What is it about widebody conversions? We see them fairly frequently across a wide spectrum of vehicles, from muscle cars to European sports models. The idea of throwing on some grossly exaggerated fenders and some fat wheels front and rear is a modification with seemingly universal appeal, largely because they look killer when done right. This 1968 Chevrolet Corvette has been extensively modified in the past and has been sitting for seven years. It’s listed here on eBay with bids to $3,950 and no reserve.
Wow – there’s no denying this Corvette has wider fenders than it left the factory with. There are box flares and there are box flares, and these seem to be full-on wings added to the rear haunches. While I still believe most enthusiasts love a good widebody, these fender extensions are definitely a case of the beauty being in the eye of the beholder. I suspect when it’s kitted up with the included hardtop and some staggered wheels, however, it looks pretty slick. The seller contends someone spent some real money back in the day to complete this extensive bodywork.
The major bonus with this Corvette is that it has three pedals, which isn’t the easiest set-up to find on a muscle car of this vintage. The question becomes do you live with the widebody kit or do you strip it back to create a mostly-stock ’68 Corvette with three pedals? In my mind, unless the widebody pieces were so hastily put on that they can be removed with nominal fuss, you should just continue on with the cosmetic enhancements and create an absolutely wild show car-style Corvette. The seats remain in surprisingly good shape.
Then, you peek under the hood, where someone has invested some additional time and money. This may just be a case of engine dress-up but I doubt it; it has the appearance of a classic muscle car a previous owner had big plans for before time, money, or ambition (or all three) ran out. The seller notes the frame is in good shape despite sitting for seven years, and this no reserve 4-speed Corvette could be a worthwhile project for the next owner if the bodywork hasn’t been poorly done.
Usually a supporter of done right modifications I can’t find a lot right about this car. First, that nice engine is sitting in a compartment covered with surface rust. Second, the side view shots on eBay show the rear fenders not centered over the rear wheels. Third, wheels don’t match up with wide fenders and probably the rears won’t unless the openings are modified. Wider wheels are a must on this type of modification and it didn’t happen here. On a scale of 1-5 I give his one a 0.
Zora Arkus-Duntov is doing cartwheels in his grave over this abomination. There’s no accounting for taste.
Not as kool as if was stock. Just me would have done to a newer c3
I don’t think it is quite bad as it looks. Sure, the that hastily applied paint may be hiding some cracks and the engine work only consisted of new valve covers, a can of Chevy orange spray paint and a big red legged spider. Add no real clean up and it shouts FLIPPER. However, all of that could be corrected. Plus with some wide wheels like it had back in the day and a well done IMSA inspired repaint it would be a blast from the past!
I’m more of a traditionalist at heart: I think this thing is ugly.
and my question is ‘why in the world?” But I think I know the answer “because I can”…. what a waste of a decent car !!!
You got that right!
Beyond U-G-L-Y.. hit every branch falling out of the ugly tree. Lmao. And there’s fools bidding on it HhhhaaAa
Shows just because you can you should not do things.
Proof why you shouldn’t sleep with close family. You end up with this and web-footed children
Shall I keep going?
HhhhaaAa
Someone please buy it an crush it
There should be laws against this sort of thing. And people were freaking out about the ‘Vette wagon!
Don.t be quite so harsh, who here hasn’t wanted there car to look more like the race car? Mag wheels anybody? Be honest who has not owned a 4 or V6 powered 4 door sedan with a rear deck spoiler? ( European touring car championship) And this Corvette isn’t as outrageous as some that did race. That was the 70″s man!
Well. I can’t speak for anyone else here, but I’ve never wanted my car to look more like a race car. And I’ve never owned a 4 or V6 powered 4 door sedan with a rear deck spoiler. As always, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and mine is that this car is butt ugly and no amount of lipstick will ever make it any better.
I am a huge fan of wide body C3 Corvettes. Probably because the majority of my childhood was spent building model kits of widebodys. I love those 1:20 scale MPC kits and still have a bunch of them. Class Act, Turbo Vette, Turbo Vette, Viper Vette, Sabre Vette, Ghost Rider, and on and on. Not to mention the movie Corvette Summer.
That said, for a good build, everything has to be right. So many variables between a good wide body and a not good wide body.
This didn’t hit any of the right points to be right. U-G-L-Y.
That said, for the right price, seeing as how it’s a ’68 4-speed, I am just crazy enough I’d take this on if it doesn’t have rust issues.
Good luck to the “lucky” (?) new owner of this mess!
Yeah, I like Turbo Vette so much, I thought of it twice, and I don’t think that kit was even actually a widebody!
They must have used more than one can of ugly for this conversion. As mentioned above, this makes the Vette Wagon look good. Worst of all, it was a chrome bumper C3
I’m guessing on this car that somebody bought it wanting to flip it and just sprayed it red really fast just to make it one color. I highly doubt that it was anywhere near finished by the previous owner before whoever is selling it now and I don’t think it’s anywhere near as bad as everybody’s making it out to be. Wheels can be changed easily enough even though the ones that are on it are really hard to find now for anything under all the money in your wallet(ha ha) but I do believe this car is definitely worth finishing. Strip it back down make things right and just put it together the way the previous owner started it has. I think you could make a really nice looking wide body 68 Corvette with this. I hope somebody gets a hold of it that will finish it instead of tearing it back apart. It says right in the eBay ad that they believe the last owner put some real time into doing it right so I think that this owner just slapped some ugly paint on it to get rid of it and I think it’s nowhere near as bad as it looks. If my personal situation and health allowed me to do it I’d be on that in a second.
It looks like I am way out numbered by thinking that this could be a cool car one day. (It’s not cool as is) So I concede that it should be restored back to original because this world needs another bone stock boring Corvette.
What a waste! I have owned 4 C3’s and never even thought about changing the look.
It totally depends how much I tcan be bought for to determine how cool it is.
No bumpers or too low/no headlites here might mean a pullover/ticket – back in the day, i would think.
Chevy should have offered that steering wheel as an option ’68-’76.
I went to the Mecum Indy auction this spring specifically to pay respects to the Greenwood Corvette. They did a nice job restoring it and the patriotic graphics were tastefully done.
This car, on the other hand, is pathetic.
At least they didn’t post a picture of the guy whizzin on a tree, altho he is in one of the photos. Just another ‘classic’ from Meeamee FLA.
I like the look,
That was the thing in the 70’s wouldn’t think of doing that to car today