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THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST C5 CORVETTE BUGGY OUT THERE

Fiberglass bodywork not included

C5 Corvette
Image via Bring A Trailer

The Chevrolet Corvette is undeniably America’s sports car. Since 1953, the two door coupe has mastered the blend of weekend capability and everyday usability. For some Corvette owners however, all of this practicality is just too much to handle. Instead, they prefer something more akin to automotive masochism and self-loathing. For those folks, this C5 Corvette dune buggy is the stuff of late night desire.

Currently offered for sale on Bring a Trailer, this C5 Corvette turned dune buggy is sure to garner some attention. A trend that can be traced back to the mad men over at Roadkill, we’ve started to see more of these hacked up Corvettes in recent years. A process that involves removing the fiberglass body work and taking a Sawzall to the frame rails, “carting” Corvettes can result in some pretty cool builds. Unlike some of the other exoskeleton vehicles that are floating around (usually made from a Miata or Honda hatch), this C5 Corvette dune buggy looks like it was built with some serious attention to detail.

After the initial weight loss program, the current owner of this car reenforced the remain structure with a DOM steel partial roll-cage, which appears to be done quite nicely. Driving around in a caged car without a helmet and proper restraints however isn’t necessarily advisable. Especially when you consider just how potent the lightly modified 5.7L LS1 V8 under the homemade engine cover is.

Performance oriented modifications include a mild camshaft, Kooks long-tube headers, a muffler adapted from a 2019 Camaro, high-flow catalytic converters and a performance clutch. The Vette Buggy retains its factory suspension, though it has been raised using factory adjustors, helping to make way for the Firestone Destination MT2 tires size 265/70 up front and 285/70 at the rear axle.

Image via Bring a Trailer.

Other custom bits include cowl splash shields and rear panels that are fabricated from sheet aluminum, tow hooks, DOT-certified Hella Headlamps, a front light bar, LED tail lights, and a fire extinguisher mounted behind the driver’s derriere. Off-road fans may have spotted the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon-sourced front bumper, which we think is a great touch. While the Vette Buggy might not be great at off-roading, it certainly looks ready to handle nearest dirt road or desert turnout.

If taking a totally good car and turning it into a highly customized dune buggy is your sort of thing, this 1999 Corvette has a lot to offer for you. The BaT auction has currently garnered a $15,000 bid, with 5 days left on the clock. We can certainly think of worse ways to spend that money, and none of them will draw as much attention.

Image via Bring a Trailer.

Written by Lucas Bell

Lucas holds a journalism degree from Wayne State University, and is a Automotive Press Association scholarship recipient. While an American muscle fan through and through, he once wrote a fascinating comparison review about eScooters.

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