Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Elvis photos I've never seen before, and they're quite interesting


Above, He's leaning on is not the Fiberfab Centurion I thought it was, based on the sidepipe location and the stingray badge. Those are the same one the 2 Fiberfab cars.

But the many people who knew that this was the Elvis movie Clambake had it figured out, and since I haven't watched many Elvis movies past Jailhouse Rock, it's a surprise to me that the car is the XP 87 http://www.corvettes.nl/gm_prototypes/xp87/index.html



above 2 images from http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_11067-Chevrolet-Corvette-XP-87-1959.html

above image from http://www.corvettes.nl/gm_prototypes/xp87/index.html

Below has to be a still from a movie, how would anyone be on the scene of Elvis crashing his motorbike into something and taco'ing his front wheel?

both images from http://iheartcoolshit.tumblr.com

10 comments:

  1. Red car is 1959 Corvette Stingray concept from GM Styling.

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  2. I think I was right, I think you are mistaken and my photo gallery of, and personal examination of a the other Fiberfab Centurion, havproven to me that I am correct. Why do you say I'm wrong?

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  3. Hey I often wondered about this car myself. Check out the comments on this webpage and it gives more details. I haven't compared pics but it makes sense. Movie is Clambake and the one withe the Bike is Roustabout.
    http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_11067-Chevrolet-Corvette-XP-87-1959.html

    TopoftheLine

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  4. Wampa-One wrote This is the 1959 XP-87 Stingray racer created by Bill Mitchell. It was a one-of-a kind concept car also used for SCCA racing which would go on to provide the basis for the second generation 1963-67 Corvette styling. This is quite an interesting vehicle, with an interesting story to go along with it.

    I’m not sure that it should be listed as model year 1959 though, since that could be confusing as it is not technically a 1959 production vehicle. Also, since it was based on the chassis of one of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s defunct 1957 Corvette SS test mules, the argument could also be made that it should be labeled as 1957. Maybe it would be simpler if it were just listed as “Chevrolet Corvette”.

    This particular car has it’s own Wikipedia page... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_Stingray_%28Concept_car%29
    And any number of other external links...
    http://www.corvettevalley.com/showthread.php?t=6525
    http://www.welovecorvettes.com/concept.html
    http://www.diecastfast.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=DCF/CTGY/RV59SR
    http://www.corvettemuseum.com/library-archives/hof/mitchell.shtml

    Right!

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  5. If your link is what you think it is, I think you need to look again. The exhaust pipe is different, there's no vent in the body above it, the windshield is different. It does have the same Stingray medallion and hood latch. I have no idea what it is, but I think Elvis looks like Kurt Russell there.

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    Replies
    1. I considered that the cars weren't identical, but 40ish years have gone by, and I'm not of the opinion that the same exhaust and windshield would still remain unchanged. You don't think for a moment that the sidepipes are the originals after 47 years do you? Of course not. Condensation alone would rust them away. So in the lack of thorough Elvis movie knowledge, it was likeliest the Fiberfab. It's really unlikely that a one of one GM exec's personal racecars gets a Elvis movie feature, at face value, to me. Sheesh,. Where the hell is all this unfailable knowledge base when I ask for help identifying some car I can't figure out?

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  6. It is Corvette XP-87 Stingray used in movie "Clambake". Google it.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! How'd you get that? Just recognition?

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    2. I'm quiet familiar with the XP-87 as I have worked at GM Design the past 36 years.I consider your blog to be the best and most eclectic automotive site.Keep up the good work.

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  7. I think R.Menking is right. Here's a picture of the XP87 Stingray, painted red, just like the Elvis picture. The side pipes are different on the Centurion in your gallery.

    http://www.corvettes.nl/gm_prototypes/xp87/index.html

    ReplyDelete