The Highs and Lows of Corvette Conversions

function socialpopup(url, title, w, h) {
var left = (screen.width/2)-(w/2);
var top = (screen.height/2)-(h/2);
return window.open(url, title, ‘menubar=no, toolbar=no, resizable=yes, scrollbars=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, copyhistory=no, width=’ + w + ‘, height=’ + h + ‘, top=’ + top + ‘, left=’ + left);
}

Corvettes have been used in a number of interesting conversions. Some are pretty cool, and some are…well…we’ll let you decide. 

It is hard to imagine looking at a Corvette and seeing a car perfect for a conversion. But over the years many owners have wanted to personalize their rides, or add a little extra capability. Modifications can open up many options, and with varying degrees of success. But a pickup or wagon conversion for a Corvette? Hm. The question is, can a ‘Vette undergo a conversion and retain its sports car essence?

The answer is…yes, and oh no.

Ideally, a conversion uses the best aspects of the car’s strengths to add additional use. Today, one of the most popular conversions is swapping to an electric powertrain. But over the years we’ve seen Corvettes turned into trucks, utes, wagons, and more. With varying degrees of success.

The Good 

Probably the best example of body conversion done well would be the Greenwood Sportswagon.

One reason why we like the Greenwood wagon is that it flows nicely with the already organic lines of the shark Corvette. Greenwood Corvettes was inspired to add station wagon storage to the ultimate sports car. The changes the body kit and conversion offered aren’t overwhelming, nor do they take from the Corvette’s iconic look and power.

It worked because the consistency was key. Using the car’s existing lines, the kit worked as a complement, and not a clash. Ultimately, a rear hatch did the job of increasing storage without losing its DNA.

Similar kits popped up for C3 Corvettes, and they are actually pretty seamless–especially those by Chuck Miller. Although some started to see an increase in anachronistic details such as Camaro tail lamps and more.

During its testing, even the C8 sported a pickup bed. Sort of. Very early on in development of the 2020 Corvette, Chevrolet used a test vehicle code-named “Blackjack.” The Blackjack used elements of the C7 Corvette including the engine, and fused it with compact Australian truck called the Holden Ute.

#gallery-1 {
margin: auto;
}
#gallery-1 .gallery-item {
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
}
#gallery-1 img {
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
}
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {
margin-left: 0;
}
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Blackjack was pivotal to designers and engineers in gauging and testing the C8’s capability, power, and design. Additionally, it helped GM keep the C8 under wraps in this test mule. Even in this form, it is clear that this pounds with the true heart of a Corvette.

The Bad 

Of course, for every good conversion, there is an equally horrifying one. Or a few.

For reasons we cannot quite grasp, someone decided to make a Corvette pickup. Named the “El Corvettino,” this C5 was custom built for Neufeld’s Special Cars Zurich. As you can rent this for film shoots and the like, it seems this was (hopefully) built for novelty and kicks.

Yeah. It is a lot. Corvette purist or not, this makes our eye twitch. The C5 drive quality paired with a pickup here seems counter-intuitive. That being said, the execution of the pickup conversion is well done. But when we think of the money and work that went into cutting this ‘Vette to shreds in favor of a pickup; we just think…why??

Especially given that Chevy did their own take on a sporty pickup with Corvette roots in the Chevrolet SSR.

Running on a C5 Corvette engine, the SSR was Chevy’s convertible pickup truck. With hints of vintage Corvette styling cues, and a respectable 6.0 L V8, this actually has the chops to work as a pickup. And it still has some fiber of ‘Vette woven within its design, although one might need to squint to  see it.

The Ugly 

And that brings us to pickup and wagon conversions gone wrong. We haven’t a lot of info on this poor Corvette, but it has seen horrors.

Now, this could be an old sports wagon conversion that just let itself go over the years. Or, it might be a do-it-yourself build. Maybe it is starring in the next Transformers film–which would imply it is going in a an odd, dark direction. Whatever the case, ouch.

We laughed when a Ohio parts company came across the Corvette in distress and offered a hand.

🗣Attention to all of our #Corvette car enthusiasts out in California.

If you happen to find the owner of this gorgeous car please let him/her know that the awesome people at https://t.co/j2Rs2MBicC has all of the parts to transform this beauty back to original. #KeenParts pic.twitter.com/YddQV7uCp2

— CorvetteParts.net (@KeenParts) May 20, 2020

Hey, we’re open minded and can appreciate a non-stock ‘Vette. It is your car, and if you want to switch it up–go for it. But the Corvette is an icon because it succeeds at defining the essence of a sports car. Adding in a ute, pickup, camper, station wagon (with few exceptions) does take away from its core strengths.

What do you think? Would you be interested in a Corvette truck or wagon conversion? Let us know in the comments!

Photos: NBS Autos; Greenwood; Chevrolet; Twitter

.