa Ecklerized hacks out there.
Whatever happened to John Dianna’s HOT ROD magazine ‘Vette, the Big Banana? Done in the 70s from a wrecked 68 convertible, hyper Ecklerized, graphics, wheels and a serious drivetrain. That woild be the one to find…
Looks like an attempt at a Hot Wheels prototype.
I wonder if this is worth the asking price. I truly do not know anything about customs. I’ll keep watching and perhaps learn something new today.
To each their their own. The quality of the work seems well done though. Engine and transmission combo is quite nice. Anything further I could say would be a negative opinion and I’m sure there are several people that would love to own it. Was that diplomatic enough?
daily driver
‘paul oberman said –
where do my posts go?’ Paul, you might have hit your limit, I did recieve your comment in my email.
If I were to even consider spending $85k on a car, it sure wouldn’t be for this piece of work. To me, what started out as a good car has been completely ruined. Too bad.
I will not condemn or condone this car. I do know that I think this is art, ugly piece of art, but art. Not my cup of tea for sure!
No offence, just my opinion, but it looks like something that I would have been drawing in 8th grade math class when I should have been paying attention to the teacher…to each, his own.
Did you go to Mission Hill Jr. High in Santa Cruz too !!!!?????……lol
How does that rear hatch open with the fuel filler on/in it?
My father owned this car for several years. He helped to modify, paint and race it. It is a car I will always remember because i spent weekends as a kid watching my Dad race it at the fair grounds in Louisville. At one time it was blue and white. We called it big blue when it was blue and then big red.
It set off the fire alarm every time he started it. My mother once burned her leg on one of the side pipes. It was one of many vettes my Dad owned over the years . I believe he sold it just before he passed away for over $50k back in 2008.. It was cared for immaculately when he owned it . I probably have pictures of it when it was blue and during modifications if any owner wanted them at some point ..
Susan Epperson Riebel