BangShifter Kyle Burnett was recently in New Hampshire, lending a hand in the American political process. Luckily for us he had a camera with him and his gearhead tendencies took over once he spotted this amazingly bizarre and exceedingly rare creation called a Caballista Corvette. Only 50 of these cars were produced from the New Jersey (saw that one coming, eh?) shop of Les Dunham from 1979-1982. Chevrolet may have not produced an ’83 Vette just to stop these things from being created.
Costing more than (get this!) $60,000 in 1983 money, they were really just Corvettes with an extensive and horrifying body kit. We do not believe any mechanical changes were made, but the performance was probably hindered further than it already was from the factory with the addition of all of weight from the new body pieces. Thankfully the introduction of the C4 Corvette in 1984 started Detroit’s long slow climb out of the performance abyss that spawned creations like this.
We’ve rarely seen a vehicle that makes the gaudy Excalibur and Stutz conversions of the 1970s look good, but this is certainly one of them. That $60,000 initial investment is worth about $15,000 on a day where an auction happens and a drunken blind guy is bidding.
Good work on spotting this thing Kyle!
It would almost be worth owning one, just to annoy the Corvette aficionados. I drive through Bowling Green ky (well past it actually) every two weeks. I’d love to bring one of those down to the Corvette Museum or to the factory. You get preferential “Corvettes Only” parking there you know?
Hell, I’d rock that for the same effect, pissing off vette purists. Then again, it’s a *shrug* C3…vet hack anyone?
Dude, it’s by a dumpster, not even the trash guys want it.
Other than the heinous side pipes and bumpers, it looks a lot like a ’79 Buick Riviera. Might be amusing to remove those offending details and build it as a blower-through-the-hood ’70s street freak.
I want the Eldo version
http://www.madle.org/ecorvorado2.htm
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Some pimp in New Hampshire is looking for his car.
The man that built these cars is Les Dunham of Boonton nj. He’s got a shop down the street from the restoration shop where I work. He’ s currently building another one
LesDunham built the superfly Eldorado’s in the 70’s.
Kill it before it breeds!!!
I had to post this link. It’s the ultimate vette of this sort. Look at, just LOOK at the headlights.
http://www.madle.org/ecorvorado.htm
Grand Theft Auto : No Games here baby, just pure Tommy Vercetti fun