2000 Chevrolet Corvette Avelate Z06 Custom Convertible

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Trevor Freeman

The Chevrolet Corvette is sort of like a ’32 Ford or a ’49 Mercury in that it has become a canvas for others to customize. It is a starting point where people they feel they can improve. Some companies like Callaway and Lingenfelter have used this formula to great success. It is still a Corvette, but with a little more power and a little more style.

Others have tried to follow the same path, but have not found commercial success. One such company was Avelate, which was formed by former GM designer Don Johnson and Dean Arnold.
According to the website CorvSport.com: “The Avelate borrowed some design inspiration from the previous Corvette generations and incorporated all of them into the C5 model. Initially, the plan was to make 100 cars per year, but throughout its production run, only 25 examples were only built.”

The auction description says that this 2000 Chevrolet Corvette Avelate Z06 convertible is one of 27 builds produced between 2000 and 2002. It is finished in Copper Pearl with a black convertible top. The car has a 6-speed manual transmission. It was consigned to sell at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in January 2024.

The car has the stock windshield and side glass, though it has a custom body including door skins, hood, trunk, and front and rear bumpers. Studying the car, I see a C3-styled front end and C1-style scallops on the doors.

This car has Avelate logo floor mats and retro-style Fuel Injection and Corvette badges on the fenders.
It’s got a lot of customizations that make it unique from the herd of production C5s, but do the cosmetic customizations make it any better than a regular Z06? Honestly…no, they do not.

That sentiment was reflected in the final hammer price of $29,700 which is exactly in line with the prices of a C5 Z06 on Bring A Trailer. Only super low mileage cars go for more, and this car had 31k miles at the time of auction.

The Avelate Corvette is a unique curiosity for the right buyer, and another notch in the belt of small production manufacturers who thought they could do better than the OEM.

SEMA 2023: 1969 Chevrolet “Carbon Camaro” Convertible by Finale Speed

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Trevor Freeman

For years, Chris Jacobs co-hosted Overhaulin’ and other shows including “Long Lost Family” on TLC. His passion for cars is well-known to his fans, who have seen him host numerous specials on networks like Velocity and Discovery.

His latest venture is the creative director for Oklahoma-based Finale Speed. The startup was founded in 2022 by JD Rudisill, who has assembled a team of veterans in the automotive world.
Finale Speed made waves in the automotive industry with the introduction of their fully carbon fiber 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, which was a sensation. The car was displayed at SEMA and Barrett-Jackson and was featured on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Following that, Finale Speed announced the availability of a full carbon fiber 1970 Dodge Charger as well.

Now in 2023, the latest announcement from Finale Speed came at the Dynamat booth: they will be offering a 1969 Camaro Convertible as well. All of these cars are available with a full carbon fiber body sitting atop a Roadster Shop chassis. The carbon fiber body has 32 unique pieces and shaves approximately 750 lbs off the weight of the car.
Customers have the option to purchase a body and rolling chassis for $199,000, or they can spec a fully-built car from Finale Speed for $349,000.

We have featured full carbon fiber muscle cars on Generation High Output in the past, like the 1970 Dodge Charger “Tantrum” by Speedkore that we saw at the 2015 SEMA Show. Finale Speed takes it to the next level by offering a more tailored experience. Whether you want a fully completed car or a body and chassis that you can finish with your own powertrain and interior, they can handle it.
The 2023 SEMA Show car in the Dynamat booth was orangey-copper in color with exposed carbon fiber stripes. The car did not have a finished interior so that the Dynamat sound deadening products were visible. The car rides on a set of Chip Foose 18-inch Coronet wheels.

While I can only dream of owning a car like this, I think it is super cool the way that companies are using technology and materials like carbon fiber to make muscle cars that are stronger, lighter, and faster than ever before!

2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Sets Record Price at Barrett-Jackson

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Trevor Freeman

Lexus has been teasing the idea of a new luxury coupe since 2012, when the LF-LC concept debuted at the North American auto show in Detroit. It took four years to go from concept to production, and the new Lexus LC convertible was unveiled in 2016 and deliveries commencing in mid-2017.

