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This Corvette C3 Is Ready to Go Off-Roading

Introduced in 1953, the first-generation Chevrolet Corvette wasn't much of a sportscar. It was built on a chassis borrowed from the 1952 sedan and the 235 cubic inch inline-six engine was taken from other Chevys and tweaked to deliver 150 hp. Since the manufacturer didn't have a manual transmission that could handle the power, the C1 got a two-speed Powerglide automatic.
Corvette C3 4x4 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from YouTube
But the Corvette evolved rapidly into a true sportscar powered by big V8s. In 1962, GM built the Grand Sport, a race car designed to take on the Shelby Cobra on America's busy race tracks. The Corvette had become the icon we all know today and that's the main reason we can still admire it in private collections and museums.

But there are a few exceptions, and we're not talking about the Vettes that have been abandoned in sheds or car graveyards. Some of them have been rebuilt into... rally cars and... off-road vehicles. Haven't seen one yet? Then you'd better check out this Grand Sport modified for the East-African Safari Rally by Tachyon Motorsport we reported about last year.

Now how about an off-road Corvette? Someone was crazy enough to build one of these as well. The vehicle you're about to see below was seen at Cruisin' the Coast, an event that gathered more than 7,000 entrants last year. Unfortunately, there's no info about what's underneath this C3 Vette, but we're guessing that 1976 body sits on one of Chevy's 4x4 platforms.

The owner brought it to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to sell it and he was asking $8,000. Wonder how that went. Would you by a 4x4 Corvette?

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About the author: Ciprian Florea
Ciprian Florea profile photo

Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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