Corvette Wagons and other Oddities

Posted November 17 2006 07:22 AM by presidential
Filed under: Corvette Style & Trends, Auto Body Work

Just the other day, I was thinking about how trends come and go in the automotive world when an old picture popped into my mind. It was of an old Kamm-back Corvette. Whatever happened to these old cars? What ever happened to this trend? Personally, I've always thought that wagons are cool (that old British term "shooting brake" comes to mind for a 2 door sporty wagon), but I really don't think Corvette and wagon belong in the same sentence regardless of the quality of execution.

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So what do you think? Is there a place for a "Vettamino" (Corvette + El Camino) or a Vette Wagon? I'm not too sure. I'm partial to the coupe and droptop being the only offerings despite the creativity involved with such conversions.

Reader Comments:

1. Interesting that you should choose this picture. It is of the John Greenwood Sportwagon as it appeared in 1977 (built on a '75 coupe) and is the only one built by Greenwood. I own this car. Kits were made from this prototype and sold via ACI and Eckler's, with a total of about two dozen in existence.
The Sportwagon is either loved or hated, depending on who you talk to. The execution is as well done as if it came from GM and its origins are questioned by even the most fervent of Vette enthusiasts. I'm not sure why the Sportwagon was never as popular as it should've been considering the extensive cargo capacity and ease of access to it through the opening rear window. As told by John, it made a great vacation vehicle, especially when he loaded it with his beach gear and two young sons. Of course the elimination of the notchback in '78 gave Vette owners more cargo space, but access to it wasn't much easier. The C4s, C5s, and C6s all have opening hatches so the primary advantage of a Vette 'wagon has been add

Sportin - Posted November 30 2006 11:01 AM

2. I liked the Sportswagon conversion since it looked factory. If Chevrolet had built a Corvette wagon, I expect that is what it would have looked like.

Do you have any current pictures of the car? I'd love to see them and put them up here.

presidential - Posted December 1 2006 10:36 AM

3. Actually I'm not sure this is the first
Corvette Wagon built by Greenwood
There is a earlier Corvette with what looks like an identical conversion on it in San Francisco East Bay Area, Only the front end has been Modified by Harry Bradley and includes 6 rectangular headlights recessed into the front end, Unless Bradley did this wagon first, But that wouldnt surprise me knowing his reputation for designing and building custom cars and also being the original designer for Hot Wheels, We have been told that this car apperared on the cover of a magazine back in the early to mid 70's, I have been looking for this magazine on the internet recently to purchase it and give it to my friend for christmas, Any Ideas where I might find one
He has the article but not the magazine
And I dont know who published it
But it has Harry Bradley listed as the builder
Thanks in advance
Widgits

widgits - Posted December 1 2006 04:04 PM

4. There was a Vette 'wagon design prior to this one but wasn't a Greenwood. It was designed for the chrome-bumpered Sharks, had narrow side windows (and a windowless Panelwagon), and the rear didn''t open. Kits were sold thru Eckler's. The only 'wagon I've seen with 6 headlights was based on the Greenwood kit. You can see pix of this car and several other replicas and the whole poop on the Greenwood cars on the Greenwood website here: http://greenwoodcorvettes.com/StreetSportwagon.html Hit the Gallery and then the Replicas buttons to see pix. Click on a pic for an enlargement. Feel free to borrow all you want.

Sportin - Posted December 3 2006 10:17 AM

5. There are more current pix of my car as it appeared at Corvettes at Carlisle 2004 for the Greenwood Reunion: http://greenwoodcorvettes.com/Chips2.html
For original sales literature, hit the Promotional button, then Literature:C3

Sportin - Posted December 3 2006 10:27 AM

6. Awesome, thanks guys. I'm digging around and trying to get something for at least online content, if not something for the magazine.

Craig

presidential - Posted December 5 2006 11:25 AM

7. The "VetteWagon" got me to thinking back to the 70s when they were somewhat popular. But then I remembered reading a story, probably in one of the 'big-three'car mags then (R&T, C&D, or MT, and there was a story and a full test of a mid 70s Vette that the owner had put a turbine engine into. It was not done to race, he was actually trying to prove that such a car could be built, and used as a daily driver, but an even better interstate "landmissle", a perfectly stock looking Vette that ran on the then cheap diesel fuel, and would give a fast, comfortable, quiet ride over hundreds of miles of interstate at a time. I wish I could remember more. I do remember that the tests the mag did were all with good results, and that the two biggest problems were the rear exhaust vent, that ran the width of the back end, below the bumper line and only about 4 inches tall, would get so hot that if a car behind you got too close at a stop light, you could melt their paint. The other was, out in the middle of nowhere, if it br

pinecreek - Posted December 6 2006 09:15 AM

8. Back in 1979, Pontiac made a car they called the Trans-Port, which was a 1979 Trans-Am with the same sort of rear wagon set up on it. You can see it in some of the pictures of other cars in the GM prototype/show cars museum storage warehouse.

pinecreek - Posted December 6 2006 09:19 AM

9. Widgits,
About 3 years ago I purchased the Harry Bradley Corvette wagon, and it is a 1973 coupe that transformed to a wagon with 6 rectangular headlights with an ice blue paint.
The car took 3 years to build and cost $25K back then.

I located 3 magazines and 1 book in it.
Super Chevy Oct 1978 (front cover)
Keepin' Track March 1980 (front cover)
Corvette News, Summer Issue 1982 (great article of Harry Bradley)
"Corvette" an American Classic (Petersen’s Deluxe Series Book) published 1978

I'm in the process of restoring it to its original condition.
And hopefully will have it done next year.

If you or anyone else has any addition information on this one of a kind wagon pls. leave a blog.
Thanks
Vettewagon

CorvetteWagon - Posted July 9 2007 09:00 AM

10. I've still got one of the sportwagons. I bought the kit thru Ecklers back in 1981 or so. I had a 1976 vette that had been hit in the rear so I cut off the remaining fiberglass and installed the kit. You can see the car at http://greenwoodcorvettes.com/GallerySportwagonReplicas.html I'm the guy standing next to the blue one about half way down the page. I did quite a few modifications to the car but if you'd like to hear more about it or see some more pictures let me know.

vettewagon - Posted July 18 2007 02:58 PM

11. i have an eklers corvette wagon 1969 with 427 4 speed,i also bought a back off a wrecked wagon from ontario,i posted some pics of my car on this site hope you enjoy them.i also have many mags from the early 70s on these cars anyone wanting info or copies of mag articles email me at taylorwood1@hotmail.com

taylorwood1 - Posted December 15 2007 09:58 PM

12. Hi all! I work with a great company here in Niagara Falls, Canada and we are presenting our "Queen Bee" Vettewagon at this coming Carlisle Corvette Show- we specialise in replacement frames for the 1963 -1982. Please visit us on our website to learn more- www.colliertechnologies.com
we will be on Manufacturers'Alley-
Nancy
Sales & Mkg Mgr
Collier Technologies

Nancyl - Posted August 11 2008 10:41 AM

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