For such a gorgeous car, the Corvette sure has a lot of off-the-wall (and often hideous) re-creations. Unfortunately, America’s sports car seems to be the ill-fated target for many “creative” visions, most of which probably looked better in theory (like, for example, the Corvette Summer adaptation or this customization-conundrum of a C5).

In the classifieds of the Hemmings marketplace, we came across yet another avant garde member of this collection – a 1982 Corvette Caballista. The spawn of Les Dunham, car-customization extraordinaire, the Caballista stirs a number of different feelings.

The Corvorado.

This redesign is the second of Dunham’s undertakings with the ‘Vette, which began in 1973 when he shamelessly fitted the body of a Cadillac Eldorado on the chassis of a Corvette – titling it the ‘Corvorado’. Despite the Corvorado’s cheesy name, however, the car was actually received rather well, even making an appearance in a classic James Bond film.

His second creation, however, more directly dismantles the beauty of the third-generation ‘Vette. This project, known as the Corvette Caballista, began in 1977 and lasted until 1982. Far beyond the shoddy bodywork of many Corvettes we encounter on the internet, it’s undeniable that a great deal of craftsmanship went into these cars (even the Rolls Royce-esque grills were, in fact, handcrafted by Dunham himself).

But, as purists would undoubtedly argue, the problem with the Caballista is that it attempted to transform the Corvette into something that it simply isn’t. The ‘Vette is a down-to-earth, enthusiast-minded sports car – not an over-the-top, Gatsby-level luxury coach.

Even still, 50 Caballistas were produced and sold for upwards of $65,000, likely to some equally eccentric owners. This one listed on Hemmings is currently asking for $23,900. What do you think – is this a unique classic, worthy of some appreciative collector’s showroom? Or is it nothing more than another failed attempt at “improving” the Corvette’s style? Let us know in the comments below.