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Thread: Early DeLorean design inspiration? Aero Vette gull wing Corvette concept

  1. #1
    Senior Member DMC-81's Avatar
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    Early DeLorean design inspiration? Aero Vette gull wing Corvette concept

    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.



    The gull wings look familiar and the hinged feature is now used on Tesla's Model X's "falcon" doors. ( further discussed HERE )

    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.


    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.


    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/co...olet-aerovette
    https://www.carligious.com/articles/...xp-882-concept
    http://www.superchevy.com/features/1...tte-prototype/
    Dana

    1981 DeLorean DMC-12 (5 Speed, Gas Flap, Black Interior, Windshield Antenna, Dark Gray)
    Restored as "mostly correct, but with flaws corrected". Pictures and comments of my restoration are in the albums section on my profile.
    1985 Chevrolet Corvette, Z51, 4+3 manual
    2006 Dodge Magnum R/T (D/D)
    2010 Camaro SS (Transformers Edition)

  2. #2
    Senior Member hippieman9's Avatar
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    My VIN:    06668 81' Grey interior, 5 speed, Grooved hood. Previous owner of 16301, in 2001. Found Nov 2019, a

    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.

  3. #3
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    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!

  4. #4
    Certified Stainless!! Chris Burns's Avatar
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    I think we may be getting this car at our Concours show here at Amelia this year.

  5. #5
    Daily Driver ssdelorean's Avatar
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    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. 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 during the Woodware Dream Cruise event as one of the members at the time was working in GM's marketing department.
    Shannon Y
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    over 245K miles

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