1961 X53L Barn Discovery

[Tom R.]

Working with an editor, he passed this find along and curious if our historians can offer some historical insights.



Your take?

Corvette 1.jpg

Corvette 2.jpg

Corvette 3.jpg

Corvette 4.jpg

[Tom H.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

If Harvey Earl hated it............ I'm sure Harley Earl would have hated it too !! I think this car has been discussed before.

[Art A.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

My take,FWIW;

• In the late 50s and early 60s time frame Fisher Body had very little, if anything, to do with the design of the Corvette or any other GM vehicle.
• Fisher Body did not have ANY total vehicle designers.
• I would expect to see a Work Order (WO) or Styling Order (SO) number, either stamped or written, on a plate or some of the parts. Both WO and SO #ers were 5 digit numbers and did not have letters like shown.
• Hard to tell form your pictures, does the vehicle pictured have windshield wipers?

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

Harvey, Harley; what ever.

I seem to recall this car/story from somewhere - probably an old magazine or picture book. The name is definitely familiar, but I don't recall this as being a Pontiac venture. I think it was just a Pinin Farina (sp?) body, yet I believe the name is Spanish instead of Italian.

Stu Fox

[Tom D.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

Stu:

Check out the Pininfarina web site. Some history sections, grouped by decade.

Note Turin, Turino, etc.

Tom

http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/timeline/1960

http://www.pininfarina.com/index/sto...razioni/collGM (deals with past GM work.)

[Tom H.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

My thoughts were that this was just somebody's custom from the 60's. Not a styling car at all. Am I wrong on this ?

[John H.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

Is the body fiberglass or aluminum? Italian coachbuilders did their one-offs in aluminum.

[Stan E.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

Tom can see the vette inside!

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

The more I look at it, I'd have to agree with Tom that it is just someones attempt at customizing a C-1 - a "Barris" wannaby.

Stu Fox

[Tom R.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

I'll do some follow up questions based on comments from above

[Mike M.]

Re: 1961 X53L Barn Discovery

The front bears a striking resemblance to the PF designed 250GTL "Lusso"
of the early '60's, Enzo's favorite car.
HaND