Function above Form: Chevrolet Corvette C5 gets reincarnated as an off-road buggy

This off-road monstrosity is actually a C5 Chevy Corvette at heart, and it is currently available for purchase in Arizona, USA.

The 1999 donor vehicle was stripped clean of its expensive GFRP body and shortened at both ends. A robust external frame made of welded DOM pipes was added to compensate for the loss of rigidity. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon supplied the front bumper, while Hella provided the LED lighting.

Noteworthy technical upgrades include completely remade suspension, massive towing eyes at the front end, short-throw gear stick, and fire extinguisher tucked in behind the driver’s seat. The 17-inch wheels stem from the C5 Corvette Z06, and giant Firestone Destination MT2 tires measure 265/70 front and 285/70 rear.

The rather unsightly conversion still comes powered by its usual 5.7-liter V8 rated at 345 hp (257 kW). The tuner mentions a new exhaust manifold, distribution shaft, catalysts etc., but provides no information on how these upgrades affect the performance.