1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

[Steve B.]

Got this video in an email from Corvette Market a few weeks back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jc4Wqp1IVo

I hadn't heard of these cars before, let alone the ties to Carol Shelby. Anyone know where they are now? I did some googling and a lot of the info out there in cyberspace seems to be conflicting. Looks like the blue one is in the Peterson Museum (and has paid a visit to Pebble Beach) and the other 2 are overseas?

Anyone have any more information on the history of these cars?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

I remember a Restorer story about them -- back a ways. Someone with the CD might be able to look up the story.

[Arland D.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

A friend of mine offered to bring the Scaglietti that was shown at Pebble Beach to the 2009 NCRS National Convention (year of the '59 theme) but the offer was not well received. Very nice, interesting car that went through a very thorough restoration.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

I had the opportunity in the late 80's and early 90's to buy/sell parts to all 3 of those cars. One was raced at Laguna Seca in 87. Still have a heater ass'y for one of the overseas cars. At that time (20years ago) the owner didn't want it. Interesting cars!

[Steve B.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

Having a Scaglietti at the national would have been really neat. Too bad it didn't pan out.

Anyone have photos from Laguna in '87? I can only imagine what one of those cars would look like running through the corkscrew!

[Steven B.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

From '89-'96 we lived in Colleyville, TX. about a mile from a great fellow named Hudiburg, the family who owned Hudiburg Chevrolet that was located in Grapevine, TX in '59. Per his recollection 3 running chassis were ordered through the dealership, two 4 speeds and a PG, and shipped from Chevy to Italy to have bodies mounted. Shelby was to receive one of them. Somewhere around here I have our conversation documented and will try to find it. He was a bit preoccupied at the time as the 2 lane road past our houses was planned to become a 4 lane. I can't remember which publication but there was a story published on the cars and their history 25-30 years ago with names, etc. I was fortunate to see one of the cars years ago.

Steve

[Bill M.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

Road and Track February 1991 has a detailed article covering all 3 cars. At that time, one was in Japan, one in Paris, and one in the US.

Another intersting tidbit: The automatic car went to Jim Hall. It had the Corvette toothy grille. (This car is now in Paris minus the automatic and toothy grille.)

Corvette Quarterly did a story on the Paris car. The article is "Corvette Italian Style". (They don't date the pages, so I don't know when it was published.)

[Nicholas L.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

I believe Corvette Mike in California had one for sale a few years ago.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

I rebuilt the FI unit on one of those cars in about 1981. Nice older gentleman and his wife brought the car in and told me to drive it for a week or so after I was finished with the FI unit.
It was silver with a 4 speed and a 3.08 rear. That's about all I remember about the car.

They lived somewhere around Downers Grove, Il.

[John H.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

All three cars are now back in the U.S. The #1 red fuelie 4-speed car (now owned by Bud Lyon after a re-restoration by the Paul Russell Co.) and the #3 blue 2x4 Powerglide car, also flawlessly restored recently, were shown last summer at a local concours in California.

[George J.]

Re: 1959 Scaglietti Bodied Corvettes

All three cars are now back in the U.S. The #1 red fuelie 4-speed car (now owned by Bud Lyon after a re-restoration by the Paul Russell Co.) and the #3 blue 2x4 Powerglide car, also flawlessly restored recently, were shown last summer at a local concours in California.

John,
glad someone like Bud has one of these. What a nice gentleman.

George