Then in late 2019, Lexus revealed the new 2021 LC 500 convertible at the LA Auto Show. The first-ever vehicle, VIN 100001, made its apperance at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction in January 2020.

The new LC 500 convertible is more than just the first car off the line – it is also one of just 100 vehicles that Lexus is calling the “Inspiration Series.” These cars will feature limited paint and interior options which befit a luxury flagship car. Things like L-Aniline leather interior, Alcantara door inserts, custom stainless-steel door-sill scuff plates, 21-inch split-five-spoke forged alloy wheels are little touches that will make the Inspiration Series a little extra special.

VIN 100001 is the absolute pinnacle of special, with even more custom treatment given to this 1 of 1 car. In case you had any doubts, the car has carbon-fiber scuff plates imprinted with “LC Inspiration Series Launch Exclusive 1 of 1” to remind you every time you get in or out. It also wears a gorgeous paint job called Structural Blue, with color-matched brake calipers instead of the Nori Green pearl exterior on the other Inspiration Series convertibles. The car even came with its own bottle of wine a 2017 Napa Cabernet by Pruett), custom Halliburton luggage set, and an “exclusive Lexus experience” of some kind.

The chance to own a 1 of 1 car is something that many collectors dream of. One lucky collector got to make that dream come true with a winning bid of $2,000,000 USD for the car. This was of course a charity auction, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and to the Bob Woodruff Foundation. The car was auctioned around 4:30 PM on Friday, January 17, 2020. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this may be the highest price paid for any Lexus, ever.

If this sounds familiar, you may remember a very similar auction from the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. It was just a year ago that Barrett-Jackson auctioned the first 2020 Toyota Supra GR VIN 20201 for charity. The highly anticipated car, which sold for $2.1 million, benefited the American Heart Association and The Bob Woodruff Foundation. Like the LC 500 Convertible, the first production Supra was also a 1 of 1 car, with custom colors and materials and an engine cover signed by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda.

Congratulations to Barrett-Jackson and to the bidders on their amazing contribution to these great charities.

1997 Toyota Paseo Convertible

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Trevor Freeman

Driving home from work, I caught sight of a rather unusual car: a Toyota Paseo convertible. I couldn’t recall ever having seen one before.

As it turns out, the convertible model was introduced in the U.S. in August 1996 and the Paseo was discontinued in 1997. That means the Paseo Convertible was a one-year only car for the United States. According to Wikipedia, the convertible models were never offered in Britain or other markets. Continue reading →

SEMA 2015: 1949 Cadillac Convertible by Ryan’s Rod and Kustom

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Trevor Freeman

Cadillac has always been the top tier automotive brand in the General Motors family. They have the biggest cars, the most powerful engines, and the largest price tags. Their symbolism as a product of quality, prestige, and luxury is known throughout the world. This makes them a popular target for hot rodders, low riders, and other customizers.

This particular Cadillac is a 1949 Convertible and was built by Chris Ryan of Ryan’s Rod & Kustom in Ninety Six, South Carolina. I saw it on display at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Continue reading →

SEMA 2015: 1961 Ford Sunliner by Hollywood Hot Rods

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Trevor Freeman

One of my favorite cars at SEMA 2014 was Steve Strope’s gorgeous 1967 Ford Fairlane. The blue and gold color combination was simply stunning. I had a very similar reaction at SEMA 2015 when I came across this 1961 Ford Sunliner at the Custom Auto Sound booth. What can I say: I think I have a thing for Sixties Fords in blue!

The Sunliner was Ford’s convertible cruiser. Based on the Galaxie chassis, it was classified as a full-size car in 1961 and was an intermediate-size car for 1962-64. This Sunliner features twin “afterburner style” round taillamps that are very space age. With its massive 119-inch wheelbase and powerful V8 engine, this car was a real head-turner. Continue reading →

Generation: High Output

An Automotive Site for Enthusiasts

Tag Archives: Convertible