This 1975 Corvette Sportwagon Is Our Type of Rare
Of the eight generations of Chevrolet Corvette that have arrived since 1953, there is no version less loved than the C3. Introduced in 1968, the third-generation Corvette would face the full brunt of the 1970s oil crisis, and remains a prime example of the Malaise Era slogfest. That said, I don’t think even the most ardent of C3 Corvette haters could dislike this particular example offered for auction by Car & Classic in England. That’s because this 1975 Chevrolet Corvette Greenwood Sportwagon is one of the rarest shooting brakes around.
Any fan of the C3 Corvette will be familiar with the name John Greenwood. The Detroit-born SCCA and IMSA driver helped to keep the Corvette in the heart of enthusiasts during the dark ages of the Malaise era, thanks to his famous widebody race cars. Greenwood’s C3 exploits were so successful that he even garnered unofficial factory support by way of Zora Arkus Duntov. The most famous of these cars was Spirit of Le Mans, which competed in the 24-hour race in 1976.
Greenwood didn’t just build Corvettes for the track, constructing a variety of different street car kits over the years. These ranged from simple body kits on up to tube-chassis monsters. Among those vehicles was the Sportwagon, which transformed the sleek and swooping lines of the sports car into a proper two-door wagon.
The roofline of the Sportwagon is extended rearward, while new glass windows are added along the side. The hatch out back even opens up for easy access to the larger luggage compartment, while a rear spoiler helps accent the look. As the story goes, Greenwood designed such a vehicle so that he could enjoy picnics with his girlfriend. Regardless of the ideation, between 20 and 25 Greenwood Sportwagons were built in-period.
This is allegedly the only example built that features a 2+2 seating layout, though that is a somewhat generous description of the rear seating area. Perhaps more importantly, this is one of only two cars that have survived to this day.
This particular car isn’t currently in a condition fitting of such a historic vehicle. The 5.7-liter V-8 engine and automatic transmission reportedly allow the car to run and drive, though the car is in some dire need of brake work. It isn’t entirely assembled either, though the auction house notes that the removed components are included in the sale. Thankfully, this particular Corvette has extra room in the truck for some parts. The fiberglass bodywork looks largely unharmed by the years, though the paint is starting to let go around the front corners. It’s nothing a trip to the body shop couldn’t address, which a car like this deserves regardless.
The Car & Classic auction for this special Corvette is slated to begin on August 7, though commission bids are currently being accepted. With the story behind this one, I don’t expect it to be as affordable as your average C3. Hopefully we all get to see this thing return to the show circuit in the near future, picnic basket in tow.
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