The Stripped Down Street Rods version of a Chevrolet Corvette is essentially a road going space frame chassis with not much of anything to impede the driver’s experience of being “as one with the road”. It provides a perfect driving experience for someone who loves to drive.
Fast Facts
- Stripped Down Street Rods are the creators of a skeletonized Corvette roadster that does away with bodywork and instead is perhaps best described as a drive on the road space frame chassis.
- Powered by a 7 liter LS7 500 hp V8 this car is a head turner not only because of its unique appearance, but also because of the gorgeous sound it makes.
- The car provides an unimpeded driving experience, about as close as one can get to a motorcycle while still being on four wheels and having steel tubing and four point racing harnesses to protect driver and passenger.
The folks at Stripped Down Street Rods are not aficionados of windows up air-conditioned motoring. Their one concession to the weather is a simple roof and a windscreen – with no windscreen wipers – the Stripped Down Street Rod provides about as much weather proofing as a motorcycle – i.e. none – so if a motorcycle does not need windscreen wipers why would a Stripped Down Street Rod?
A Stripped Down Street Rod is all about delivering a pure driving experience – augmented by it being powered by a 7 liter LS7 500hp V8 engine with all the fun and exhilaration that can deliver. The driving experience is that of sitting in a simple tube frame which provides crash and roll-over protection – but which serves to give a driving experience unimpeded by bodywork.
The driving experience is given its power first by the beautiful sound created by the LS7 V8 which captures the imagination and sets the mood. But the car allows the occupants to see the engine and suspension, wheels and tires, all of which adds to this unusual – even unique – experience.
Perhaps the best way to imagine what this Stripped Down Street Rod delivers is via the videos published on their website via YouTube.
Here is one of their “Ride Along” experience videos to provide a taste of what this car has to offer.
You can find the selection of videos on the Stripped Down Street Rod YouTube Channel if you click here.
This skeletonized sports car is based on a 2009 Corvette Z06 which is said to have had less than 33,000 miles on its odometer.
Its transmission is a six speed manual with a short throw shifter. This is mated to a OEM Z06 torque tube to the rear differential. Brakes are discs all around and fitted with ABS.
Front suspension is fully independent with “A” arms, rear suspension is likewise independent with “A” arms.
Wheels are Corvette Centennial Cup Gloss Black 19×10 inch and are shod with Nitto 275/35ZR19 tires.
The custom tube chassis is made to be reminiscent of the C2 Corvette. It is powder coated in “Illusion Orange” which makes it stand out rather nicely.
Other panels are powder coated in black making a neat visual contrast.
Front lights have been chosen to resemble the C2 Corvette and at the rear are C2 Corvette lights.
For both comfort and safety the seats are tan vinyl racing bucket seats with 4 point harnesses for driver and passenger.
Steering wheel is by MOMO and the instrument panel is an OEM Corvette item.
The car is fitted with marine grade carpet and headliner, so with the supportive seats the ride experience can be expected to be remarkably comfortable.
I think that this is a car I would feel very safe in: it provides protection, including roll-over protection, that looks well designed. I think it is a car that provides an unusual blend of openness and a feeling of being “one with the road” as one gets on a motorcycle, but combined with steel tubing protection wrapped around driver and passenger.
This Stripped Down Street Rod “Corvette” is coming up for sale by Mecum Auctions at their Glendale 2026 sale to be held on Thursday March 19th, 2026.
You will find the sale page for this car if you click here.
You can find the home page for Stripped Down Street Rods if you click here.
If ever there was a car created to be a “fun machine” this one surely is it.
Picture and Media Credits: All photographs courtesy Mecum Auctions. Video courtesy Stripped Down Street Rods.
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
