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This is one of three 1959 Corvette chassis sent to Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Maranello, Italy, to get lightweight alloy bodies. The new design by Sergio Scaglietti was the project of three Texas-based racers - Gary Laughlin, Jim Hall, and Carroll Shelby - who were trying to beat Ferrari at their own game; they wanted to create an inexpensive, lightweight sports racing car with Chevrolet power. Their intention was to race these cars against the likes of the Ferrari 250 GTOs and the 250 SWB Berlinettas.
Three Corvette chassis were purchased, two with four-speed manual transmissions and one with Chevy's two-speed Powerglide. They enlisted the services of Scaglietti who created aluminum bodies taking styling cues from Ferrari's landmark 250 GT. Scaglietti's biggest customer, Enzo Ferrari, was not pleased. Consequently, the car took more than two years to complete and the project failed. This is perhaps the Cobra that should have been, but the Texas trio eventually turned their attention to other cars including Carroll Shelby's hugely successful AC Cobra project.
The concept was to use an inexpensive, reliable American drive train mated with an exotic Italian body. Shelby acquired three Corvette rolling chassis. One with a four-speed transmission and the others with the Powerglide, all had the standard 283 cubic-inch engine. With the help of American Perter Coltran, of Modena, Italy, a connection was established with coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti. His design incorporated many features found on the Ferraris being built at the same facility at the time.
Progress on the three cars went very slowly, taking 18 months to complete car number 1. Cars #2 and #3 were completed in the USA. This is the 3rd and last Scaglietti Corvette. This Scaglietti Corvette has the 270 hp Chevrolet 283 V-8 and Powerglide transmission.
People's
Shelby carried on, and his Cobras took the fight to Enzo Ferrari, winning the GT World Championship on July 4, 1965. Hall's Chevy-powered Chaparrals changed sports car racing forever, winning national titles, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and a pair of World Sports Car Championship races in 1966 and 1967.
Three Corvette chassis were purchased, two with four-speed manual transmissions and one with Chevy's two-speed Powerglide. They enlisted the services of Scaglietti who created aluminum bodies taking styling cues from Ferrari's landmark 250 GT. Scaglietti's biggest customer, Enzo Ferrari, was not pleased. Consequently, the car took more than two years to complete and the project failed. This is perhaps the Cobra that should have been, but the Texas trio eventually turned their attention to other cars including Carroll Shelby's hugely successful AC Cobra project.
The concept was to use an inexpensive, reliable American drive train mated with an exotic Italian body. Shelby acquired three Corvette rolling chassis. One with a four-speed transmission and the others with the Powerglide, all had the standard 283 cubic-inch engine. With the help of American Perter Coltran, of Modena, Italy, a connection was established with coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti. His design incorporated many features found on the Ferraris being built at the same facility at the time.
Progress on the three cars went very slowly, taking 18 months to complete car number 1. Cars #2 and #3 were completed in the USA. This is the 3rd and last Scaglietti Corvette. This Scaglietti Corvette has the 270 hp Chevrolet 283 V-8 and Powerglide transmission.
People's
Shelby carried on, and his Cobras took the fight to Enzo Ferrari, winning the GT World Championship on July 4, 1965. Hall's Chevy-powered Chaparrals changed sports car racing forever, winning national titles, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and a pair of World Sports Car Championship races in 1966 and 1967.
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Recent Sales of the Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe
(Data based on Model Year 1959 sales)
Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupes That Failed To Sell At Auction
1959 Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe By Scaglietti | J59S102405 | 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | $600,000 | $800,000 |
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1959 Chevrolet Corvette Scaglietti Coupe
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