You may not have heard of the 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ‘Barrister’ before but one example is heading to a Mecum Auctions event running from March 16-19.
The Corvette Barrister was the brainchild of famed builder and car customizer George Barris – known for the ’66 Batmobile, among other creations, and while this car started out just like any other ‘Vette from 1969, it looks like an entirely different car.
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Let’s start at the front, shall we? In creating the car, Barris lengthened the frame, meaning it now sports a very long hood. The standard Corvette front bumper, grille, and headlights have all been replaced by components with a more squared shape. The V-shaped windshield frame is also quite unique.
Viewed from the side, the Corvette Barrister looks more like a classic Cadillac than it does a Chevy and includes side-exiting tailpipes and mesh-style chrome wheels. This particular example also has a two-tone finish with the upper half of the bodywork painted blue while the lower half is finished in white.
The rear is also a real head-turner due to the unique taillights, tonneau cover, and chrome-finished components.
Driving the car is a 350 cubic-inch V8 engine coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission and powering the rear wheels. It also sports four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel hydraulic ventilated disc brakes.
It is claimed that George Barris built just 7 examples of the Corvette Barrister and that this one is number 2. The Mecum Auctions listing makes no mention of how many miles the car has under its hood, nor does it provide us with a pre-auction estimate. However, a look online reveals that Bonhams sold a black and gold Corvette Barrister for $51,520 in April 2019.