The Chevrolet Corvette C5 has been the object of many custom modifications throughout the years, from tasteful ones to the more ridiculous.
We don’t really recall seeing one turned into a buggy, though. Until now, that is, as a rather impressive 1999 Chevrolet Corvette Buggy has surfaced on Bring A Trailer. The seller bought the 1999 Corvette fixed-roof coupe in 2019 and immediately set out to transform it into an off-road buggy.
He kept the factory chassis and drivetrain, which means power comes from the stock 345 HP 5.7-liter LS1 V8 paired with a six-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels.
See Also: Meet The Corvettini, A Chopped C5 Corvette That Fits In A Small Garage
The first thing they did was remove the fiberglass body and shorten the front and rear frame rails. The next step was to build an exterior cage from DOM tubing and start adding custom parts. Those include an engine cover, cowl splash shields and rear panels made from 6061-T6 sheet aluminum, as well as a front bumper sourced from a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.
Additionally, the Corvette Buggy received tow hooks, DOT-certified Hella headlamps, a front light bar, LED taillights, a muffler adapted from a 2019 Camaro Z/28, and a fire extinguisher mounted behind the driver.
Interestingly, the Corvette suspension was retained and has been raised using factory adjusters. The 17-inch wheels come from a C5 Corvette Z06 but have been fitted with chunky Firestone Destination MT2 tires sized 265/70 on the front and 285/70 at the back. Because of the wheel and tire modifications, the TPMS, ABS and DSC systems have been disabled – the good thing is there aren’t that many obstacles to hit in the desert.
While the powertrain remains stock, there are some mechanical modifications such as a mild performance camshaft, Kooks long-tube headers, high-flow catalytic converters, a performance clutch, and a relocated battery with a disconnect switch.
The factory interior was kept almost intact as it includes the stock dashboard, console, carpet and seats. The leather upholstery was swapped for a woven cloth, though, and a short-throw shifter has been installed. The seller says the heating and air conditioning are functional, but the radio is not because the doors were removed together with the speakers.
The buggy remains a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette C5 in the papers and is offered with a clean Arizona title in the seller’s name and all receipts from the build. At the time of writing, bidding reached $10,000 but will probably rise until May 5 when the hammer drops.
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