Air Force One – Customized 1987 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Antti Kautonen

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Comments

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_12

This 1987 Chevrolet Corvette convertible embraces the ’80sness of the ‘Vette. Everything on it is done over the top, from the purple paint job to the outrageous rear wing. And yes, it actually does say AIR FORCE ONE on it. Like the namesake ’80s sneakers, I love it for the tastelessness of it.

Talking Vettes with fellow scribe Blake “Made in the ’80s, loved by the ladies” Rong, he suggested we start an Ugly Corvette Week. Of course, ugliness, just like awesomeness is in the eye of the beholder, so I’m calling it Awesome Corvette Week. Make what you will of it, but here’s the AF-1 Vette in all its sparkling glory.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one

Everything on the Vette seems to be custom. The hood sports a bulge bigger than a plastic toboggan, and there are NACA ducts both on it and on both sides.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_7

Then there’s the straked cladding. It’s sort of a hint towards Testarossa style side strakes, but wisely kept sensible. Ish.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_10

Three-spoke chrome wheels!

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_8

Gold doorhandles with a Made in the USA emblem underneath – finished in gold with an EAGLE on it. The handles proclaim “Vehicle Protected by Security System.” I hope it’s laser-powered. INTRUDERS ARE ZAPPED TO DEATH.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_3

But the cherry on top of this cherry is the huge rear wing. I don’t care if it’s functional in any way, it’s taller than the windshield or the roof. And it proclaims “CORVETTE” on it.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_5

I can’t help but chuckle at it. Everything on this vehicle is immensely cool. It really isn’t a shrinking violet. There are custom Corvettes out there that look like absolute turds, but the assembly quality here is actually no joke. It’s a clean job.

1987 chevrolet corvette air force one_14

It fits the car extremely well for it to have red leather. Take it to the max. I bid you godspeed, Corvette Air Force One.

[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

About

Antti Kautonen

Antti Kautonen

The resident Finn of Hooniverse. Owns old Peugeots and whatnot, writes long thinkpieces on unloved cars. These two facts might be related.

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35 responses to “Air Force One – Customized 1987 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible”

  1. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    It's awful. It's gawdy. It's tacky.
    I like it.

    Reply
  2. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    How embarrassing. At least it's a convertible, and red leather interiors are sweet in those vettes.

    Reply
  3. Kamil_K Avatar
    Kamil_K

    If you looked up 1980s in the dictionary, that’s what you would see, driven by that annoying kid from Saved by the Bell.

    Reply
  4. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar
    Rust-MyEnemy

    NACA ducts to nowhere! I assume it's an automatic; I'll actually be mildly disappointed if it isn't.

    Reply
    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      I've had it with these motherf*&^'n strakes on this mother*&^'n plane!

      Reply
  5. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    How did all the tacky custom bits for a 3rd gen Camaro end up on a Corvette? The wheels, hood, and Bad Boyz sticker belong on a Camaro. Not sure how the F-40 wing got on there.
    Also, apparently an Elvis fan.

    Reply
  6. Corvette_Poncho Avatar
    Corvette_Poncho

    I don't get the Elvis reference on the wing, but the rest of the car is pure 80s! Should be driven by 90210 cast member while wearing hot pink sunglases, bodyglove shirt and drinking a Zima!

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      The TCB (Takin' Care O' Business) is on the tail of Elvis's aircraft. And not one, but, two, TWO! Corvette emblems on the front. As tackiness goes, this thing is OFF THE HOOK!, as Guy Fieri would say.
      On Elvis's Convair 880, the Lisa MarieLockheed JetStar:
      <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3678306785_2465ce621b.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
    2. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      Zima was a 90s thing (but a "spirit"ual descendant of Bartles & James, Sun Country, and the rest of the 80s wine cooler idiocy).

      Reply
  7. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I'm sorry you had to see that, Antti.

    Reply
  8. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    This is related, but not in any way 80's and not quite as tacky. I totally love the 90's trend of slapping as many (usually checkered flag) graphics as possible on a car to let everyone know how fast your car was. It's totally the bomb, home skillet.
    <img src="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/writers/afrankl/images/corvette_indy_pacecar_1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. IndyPC owner Avatar
      IndyPC owner

      Quite bad example as this one is original Indy Pace Car replica, which got all those stickers from the factory! I had one of those but stickers removed & no yellow wheels anymore -> much cheaper… original with all the stickers & low mileage -> they still ask over $30k for them

      Reply
      1. wisc47 Avatar
        wisc47

        A lot of graphics like this are factory I know, I mean both the manufacture and aftermarket graphics. I suppose I should've clarified.

        Reply
    2. IndyPC owner Avatar
      IndyPC owner

      And by the way, this "air force one" Corvette is just pure puke IMO!

      Reply
  9. MattC Avatar
    MattC

    For a second, I thought the article's tagline was "Air Force Amy's Corvette" …That would have opened up an entirely new line of thought…. As far as the Vettes goes, unless I feel like having some Bartles and James, stroll around with my pastel shirt,sport jacket, pleated pants, shoes (no socks) and sport a permenant 12 O'clock shadow….no thanks

    Reply
  10. scott Avatar
    scott

    If loving you is wrong……………..
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    nope sorry still wrong

    Reply
  11. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    The only thing missing from this rolling stereotype is a set of gold wire wheels.

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      And a dragon.

      Reply
      1. MVEilenstein Avatar
        MVEilenstein

        I saw an old F-150, probably an 85, done up exactly the same way.Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

        Reply
    2. Van_Sarockin Avatar
      Van_Sarockin

      It still needs some kanji across the windshield.

      Reply
  12. mallthus Avatar
    mallthus

    Good to see that tasteless yucks exist in Finland too. What a magnificent exercise in horribleness.

    Reply
  13. Wolfie Avatar
    Wolfie

    Let me remind us all once again. This was a car guys dream.He worked long and hard,or spent a lot of money to realize his dream.
    Who are any of us to make fun of his vision?

    Reply
    1. dead_elvis Avatar
      dead_elvis

      We're the ones that have to look at the result.

      Reply
      1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
        FuzzyPlushroom

        You're both correct, and I've upvoted you both.

        Reply
  14. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    If you wanted a Plymouth Superbird in Plum Crazy Purple… why did you start out with a Corvette?
    <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-phuhT5072KA/T7SSG_HpDYI/AAAAAAAALOM/3XMVWQVdj6I/s1600/1970-Plymouth-Road-Runner-Superbird-Convertible.+-+01.jpg&quot; width=500">
    http://www.oldparkedcars.com/2012/05/1970-plymout…

    Reply
  15. joshwebster84 Avatar
    joshwebster84

    I cannot believe that this exists outside of the American South. What kind of European weirdo would do this?

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      You should see some of the things the Swedes have done with Volvos.
      …On second thought, no, you probably don't want to.

      Reply
  16. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I couldn't hate this more if I had multiple personalities. I don't know how to say 'sorry about your penis' in that country's native language, but if I saw that car, I would learn that phrase immediately.

    Reply
  17. lilpoindexter Avatar
    lilpoindexter

    Let's just make it real clear…No one in the USA drives cars like this, ok?

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      I saw plenty of 3rd gen Camaros that were about like this in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But I haven't seen too many in the last 15 years. Apparently they got exported to Finland.

      Reply
    2. IronBallsMcG Avatar
      IronBallsMcG

      …anymore.

      Reply
      1. dead_elvis Avatar
        dead_elvis

        And for that, we're thankful.

        Reply
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    sales books

    I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this
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    winnerkang.com

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