Since Chevrolet recreated the Corvette as a mid-engine sports car, it has been compared to a Ferrari. Frequently brought up in those conversations is the epic 360, but it seems that someone in Houston, Texas decided to go one step further. We’re not talking about a body modification or a custom build. We’re discussing a Corvette with Ferrari insignia. numerous medals.
This was noticed by Motor1 at Ferrari Chat, who then shared some pictures with us. As you might expect, this started a lively debate in the forums. Unmistakably, this is a C8 Corvette, and more particularly, a Stingray coupe. It is mounted on original equipment five-spoke Stingray trident wheels. It has Stingray side intakes, a Stingray snout, and square Stingray exhaust tips at the back. However, the owner has removed all Chevrolet branding in favour of Ferrari shields and badges, for reasons that are totally unknown.
Just below the third brake light, the Prancing Horse is prominently displayed on the back fascia, wheel centers, and fenders. There is a Ferrari badge on the engine cover, Ferrari-branded brake callipers are yellow, and more images at Ferrari Chat show Corvette C8 seats that have been reupholstered in yellow with additional Ferrari branding. In other words, someone spent a respectable sum of money attempting to pass off this Corvette as not just a different model or equipment level, but as a completely different brand of car. The fact that this mystery ‘Vette has a dealership licence plate on the rear only heightens our perplexed curiosity.
We won’t participate in a debate about replica and vehicle badges. Car customization always comes down to personal choice, and enthusiasts come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of tastes and passions. It’s not unusual to see some inventive badging on customised cars, but there are a few things about this fake Ferrari that catch our eye.
First off, it’s a C8 Corvette Stingray, which is already very impressive and very fast. Bolting on a body package and some go-fast components can occasionally result in some rebadging, but from what we can tell, it’s stock. It’s also not exactly a cheap vehicle; a quick search on duPont Registry reveals that used Stingrays are still going for around $100,000. You could truly purchase a Ferrari 360 for that amount, complete with badges.
To each his or her own. However, unless the windshield, engine cover, taillights, headlights, centre speaker grille, and roughly a dozen other items with small Corvette emblems embedded in them are replaced, this vehicle will still be filled with traces of its Detroit origins. If the owner is still alive, we’d be very interested to learn what led to this strange automotive identity problem.