What happens when Italian coachbuilders get their hands on America’s sports car?
In this episode, we explore two of the rarest Corvettes ever created: the 1959 Corvette Italia by Scaglietti and the one-of-one Kelly Corvette by Vignale. Built during a fascinating era of automotive experimentation, these coachbuilt creations combined Chevrolet performance with the artistry of Italy’s most celebrated design houses.
The Corvette Italia was commissioned by Texas oilman Gary Laughlin and built by Sergio Scaglietti—the same craftsman responsible for many of Ferrari’s most iconic bodies. Lighter, sleeker, and unmistakably Italian, the car represented an alternate future for Chevrolet performance and even played a surprising role in the story that would eventually lead to the Shelby Cobra.
Just a few years later, industrial designer Gordon Kelly traveled to Italy with a vision for a more refined grand touring Corvette. The result was the Kelly Corvette, a stunning one-off built by Carrozzeria Vignale that debuted at the 1961 Paris Motor Show and remains one of the most unique Corvettes ever produced.
Together, these extraordinary machines reveal a forgotten chapter in Corvette history—one where American muscle met Italian craftsmanship.
Both vehicles are currently on display in ”Transatlantic Lines” at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
