At the Carlisle show this year I saw a C5 corvette customized to a C1 like body style. I understand the conversion is done in California, but I could find no other information. Does someone know a web site or contact number. Thanks.
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Re: C5 conversion
www.aatcars.com 248-852-2900 -
Re: C5 conversion
Two of the C5/C1 conversions were at Monterey, one at the NCRS National Convention and both at the Historic Races at Laguna Seca.
Fit and finish are excellent, beautiful cars. I only heard one negative comment. Most people said that is the car GM should have made for the 50th.
VerleComment
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Re: C5 conversion
i think the problem for GM would be all the goverment tests it would have to submit the car to would be too expensive to be practial. this small mfg does not have to go thru these tests. they must have GM blessing to build this car i would guess.Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
I was told the changes are bolt on "skin" only. All of the C5 safety equipment is in place.
VerleComment
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Re: C5 conversion
A.A.T. (Advanced Automotive Technologies) is in Auburn Hills, Michigan - about 20 miles northwest of Detroit.Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
The only certification AAT had to do was a bumper damage hit - none of the other safety systems are altered. AAT is SWAMPED with orders - drop your C5 off with a check for $29,995 and pick it up two weeks later. The marketing geniuses at GM (while Zarrella was still in charge with his gang of sunglasses-and-toothpaste marketers) weren't interested in doing it as a "drop-ship" conversion, as "nobody would want one of those"; same guys that dreamed up the 50th Anniversary version of the Corvette (who had obviously never seen a '53 Corvette and had no knowledge whatsoever of Corvette heritage). Fortunately, they're all gone now, but it's too late to make a REAL 50th Anniversary car that means something. Most people who ordered 50th cars from our local dealers cancelled them when they found out it was just another red Corvette with fancy shock absorbers - DUH!Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
john, if GM did this would not they have to do the 50,000 mile cafe/emission deal?Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
Clem -
No, the powertrain isn't altered during the conversion, and it's already EPA-certified in that weight class; re-certification is only required if emission-related components are altered or enough weight is added to take it to the next higher weight class. Those are the rules if GM was doing it in-house; an outside conversion house (like AAT) can pretty much do anything they want, as they aren't classified as the original "manufacturer", and they aren't "selling" the car - just converting it. AAT did the bumper hit early in the program when they anticipated GM approving the conversion as a "drop-ship" option in exchange for GM funding the body panel molds, as they knew GM wouldn't approve it otherwise. Of course, as we know now, GM "wasn't interested" at the time, and AAT (Steve Pasteiner) found private funding for the molds and went ahead on his own.Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
Thanks for the help and comments. I agree with John that the car would have made a wonderful 50th for Chevrolet. I contacted the folks at ATT today, thanks to your help, and made arrangements to send my car for the work. We also own a 57, 63, and 72. We love the older body styles. This conversion was the car we wanted for the 50th.Comment
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Re: C5 conversion
I was not all that jazzed from seeing pictures of the car, but seeing it for real in Monterey changed my mind. It's a real eye-catching and classy piece.
Too bad GM didn't endorse it, but then they would have been criticized for exploiting the market by offering and eighty thousand dollar 50th anniversary Corvette.
No matter how GM handed the mythical 50th anniversary Corvette, they were bound to be criticized, so they took the easy road out by offering a rather uninspiring 50th anniversary model that isn't too big a ripoff.
DukeComment
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Re: C5 conversion
i saw the car at carlisle and i think it looks too long,like a cigar,the tail lights stick out too far and the front end seems to droop. JMHOComment
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Sounds like you're describing a '53 Corvette *NM*
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Re: C5 conversion
I saw the car at Carlisle last weekend and it is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous! I spoke with the woman who owns the car and she said it's $30,000.00 plus a C5 from any year. The company, AAT is in Michigan.
I think, from about 20 feet away, the profile of the front end reminds me of a Jaguar E-Type a little.
Either way, i'm now trying to figure out how to get one!
The car is simply beautiful!
JDComment
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