That’s a Moray: The Genius of the Italian Corvette Concept

The one-off Moray Corvette showed how Italian design could gracefully work with the American sports car. And it had gull wings. 

In 2003, Chevrolet celebrated a milestone with the Corvette’s 50th anniversary. Since it first came off the lines and on the scene, the Corvette was a wonder. That sentiment and adoration reached all around the globe. And when two automotive designers from Italy were asked to add to the Corvette’s significant impact with a one-off design; they created The Moray. And it was a masterpiece.

The Corvette Moray concept was the work of  Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro of ItalDesign. The Giugiaros were given an opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind Corvette with decidedly Italian style. The result was interesting, sleek, and really exciting.

This was an Italian Corvette.

Perhaps one reason the Moray is so good is that a lot of love went into the project. ItalDesign described it as “The American Dream as dreamed by Italian dreamers.” It is clear that the men understood and respected the Corvette. Their car was created by not just designers, these are true fans.

And as you’d expect, Corvette fans know what they want. As such, the Giugiaros homage to Corvette was daring with the right looks and power; and truly imbued with a deep love for their muse.

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“This version of an extreme yet elegant sports car, produced on a Corvette chassis and mechanicals is distinguished by a pure profile, shaped by the waves and characterized by long, tapering, headlights, which suggested its name,” ItalDesign said of the eel-shaped headlights for which it was named. A small detail, but we love that they kept the aquatic theme of the Manta Ray, Mako Shark, Sting Ray.

It made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2003. Under the hood was a mighty 400+ horsepower 6.0-liter V8. It was sporting a little more muscle that the 5.7-liter V8 in the 2003 C5 Corvette. Corvettes wouldn’t get that particular LS engine until 2005 with the C6 ‘Vette.

Using the 1963 Stingray as inspiration, the Moray had kind of a split window. To get that detail in, ItalDesign made a domed roof. As with a gull wing car, the side window and roof would open simultaneously. It was attached to the rear pillar, and the door wings were removeable if you wanted the wind in your hair.

Striking and bold, the glass dome feels modern; even as it recalls the mid-century, Atomic Age rides of the 1950s.

More than anything, the Moray feels like a Corvette. ItalDesign created the Moray to be a proper Corvette from their perspective. They nailed it. It is everything we want in Italian cars: sexy, sumptuous, elegant, fast. And it everything we want in a Corvette: spirited, powerful, rebellious, performance.

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Concepts and one-offs can sometimes really go off the rails. They are too much, and lose the spirit of the ride. Not so, with the Moray. Certainly, the front end looks more futuristic, but the shape, style, and performance are all unmistakably Corvette.

Where ItalDesign went right was in their restraint. Yes, the Moray has gull wings–but it fulfills a purpose. The lines and curves of the exterior are simple and bold, and need no additional elements. Okay, the interior is not exactly a study in economy. Inside old and new work side-by-side, and it is a lot. But two tone aside, it is fun and uses retro elements effectively.

What strikes us is how much of the Moray’s style was ahead of its time. Space-age dome aside, this design pushed the boundaries for the C5 Corvette.

ItalDesign only made two Morays, one red and one blue. Unlikely as it would have been from a financial perspective, we do wish Chevrolet had produced a limited special-edition of this very special Corvette. Would a gull wing Corvette have rattled some fans? Sure. But we love that about Corvette; it’s always been a rule-breaker.

Photos: ItalDesign; General Motors

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