Coachbuilt C8 Corvette Sparks Controversy Like Nothing We’ve Ever Seen

This coachbuilt C8 Corvette has created waves as its owner seeks to turn it into a 1930s art deco-inspired ride.

Lovers of controversy already know there’s no better place to find it or stir it up than the internet. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about politics, cars, or any other topic, you’re bound to poke the proverbial hornet’s nest by saying or doing something that goes against the grain. Take Jack Wendel‘s coachbuilt C8 Corvette, for example. Wendel started building custom fiberglass bodywork for his C8 before he even took delivery of it, and the resulting work has predictably generated some interesting reactions.

“The problem is, people see it as a Corvette and I’m destroying something that they consider beautiful, Wendel told The Drive. “So from that perspective, you know, I kind of understand it. But they’re not seeing the other perspective: I’m building something and I needed a good platform to start with. What better platform is there than the C8 to start with?”

It’s worth noting that Wendel isn’t just some crazy person hacking up a new Corvette – he actually owns two coachbuilding companies, Deco Rides and Delahaye USA. He’s designing his coachbuilt C8 Corvette with an eye toward eventually selling the kit to customers who, like him, fondly remember the days when coachbuilt rides were a popular thing. His clay model of what the finished product will look like also reminds us of the art deco cars of the 1930s, which are highly coveted in today’s collector market.

The finished product will look nothing like a C8, and that’s precisely the point. Wedel only chose the car because of its mid-engine configuration, and we imagine the fact that it’s one of the more affordable mid-engine sports car currently on sale. Regardless, making a body from scratch isn’t easy, even for a guy that’s done this kind of thing before.

“It’s 100 times more difficult than I thought it would be,” Wendel said. “I’ve been racing cars my entire life, building chassis, and building my own race cars. I thought it wouldn’t be that much more difficult to do this. And it’s at least 100 times more difficult than I thought it would be.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wendel’s work has drawn the ire of a lot of folks, who have been more than happy to share disparaging comments on his Facebook page and YouTube channel. But in the spirit of hot rodding, we can’t blame the guy for daring to do something a bit different, as well as incredibly difficult.

Photos: Jack Wendel

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