By Antti Kautonen
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.
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.
Then there’s the straked cladding. It’s sort of a hint towards Testarossa style side strakes, but wisely kept sensible. Ish.
Three-spoke chrome wheels!
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.
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.
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.
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]
It's awful. It's gawdy. It's tacky.
I like it.
How embarrassing. At least it's a convertible, and red leather interiors are sweet in those vettes.
If you looked up 1980s in the dictionary, that’s what you would see, driven by that annoying kid from Saved by the Bell.
NACA ducts to nowhere! I assume it's an automatic; I'll actually be mildly disappointed if it isn't.
I've had it with these motherf*&^'n strakes on this mother*&^'n plane!
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.
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!
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">
Zima was a 90s thing (but a "spirit"ual descendant of Bartles & James, Sun Country, and the rest of the 80s wine cooler idiocy).
I'm sorry you had to see that, Antti.
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">
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
A lot of graphics like this are factory I know, I mean both the manufacture and aftermarket graphics. I suppose I should've clarified.
And by the way, this "air force one" Corvette is just pure puke IMO!
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
If loving you is wrong……………..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
nope sorry still wrong
The only thing missing from this rolling stereotype is a set of gold wire wheels.
And a dragon.
I saw an old F-150, probably an 85, done up exactly the same way.Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
It still needs some kanji across the windshield.
Good to see that tasteless yucks exist in Finland too. What a magnificent exercise in horribleness.
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?
We're the ones that have to look at the result.
You're both correct, and I've upvoted you both.
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" width=500">
http://www.oldparkedcars.com/2012/05/1970-plymout…
I cannot believe that this exists outside of the American South. What kind of European weirdo would do this?
You should see some of the things the Swedes have done with Volvos.
…On second thought, no, you probably don't want to.
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.
Let's just make it real clear…No one in the USA drives cars like this, ok?
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.
…anymore.
And for that, we're thankful.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
The text in your content seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I
thought I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though!
Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Many thanks
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This paragraph posted at this
site is in fact nice.
I had an animal show up both in Tall Trees and in Great
Plains but I lost both of them since one showed up after my horse had died and I got attacked by a cougar with the other.
It’s risky to go all out in a confrontation ‘ wounds and
broken bones make us prime targets for hunters.
Photos that survive of Perfectionist show an ideal Trakehner.