He has loved American cars since he was a child

Yujo Kabayama, 50, from Hyogo Prefecture, has loved American cars since he saw “Trans Am 7000” starring actor Burt Reynolds on TV as a child. Although he had once settled down, he was influenced by the car action drama “Knight Rider,” which was re-aired on TV, and was attracted to American cars once again. He had considered the Pontiac “Firebird Trans Am” as a candidate for his favorite car, but as he researched, he fell in love with the style of the Chevrolet C3 “Corvette” and purchased it. I am enjoying a fulfilling car life as a C3 Corvette rider with outstanding looks.

He purchased a commemorative model of the winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona race

Many car fans would say that their favorite series of Chevrolet Corvettes is the third-generation C3 model, which was produced from 1968 to 1982. The reason for this may be the macho style that beautifully expresses the sense of power of a muscle car. The natural nape of the neck was also described as “styling that radiates elegant sex appeal,” and was called the “Coke Bottle Line” by many.

The “Coke Bottle Line” is a metaphor for a shape reminiscent of a Coca-Cola bottle. It may be easier to understand if we say that the design is narrower in the center of the car when viewed from above, due to the car’s center portion being narrower. Many famous cars of the past have adopted this coke-bottle line, and the C3 Corvette is the car with the most easily recognizable body shape of them all.

As you can see, the C3 Corvette owned by Mr. Kabayama is different in design from the standard model. This C3 Corvette is a special edition car produced in the U.S. on a limited basis.

Chevrolet is a motor company.

Chevrolet has deep ties with motorsports, and when the C3 Corvette was still active, it participated in the Daytona 24-hour race and was very successful. Mr. Kabayama’s car was introduced as a commemorative model that won the crown of victory in the 24 Hours of Daytona. It was given the name “Corvette Daytona.

Only four Corvettes exist in Japan

Mr. Kabayama acquired this car 26 years ago. Before that, he had driven a C3 Corvette, but it had an accident and needed a major restoration. I found a Corvette Daytona at the car shop where it was being repaired, and since it was a car that I had admired for a long time, I bought it immediately. He has been driving the car almost as he bought it. The wider and more glamorous wide-body kit is made by Ecklers, which is famous among Chevrolet enthusiasts.

At that time, there was a record of about 10 C3 Corvette Daytonas coming into Japan only as parallel imports. When we asked Mr. Kabayama and his Chevrolet friends about the current status, they told us that only 4 units have been confirmed nationwide, which shows the value and rarity of this car.

The C3 Corvette Daytona has a unique style that can be described as glamorous or macho. It is a form that has truly reached the height of its glory. As a muscle car, one would expect the engine specifications to be just as special as the car itself. We expected to see a supercharger unit when we opened the hood, but contrary to our expectations, the engine was a standard 5.7L V8 OHV engine.

“This is not a car that requires speed, so I maintain it by considering whether I can keep it in a normal driving condition. So rather than tinkering with it, all I do is repair it.

“I don’t want the car to run too fast, so I just maintain the car to keep it in normal running condition. The body has never been all-repainted, and he would like to have it maintained in its current condition if possible.

translated by DeepL