eBay Find: Anime-Inspired Style Might Make This ’81 C3 Worthwhile

SpeedRacerVette_4It’s always interesting to see what people find inspirational when it comes to their own rides. Some go for the ol’ flame job, like the one we saw on a ’74 coupe last week on Wrecked Vette Wednesday. Others go for a full-blown reimagining of the car, like the one we have here today.

A diagram of the Mach 5 as seen on Speed Racer. Photo credit: jetsetmag.com

Starting life out as a 1981 model, it was decided at some point that merging anime and Corvettes would make for a good idea. The anime in question is none other than Speed Racer, a cartoon that got its start in 1967. The show focused on Gô Mifune, better known as Speed Racer, and his tense yet light-hearted adventures behind the wheel of the Mach 5, a high-tech performance machine packed with gadgets like cutter blades and homing robots.

SpeedRacerVette_2You won’t find anything nearly as cool hidden under the fiberglass shell of this Vette, but as far as nailing down looks and presentation, this gets it pretty close. By way of a body kit, the C3’s natural pontooned front, with its high fenders and pointed nose, were reshaped and given lower-mounted lamps to mirror the Mach 5 as closely as possible.

The same goes for the rear, where the body was stretched on the sides to affect the fins seen on the fictional vehicle. Badging and graphics were added to enhance the car’s presentation and overall appearance, but the drivetrain airs on the side of boring: the stock L-81 V8, fitted with an Edelbrock carburetor and custom exhaust, is all that’s been done to increase horsepower and torque.

The eBay auction has two more days left before it expires, and rests at a bidding high of $35,000 (reserve not met). Does this car fit the profile of a real Speed Racer replica? Or would you rather have seen some more upgrades installed? Pop down below and share your thoughts in the comments section.

SpeedRacerVette_3

About the author

David Chick

David Chick comes to us ready for adventure. With passions that span clean and fast Corvettes all the way to down and dirty off-road vehicles (just ask him about his dream Jurassic Park Explorer), David's eclectic tastes lend well to his multiple automotive writing passions.
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