MOTV8 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 The XP-819, developed in the mid-1960s, was an engineering exercise to test a rear engine concept for the Corvette. The body was designed by Larry Shinoda. You can see styling cues in XP-819 that later appeared in Shinoda's famed "Sting Ray" design. A GM marine engine powers the car so the two-speed transaxle would operate properly. The entire chassis, suspension, and steering are custom made components unique to this car. Actually, the XP-819 was the result of a clash between Zora Arkus-Duntov and engineer Frank Winchell, who'd been involved with the Corvair project. Winchell contended that you could make a balanced, rear-engine, V-8 powered sports car by using an aluminum engine and larger tires on the rear to compensate for the rear weight bias. Duntov adamantly disagreed. A loose design was drawn that received some very unflattering comments from Duntov and Dave McLellan. Winchell asked designer Larry Shinoda if he could make something beautiful with the layout, to which Shinoda told him that a tape drawing could be shown after lunch. Shinoda and designer John Schinella sketched out the basic shape shown here. Duntov asked Shinoda, "Where did you cheat?". It didn't look "too bad", so a working prototype was ordered. Shinoda supervised the styling and Larry Nies' team of fabricators built the car. In only two months the XP-819 was on the test track. It turned out that Winchell's theory about rear-engine, V-8 cars didn't work out very well. However, Shinoda's design was well received. They were obviously into the "shark thing" and picked up styling points from the Chaparral cars. It even had wheels from a Chaparral. This car was definitely a Corvette, even though the back end was big. Unfortunately, with all that weight behind the rear axle, it was only a matter of time before it crashed during a high-speed lane change test. Paul vanValkenberg crashed it because he put the same (standard) size Corvette rim on the car front and rear and then wet down the track and went out and lost it. He bounced it off the wall a couple of times and pretty well wrecked it. It was then sent off to Smokey Yunik, where it was later found. The chassis was cut in half and usable parts were removed. What was left was stored in an unused paint booth as just "old junk." Years later, a Corvette collector was buying some parts from Yunick and offered to buy the junked XP-819. So the pile of car scrap was rebuilt and finished as a streetable car, like a kit car. A cast-iron V-8 was used in place of the original all-aluminum engine. We're talking serious rear weight bias here. It's quick and now does awesome wheelies! The car is now owned by Mike Yager of Mid America Motorworks and he's gonna show it off at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Now thats a really neat Vette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Fangs Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks for sharing that. It was a cool read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Keen, nifty and swell.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Y Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 It reminds me of a Ferrari Dino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamMeh Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Great read! Thanks for sharing that That tunnel rear window sure does look cool - not that I'm biased or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 ..... and now does awesome wheelies! That was my first thought.. Can you see us now, everyone bragging about thier longest wheelie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest badbobs95 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 All it needs are some "stickers", right Chris? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 ..... and now does awesome wheelies! That was my first thought.. Can you see us now, everyone bragging about thier longest wheelie... Yup! Victor and Tom would be tryin to get on the National "list" for longest wheelstand while the rest of us fat asses would be realizing a major diet is needed. And it's "their" - go ahead, blame your broken capitate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastC3 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 interesting bit of history ..... thx for postin up !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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