Photo: Original image created by autoevolution
It was June 12, 1976. 55 engines were roaring on the Circuit de la Sarthe waiting for the rolling start. There were Porsches and there were Lolas. The Alpine A442 was enjoying pole position privileges, while a pack of widebody BMWs were flexing their inline-six engines.
The McGriff Dodge Charger and Banjo's Ford Torino were the only entries to bring NASCAR to France. But none of the above were as eye-catching as the no.76 car. The "Spirit of Le Mans" Corvette. The meanest, widest and noisiest competition Corvette ever built. The brainchild of John Greenwood, the man who introduced the first widebody C3 Corvette in Detroit two years earlier.
Driven by himself and Lancia Stratos tamer Bernard Darniche, the "Spirit of Le Mans" Vette was put 9th on the starting grid but failed to finish over a damaged fuel cell. In spite of its early exit, the Greenwood Corvette achieved its goal. It was a crowd pleaser. From its huge V8 engine all the way back to its extended rear fenders and advanced aero engineering.
Le Mans organizers were so anxious to get Greenwood back on their track - the oil crisis had thinned the entry list - that the French government paid him a $55,000 appearance fee, making John the only car owner ever to be paid to join the famed endurance race.
All told, Greenwood Corvettes are worthy of thick book and we're not going into full details. It's just that True Scale Miniature's new "Spirit of Le Mans" Corvette in 1:43 scale made us look back at 1970s racing and this track monster. Check out more photos of this beautiful resin modelcar below.
Driven by himself and Lancia Stratos tamer Bernard Darniche, the "Spirit of Le Mans" Vette was put 9th on the starting grid but failed to finish over a damaged fuel cell. In spite of its early exit, the Greenwood Corvette achieved its goal. It was a crowd pleaser. From its huge V8 engine all the way back to its extended rear fenders and advanced aero engineering.
Le Mans organizers were so anxious to get Greenwood back on their track - the oil crisis had thinned the entry list - that the French government paid him a $55,000 appearance fee, making John the only car owner ever to be paid to join the famed endurance race.
All told, Greenwood Corvettes are worthy of thick book and we're not going into full details. It's just that True Scale Miniature's new "Spirit of Le Mans" Corvette in 1:43 scale made us look back at 1970s racing and this track monster. Check out more photos of this beautiful resin modelcar below.
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