Corvette Model Gallery

1973 Aerovette

While Corvette’s flirtation with mid engine cars did not begin or end with the Aerovette this is the closest one ever came to seeing production.

It began life as the XP-882 Four Rotor Wankel but was redesigned in early 1973 under the supervision of Chuck Jordan (head of design). It was also re-equipped with a V-8 while development continued on the Wankel program. The car was a dramatic departure from the conventional sports cars of this era with its slippery exterior, 72 degree sloped windshield and unique bifold gullwing doors. Inside comfortable sloped seats faced a shiny black instrument pod which would light up with digital information on start-up, a feature that would not see production till the C4, over ten years later.

The Aerovette was the right car but at the wrong time. While it had the support of many of the GM and Corvette leadership many of these individuals were at the ends of their careers and ultimately more conservative and traditional thinking would prevail. The Wankel program would be shelved and the Aerovette would never be more than a glimpse of what might have been...

The model:
Velics Janos from Hungary built this AeroVette with working gullwing doors from the Revell-Monogram Kit, # 85-7638, scale 1:25. 

Velics' comments :" I not only missed this handsome model from my collection but I found the task to prepare the bi-fold Gullwing-type doors workable very attractive.
First I made an accurate drawing about the door structure. I made the hinges of door and the A-pillar from brass wire, glued inside on door and body, than scraped the lines of door free. I cut same way the side glasses from windshield and glued on upper part of door at the end of assembly. I glued the interior panels of door on lower part. In the further steps I followed mainly the instructions of kit apart from some alterations:
- I made some additional parts to model as pedals and inside mirror, wiring and tubing on engine, door sealing profile
- I followed the advise of Robert Wheeler and glued the front and rear valance panels to body before painting
- I scratched the bumpers lines on underside of valance panels
- as I didn`t find any paint Platinum Metallic I mixed 90% Aluminum and 10% Titanium Metallic from Testors for paintjob
- the steering-wheel was set to high - the upper edge of steering-wheel should be nearly on same height as the top of dashboard"

If you would like to contact Velic  on this model his e-mail address is:  velicsj@axelero.hu

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Page updated  10/28/04