Why This One-off Steel-bodied Corvette Looks Suspiciously Ferrari-esque

Within Corvette's storied history lies a little-known variety, 1 that, though American astatine heart, shares a batch of its creation ethos pinch its European contemporaries. Encompassing nan passion and flair of a 1960s Ferrari, this one-off Corvette Rondine was a creation workout by nan famed Italian coachbuilder, Pininfarina.

Based connected a '63 split-window Corvette, nan Rondine ditched nan C2's fiberglass bodywork successful favour of steel. While nan split-window had musculus that defined nan wide creation direction, nan Rondine was each astir being prestigious and understated, which, admittedly, can't beryllium said astir certain different Pininfarina car designs. The Rondine was first shown successful nan 1963 Paris Motor Show, nan aforesaid twelvemonth Chevrolet debuted nan divisive C2-generation Corvette.

The Rondine incorporates respective of Pininfarina's classical creation cues, which you whitethorn person seen connected different cars from nan aforesaid timeline. American designer Tom Tjaarda — whose portfolio includes nan Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, 365 California, and De Tomaso Pantera — took nan lead successful this creation exercise. That's astir apt why nan Rondine looks awfully akin to nan GT 2+2, particularly from nan back. 

If you look closely, there's moreover a hint of Lamborghini 350 GT, which really was a Carrozzeria Touring committee and had thing to do pinch Pininfarina. Even though nan beforehand extremity of this one-off Corvette whitethorn divided opinions, nan rear shouts classical '60s Italiano.

The Rondine greets you pinch a welcoming and, situation we say, less-sculpted beforehand end. The C2's salient fender shapes person been toned down, invoking a consciousness of refinement. Longer beforehand and rear overhangs adhd to nan Rondine's curb appeal, arsenic does nan larger beforehand grille and those unsocial headlamps that now beryllium partially covered nether body-colored eyebrows. It each looks cleanable without losing overmuch of nan C2's ocular aggression. 

But those things are reasonably subjective. What you whitethorn work together upon is that nan Rondine's rear is simply a noticeable betterment successful some shape and function. The split-window, though a unsocial creation feature, had applicable limitations successful nan shape of compromised rear visibility. The Rondine scraps nan thought and goes conventional, utilizing a ample curved windshield, which besides resulted successful its losing nan C2's fastback shape. 

The rear platform is overmuch flatter successful floor plan and incorporates signature Pininfarina styling cues of nan era, for illustration nan slim horizontal taillights. Special mention goes to nan beautiful fold-like creation astatine nan rear. If you were wondering astir nan name, "rondine" is Italian for "swallow," nan bird known for its agelong wings and divided tail.

Mechanically, nan Rondine was beautiful overmuch unchanged from nan modular C2, featuring nan 360-horsepower type of Chevy's 5.4-liter (327 cubic inch) V8 and a four-speed manual transmission. Although nan creation workout was done to wow nan American audience, it didn't do much. So nan Rondine called nan Pininfarina Museum its location until 2008, erstwhile it was auctioned for $1.6 cardinal (some sources declare adjacent to $1.8 million) to a able collector from Connecticut.