- The C5 Corvette Is Actually Pretty Darn Capable Off-Road
- Different Route
- Quick and Dirty
- Rally Like
- One Disadvantage?
- Surprising Performance
- New Trend?
The C5 Corvette Is Actually Pretty Darn Capable Off-Road
Yet another thing the C5 Corvette is good at.
Different Route
The C5 Corvette has earned a reputation for being a super cheap yet super capable performance vehicle on the used car market. One can pick up a C5 for pennies on the dollar these days, which is precisely why lots of folks do just that, and then proceed to transform them into drag racers, autocross rigs, and even go-karts. But YouTuber Westin Champlin went a completely different route recently by turning this C5 into a lifted, big-tired off-roader.
Quick and Dirty
This time around, however, Champlin didn’t build this wild machine himself – rather, he got it from fellow YouTuber ZerotoSixty. As one might imagine, it started as a cheap C5, a base to which the builder added a four-inch lift and a set of 33-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires. However, it didn’t stick around for long, as the owner soon listed it for sale for a mere $8,500.
Rally Like
Champlin was more than happy to shell out that small amount of money for the massively fun C5 off-road rig, and he went right to work enjoying it on the trails. It instantly brings a smile to his face, and he notes that piloting this thing through the dirt is a lot like driving a rally car of sorts, which makes a lot of sense.
One Disadvantage?
There are a lot of reasons why the Corvette makes a competent off-roader, including the fact that it’s relatively light yet powerful, with enough juice on tap to turn those large tires. However, it’s also rear-wheel-drive, which could prove to be somewhat of a disadvantage, at least in low-speed, obstacle-climbing situations.
Surprising Performance
Those weaknesses don’t show up in this run, however, as the lifted sports car proves to be more than capable of ripping up the dirt trails at high speed, kicking its tail out on command. It’s truly impressive in that regard, which is somewhat surprising given the fact that the C5 wasn’t exactly designed to do such things.
New Trend?
The real question is – will this successful project lead to a new trend, where people convert C5 Corvettes into off-road rigs? We’re not so sure that will be the case, even with the popularity of off-roading soaring in recent years. Regardless, it’s good to know that if you want to do something different, these cars can be just as fun off the pavement as they are on it.
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