Aluminum 'Vette body?

[Craig Walker]

I met a man in the early '70s that had a new 'Vette with an aluminum body. I have been assured by many folks in the intervening years that I must have been smokin' something bad. Question: Has there ever been an aluminum body produced (either factory option or after market)for the Corvette or was his a custom one off job? While this isn't an Earth Shattering question it has caused some of my friends to question my sanity! Any response will be appreciated.

[Joe L.]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

Craig-----

There was NEVER a PRODUCTION Corvette body made of aluminum. In addition, all factory "special" Corvettes that I am aware of have fiberglass bodies.

The one "exception" to the fiberglass rule for all Corvettes was the Corvette SS which was built by Chevrolet Engineering for racing in the late 50s. This car used magnesium body panels. There were only a handful ever built and, as far as I know, none were sold to the public.

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

Joe,

-------I might be wrong but I think one of the ****el design cars was a group effort between GM and Alcoa.Certainly not a production car or anything close to it,however..........Bill S

[John Daly]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

Dave McLellan's book has details of two aluminum body protypes built in the early 70's. They were built for two reasons: a mid-engine configuration Zora supported for many years, and the ****el engine. Neither ever made it to production..........

[Patrick H.]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

...and both are still owned by GM.

[Duke W.]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

One aluminum bodied mid-engine prototype was built in the mid seventies - the XP 895 by Reynolds on a XP-882 chassis with the same transverse small block drivetrain.

I don't know the current status of this car or whether it still exists.

Source: Corvette Prototypes and Show Cars by Wally Wyss (Foreward by Duke Williams). I belive it's still available from the NCRS Store.

Duke

[Clem Z.]

where did wally go?

hey duke what happened to wally as he used to be on all the boards looking for info?

[Jack H.]

There's one metal body....

that's in private hands! Tom Falconer, Judging Chairman for the NCRS UK Chapter has obtained and restored the XP987GT which he unveiled at their Flight 2000 chapter meet. It came from the roof of Vauxhaul in Bedford where it'd been 'stored' for about 30-years. This car IS from the early 70 era and was one of the mid-engine prototype variants that was under consideration.

The interior is virtually identical to my '71 Corvette (seats, etc.) as existing soft trim was used. It's based on a GM dual rotor ****el mounted amidship. Driver's seat is fixed position with a flip-switch for control adjustment. Flip the switch and steering wheel, brake/clutch/accelerator free to articulate and match the driver's desired position and lock into place when the switch is released.

Car was the centerpiece of the chapter meet there and Tom may just be 'toying' with bringing the car Stateside someday to share with us at a future NCRS National Convention as an American Heritage Award candidate. It's LOVELY!!!!!

[Duke W.]

Re: where did wally go?

Last I heard he was writing Mustang books.

Duke

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Aluminum 'Vette body?

Duke,

-------You are correct,and my memory failed me again.It wasnt Alcoa,but Reynolds Aluminum that GM partnered up with.............Bill S

[Verle R.]

Re: There's one metal body....

I thought everyone knew of the 63 metal body, split window with the Rochester Fuel Injected 427 cars. A friend of mine knew someone who's brother in law owned one of these....... :-)

Verle