Early DeLorean design inspiration? Aero Vette gull wing Corvette concept

[DMC-81]

Now that a long teased mid engined Corvette has been announced for 2019, I recalled the first concept from the 60s that wowed me as a teen. I remembered the name Aero Vette, and I looked it up again. Apparently Aero Vette was the final name around 1973, but the the first incarnation of the design exercise was the XP-882 from 1969.

What I didn't remember is that Aero Vette had articulating gull wing doors and the project had a connection to JZD.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=55205&d=1517485332

The gull wings look familiar and the hinged feature is now used on Tesla's Model X's "falcon" doors. ( further discussed HERE (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?3055-Gullwing-doors-are-back-sort-of&highlight=Aero+vette) )

I read that John DeLorean first cancelled the development because of cost concerns and impracticality but later revived the development during his tenure as Chevrolet General Manager.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=55206&d=1517485769
Is that JZD with Zora Arkus Duntov looking at XP-882?

The later XP-895 version, unveiled in 1973, had one version that featured an all aluminum body, and was dubbed the "Reynolds Aluminum Car“. It had 2 of the 2-rotor Chevrolet Vega engines were joined together in order to make a 4-rotor 420 HP engine.

The interior of the AeroVette reminds me of the treatment that Proto-1 received.
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=55548&d=1519950215

I find concept cars fascinating in that the engineers try different things that are sometimes way ahead of the curve. Here are 3 links for more information:
http://cardesignnews.com/articles/concept-car-of-the-week/2016/03/chevrolet-aerovette
https://www.carligious.com/articles/forgotten-supercars/1970-chevrolet-corvette-xp-882-concept
http://www.superchevy.com/features/1508-1973-xp-895-reynolds-aluminum-corvette-prototype/

[hippieman9]

Really cool car. I was hoping to see it at the corvette mueseum last year on the way home from DCS. But it wasn’t there. Would love to know where it is now.

[dmcjohn]

I think the Harrah's museum in Reno has one of those Aero Vettes with the gullwing doors. Same museum that has the Gold DeLorean with the tan interior - and I remember the Aero Vette was on display just a few paces away from the DMC at the time.

Edit - this was years ago - probably around 2007 ish - may have moved since!

[Chris Burns]

I think we may be getting this car at our Concours show here at Amelia this year.

[ssdelorean]

Unless it has been sold (or more than one exists) it is still owned by GM and in their private collection at the GM Heritage Center (https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-vehicle-collection/1973_Chevrolet_Aerovette.html). They have a private showroom that is rotated stock from items in the warehouse. A few years ago the DeLorean Motor City group had a private tour one year (http://deloreanmotorcity.com/gallery-07-Woodward.html) during the Woodware Dream Cruise event as one of the members at the time was working in GM's marketing department.