1963 Corvette Rondine
The Corvette Rondine show car was built by Pininfarina on a production 1963 Sting Ray chassis. Two rooflines were tried: an inward slanting rear window with the roof cut off at the B-pillar (below) and a sloping rear window (above).

The car was designed by Tom Tjaarda, the Michigan native who had worked for Italian carrozzerie since 1959. At a time when many manufacturers switched to a unitary chassis construction, the fiberglass bodied Corvette was a popular subject for Europe's coachbuilders. Pininfarina was one of them and at the 1963 Paris Motorshow they launched the featured Rondine Coupe. The Rondine sports a very elegant shape of which various cues were later found on the Fiat 124 Spyder.

Still owned by Pininfarina, the unique Corvette is seen here at the 2005 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este where the Italian coachbuilder's 75th anniversary was celebrated.

$1,600,000 2008 Barrett-Jackson Auction Scottsdale AZ

The one and only 1963 Chevrolet Corvette "Rondine" Edition. Built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show by world renowned design house Pininfarina, and commissioned by Chevrolet. Features a 327cid/360hp V8 with a 4-speed and power brakes.

This historically significant prototype motorcar has been stored and preserved at the Pininfarina Museum since new, and is being offered for the first, and most likely last time ever. On the well-known Chevrolet Corvette chassis, Pininfarina has realized this special coupe displaying sports characteristics. The body style is based upon the idea of maximum simplicity and functionality, and features a remarkable outline owing to the lightness of its sections. The limited use of chrome stresses sober elegance of design and harmony of the whole. The front part, designed to obtain an outstanding penetration into air, slopes forward along a smooth curve, from where the fenders originate, slightly projecting with respect to hood configuration. Centrally in the front end, an opening is provided, acting as air intake, decorated by means of a thin chrome horizontal bars grille. The fixed front double headlights provided with removable shielding built into the body, grants perfect continuity in the car front part and excellent night visibility. The front bumper, made of chromed steel with extremely thin section, consists of two especially designed elements, limiting the radiator grille at both sides. The side panel features a sharp angle originating from the radiator grille, running along the front fender, the side and finally dying into the crest of the rear fender, thus giving the car a peculiar slender appearance. The rear end features a new and interesting "swallow tail" arrangement. Rear fenders, in fact, project with respect to the car main central structure. The turnout is a broken line plan view, resulting in a remarkable lightness of tail appearance. Built in the rear fenders are the horizontal, specially designed, stoplights. The petrol filler box lid has been replaced by a quick release cap. The roof, originating from a wide double curved windshield, is quite thin and light and rests on a typical rear element, having "roll bar" shape and function. Side windows can be lowered completely. The luggage compartment is located inside and below the rear window. The car interior, habitability and comfort of the original model has remained unchanged and is made out of elastic leather. The seats, comfortable and wrap-around, are provided in the back with an opening assuring continuous aeration.