1968 Chevrolet Corvette Sportwagon with 572

A 1968 Chevrolet Corvette, extensively modified into a rare Sportwagon shooting brake, is now for sale. The car, listed from Timberlake, North Carolina, is powered by a 572 cubic inch Chevrolet ZZ572 V8 rated at 621 bhp and 645 lb ft of torque.

According to the source report from Silodrome, the vehicle began life as a convertible. Its most significant modifications are the Eckler's-style Sportwagon roof conversion and the massive crate engine. A Richmond 5-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels.

The Sportwagon's Motown Origin

The Corvette Sportwagon concept originated in 1971. Motown drummer Uriel Jones asked customizer Chuck Miller to make his 1968 Corvette more practical for carrying his drum kit. Miller, with designer Harry Bentley Bradley, created a fiberglass shooting-brake conversion. Jones's finished "Drum Buggy" won first place at the Detroit Autorama in 1972.

The publicity led Miller to offer conversions as kits or completed cars. Ralph Eckler later produced higher-quality molds, selling the kit through his catalog. This is why many C3 Corvette wagons are called "Eckler's Wagons." Later versions featured an opening rear hatch.

The Greenwood Redesign and Rarity

In 1976, the firm of Corvette racer John Greenwood redesigned the Sportwagon to better suit the later, plastic-bumper C3 Corvettes introduced in 1974. The new design followed the T-top roofline and included a lifting rear hatch. A prototype debuted at the 1976 SEMA Show.

Production numbers for these conversions were extremely low. Surviving estimates suggest roughly 15 to 25 Greenwood-style wagons and period conversions were made. Completed Sportwagons rarely appear on the market.

This Modified 1968 Corvette

This specific car features numerous custom alterations beyond the wagon roof. The body has flared rear fenders, a high-rise cowl-induction hood, and fixed headlights mounted beneath the front bumper. It rides on Keystone 15-inch wheels and has side-exit exhausts.

The 572 cubic inch V8 was rebuilt in 2013. It uses an aluminum single-plane intake and a 1,150 cfm Dominator carburetor. The suspension and four-wheel disc brakes have been upgraded to handle the increased power, with recent work done in 2022.

The sale includes build records, parts literature, period publications, and a clean North Carolina title. The car's history traces back to a custom solution for a drummer's practical need, a legacy that influenced later shooting-brake designs like the Callaway AeroWagen for the C7 Corvette.