It is kind of sad that we live in the post coach builder era. Yes, there are amazing metal artists that are still making things. Guys like Rob Ida, the Marcels, and others still have the old world talent and skillet create beautiful things from scratch but there used to be lots more and there used to be people who would love a car but understand that it could be so much more. Gordon Kelly was one of those men. He loved the Corvettes of the early 1960s and be bought one new. As a designer he wanted a more radical looking machine and he knew exactly how he wanted it done because he designed the look himself. Kelly shipped the car to Italy and the Vignale coachbuilding company specifically. It was there that he laid out his design and commissioned them to create the car.
The craftsmen at Vignale hand made the body you see here and it was an immediate hit, being shows around Europe before being shipped back to Wisconsin so Kelly could enjoy the final product as often as he wanted. Mechanically this is a 1961 Corvette. Small block, four speed, vertical radio and all. Exterior-wise the car is a masterwork. The compound curves that start at the nose of the car and travel all the way to the rounded rear are beautiful. The wheel selection is freaking perfect, and the overall smoothness and fluidity of the design is what we love. There are no scoops, there’s nothing to interrupt the visual flow of the machine as your eyes move from front to back. Flush mounted door handles, no side mirrors, slickness and cleanliness were definitely things that Kelly wanted to capture in his design.
Petrolicious profiles the car with the current owner. He’s a cool guy who drives the wheels off of the thing and we’re glad for that. This thing deserves to be in the sun as often as possible.
Eight lug wheels, but clearly not Pontiac wheels. Wild.
I saw this car at the AZ Concours a few weeks ago. I was totally blown away by it. After looking at every car in the show, I was drawn back to it. I took some photos, I wish there was a way to post them along with my comment.