1963 Corvette Rondine Concept

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I was there...

The world’s only 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Speciale Rondine was sold for $1,600,000 during the 37th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in January 2008, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Penned by design legend Tom Tjaarda while he was at the world renown Pininfarina design house in Italy, the Corvette Rondine was built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show. After its conception, the Rondine Concept remained in the collection for almost 45 years and was shown only on very few occasions.

Based on the 1963 Corvette C2 chassis, the Rondine featured a classic Pininfarina body with strong Italian influence. The front end sloped forward along a smooth curve that ended with a thin, horizontal chrome grille that provided air to the engine. This was an attractive yet practical design element to keep the engine cool. A sharp line originating from the grille accented the side panel. The angle ran along the front fender, through the side of the car and ended at the crest of the rear fender, giving the Rondine a slender, European look.

The rear end featured the celebrated "swallow tail" arrangement, which minimized the visibility of the car’s tail due to projecting rear fenders. Under the hood was a 327 CID, fuel injected V8 that produced 360 horsepower hooked to a 4-speed manual transmission. The Rondine’s interior featured the original white leather and comfortable wrap around seats.