The Glass Stripper! 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
I’m not sure what a Glass Stripper is, but if this wicked-looking Corvette drag racer of the same name is any indication, I wouldn’t want to meet one in a dark alley. The 1961 Chevrolet Corvette in Highland, Michigan tore up the 1320 in (at least) Illinois and Florida, and a flyer from its reported final race, the 1973 NHRA Gatornationals, goes to the high bidder. While a host of loose parts also come with the car, it is not represented as complete or original. Still, there’s enough for a talented builder to turn this vintage drag car into something unique and functional even if its days as an up-to-date NHRA competitor are over. The listing here on eBay has at least eight bidders ready to pursue their vision for the damaged drag car. The high bid has surpassed $10,500 with two days left.
Foggy history includes a time when the Glass Stripper ran a 427 cid (7.0 L) Chevy big block, so this nondescript 454 (7.4L) makes a good stand-in even if it’s not built to competition standards.
Chopping a highly-curved top like this Corvette’s should not be done on a whim after powering through a 12-pack of Shlitz. Any chop involves adding and removing material in strategic locations to get pillars and windows to align and work afterwards, but chopping a Volkswagen Beetle top could be considered a graduate class at Hot Rodding U, and this ‘Vette top is highly similar, but in fiberglass.
Whoa, Nellie! This may be the money shot, showcasing the fatties out back and the obviously chopped top. Corvettes are kind of like Elvis. A buddy of mine befriended his janitor over their shared love of Blues music, and when the elderly Custodial Engineer learned John was not a fan of “The King,” Elvis Presley, he said “Elvis is for everyone; you just haven’t heard the right Elvis.” Likewise there is a Corvette for everyone. While not for the Country Club set or road racers, the Glass Stripper’s stance, wheel and tire combo, and giant hood scoop are guaranteed to catch the eye of old-school drag racers and hot-rodders. If you say “I don’t like Corvettes,” you just haven’t seen the right Corvette!
A mishap at the 1973 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida ended the Glass Stripper’s career as a functional racer, and some damage remains. If you think this car should be restored to factory freshness, some vintage racing goons may show up with hammers to play a tune on your kneecaps. While the loose and non-original front clip was merely set on the car for listing photos, imagine pulling into a cruise-in and flipping it forward to reveal a big-block with dual-quad carbs and open exhaust. How would you rebuild this vintage drag car?
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Comments
What is the vin number?
Are there more parts?
Just saying ‘that dog won’t hunt’.
Needs much work.
Good luck on sell 👍
It’s only good for what it’s is, a drag car. It’s in no way restorable
Okay, so what is the vin number?
My 61 was a drag car and although it looked beautiful red/ white coves black gut top down. It was hard to get into . The brakes sucked almost as bad as the steering or vice versa. When i went to sell it an expert told me the truth about a replaced fender a broken frame ect. But the paint was mint as was the black gut, the rear view mirror is by far the coolest followed by a cockpit with that big wheel. But i was glad to get rid of it , this car is really cool, beyond cool with the chop. All the dreamers are going YES!!! All the accountants are going NO!!!
It takes more imagination than mine to picture anything but a relic in this one.
sold, says $14,000. Dont see anything near worth that number. Nothin there but a bent frame and some tired ‘glass. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Excellent car to restore back to a gasser that it once was when it raced only now to drive it on the street and show. Much better than to turn a original C1 or C2 into a gasser. I can see the intent of the former owner chopping the top but it’s too bad now he did.
Except the chopped top is such a unique feature of this car, it makes it stand out against all others.
IF someone has the wherewithal to bring this back to even street rod status, it will be a real attention-getter. I wish good luck to whoever will be taking the time and money to make something of it.
How hard is it to chop a curved windshield?!
Or is the one here built from scratch?!
Plenty of head room in my 62, just wonder about chopping it though?
Had one with 283/ 2-4bbl/ 4-sp … gave a neighbor $1200 for it in 1974 … traded it for a ’55 TBird … who knew back then …
I love this car…. need to have it….😎👍let’s talk.thanks
Just had you described it in you last paragraph. Just like I did to THE WITT KIT. Best kind of corvette. One you can Hear, Smell, and See.
price?