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Corvette Corvette Scaglietti 1959



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Corvette Corvette Scaglietti 1959


Scaglietti - "Corvette Italia" Italian styling studio Scaglietti in Modeno, Italy created custom aluminum coach work hand crafted to follow the Scaglietti Ferrari's long hooded Tour de France GT model.The project was developed by Gary Laughlin, a Texas oil-developer and amateur racer, in collaboration with Jim Hall and Carroll Shelby. Laughlin funded the project to create 3 lightweight racers based on the 1959 Corvette running gear.

Carroll presented his completed concept to General Motors' vice president Harley Earl and chief engineer Ed Cole, who liked the car and approved of the idea.

Two of the three cars made had automatics and one a four-speed. Chevrolet stopped the project, citing reluctance to interrupt the assembly line to produce additional chassis without complete bodies as requested by Laughlin.

The chassis were standard stock 1959 Corvette, including the entire braking and suspension systems, all factory components, excluding the fuel cell.

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Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

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Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

The 283-cubic-inch V8 puts out 315 horsepower and features the Rochester fuel injection system. The gearbox is a 4-speed Borg-Warner T-10 with a Hurst shifter and linkage.

Following classic Italian tradition, all three Corvettes had aluminum-paneled bodies that were individually handmade, using hammers and dollies. Gauging the shape by eye, the Italian artisans slowly sculpted every panel by pounding flat sheets of aluminum with large wooden mallets.Other Italian designed trademarks include a metal dashboard covered in a satin black crackle finish, a Nardi wood steering wheel, twin Ansa exhaust and Borrani cross-laced wire wheels. The badge design is a combination of Scaglietti's rectangular logo and the Corvette's crossed flags showcases this rare American-Italian partnership to all.

The final car besides being bestowed with a uniquely shaped body, is a '59 Corvette that is 400 pounds lighter in weight than the US made Corvette. None of the cars were ever raced and Shelby later looked to England and Ford to develop a race car to his specifications.

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Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

Lad
Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

Lad
Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

Lad
Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, CA, 2009
Hillsborough, Californa

Lad
Corvette Scaglietti 1959

Corvette Scaglietti 1959
Hillsborough Concours, CA, 2009

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CLICK HERE
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Corvette Scaglietti Coupe 1959
with   Alloy Body

Corvette Scaglietti Coupe 1959
Alloy Body
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Pebble Beach, California, 2008

Descriptive Poster For This Car - JPG file

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Corvette Scaglietti Design 1959

Corvette Scaglietti Design 1959
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Pebble Beach, California, 2008

CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE




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