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Whether you’re talking about a vintage-styled Meyers Manx or a full-throttle sand rail doesn’t matter. One of the things that makes a dune buggy so much fun is how they feel as they handle many different situations that aren’t necessarily street-centric. The modern-day take on this freedom-loving, outdoorsy view of motoring has been the recent “kart” movement.
We’ve seen all sorts of vehicles chopped down to little more than what’s necessary with the requisite caging installed all in the name of fun. Oddly enough, one vehicle that seems to lend itself to going under the knife is the revered Corvette. With plenty of power on tap and a near 50/50 weight bias, it’s easy to see why America’s favorite sports car lends itself to this type of modification.
The C6 Corvette enjoys an almost perfect 50/50 balance thanks to shifting the trans to the rear of the car in the previous generation. The handling of this beast is likely out of this world and with 400 horsepower on tap, those wide tires should allow for instant acceleration or tire smoke.
In this case, a 2007 Corvette is being offered through St. Louis, Missouri-based exotic and luxury car vendor RP Exotics. The C6 Corvette went under the knife to shed everything that gave it that iconic Corvette appearance but took away from the off-roading fun factor. With all the fancy bits out of the way, a full serving of protective cage was installed to keep its inhabitants safe from everything except the weather.
Still The Same, With Less
While chopping a car down to its base components is a key element in creating any kart worth its weight savings, since this is a Corvette, it still has a surprising list of creature comforts. Of course, there are still those comfy leather seats and the six-speed automatic transmission, which can still be controlled via the paddle-shift steering wheel. But those seats retain their heating elements for those chilly morning commutes, whether by land or by the frozen sea.
The car has almost 98,000 miles on the clock and from what we can tell, what hasn’t been trimmed away is still relatively stock. Of course, that 400-horsepower LS2 engine was fun in a factory-configured Corvette, and we can only imagine what it must be like once you cut away about a third of the car’s weight. Certain components, such as lighting, have been added in the name of safety (and to retain the car’s road-going allowance), but you may need to do some convincing if your state has a hard line on inspections.
What is still there appears relatively stock. The factory steering wheel still has the paddle shifters, all gauges work as intended, and the seats still have their optional heat settings for those chilly mornings!
A case in point is the exhaust. Whereas the factory exhaust snaked its way up over the differential on its way to the rear fascia, this car no longer has the additional rear overhang, so those clunky mufflers and tips went away thanks to a chop saw. Since the easiest place to make the cut was where the pipe was at the top of the loop, you’ll have unrestricted access to the throaty roar of that LS2 engine at every blip of the throttle. How many times have you wished you knew where the guy lived who blasts past your home at all times of the night with an underpowered, obnoxiously-loud vehicle of any sort? We can only imagine how much fun we might have with this ride once we’ve figured out where he hangs his hat at night!
The LS2 engine has proven itself to get great gas mileage while still churning out 400 horsepower. The sound from that engine in this vehicle may raise an eyebrow or two from some governmental officials, but that's part of the appeal to a kart such as this!
You won’t see any wipers on this kart for several reasons. They are not only moot in this situation, but also, trying to shield yourself from the rooster tails of those massive tires would make running the wipers akin to a bilge pump on the Titanic. Even so, this car would still be ridiculously fun when the sun is shining. It may not be the best vehicle for a cross-country trek, but we’d still do it on a bet!
Putting A Value To Your Freedom?
That big wing out-back likely adds more whimsy and balance to the build than it does downforce, but we like it anyway. If you’re considering the overall value of a Corvette modified such as this, then beauty is surely in the eye of the beholder. This example is listed at just the cost of a burger under twenty-grand. While the fun you can have may be priceless, that’s about how much you can get a similar mileage C6 of the same year that hasn’t gone under the knife. Only you can decide if you prefer to have an open-air experience or dry all-weather driving for your twenty-Gs. If you value your freedom as you enjoy your daily commute, this is a perfect opportunity and you won’t even have to do any of the modifications!
