2001 Chevrolet Corvette RHD

Something of an unusual one, this. Ordered new in export (European) specification and built in 2000 for the 2001 model year, the consigned Corvette coupe was then converted to right-hand drive with a kit supplied by the Bunce Motor Company of Auckland, New Zealand. Although defunct two years ago, the firm converted hundreds of left-hand drive GM vehicles, including Corvettes, to right-hook specification to comply with local legislation.

It is believed to be the only C5 Corvette thus converted in the UK, and has spent much of its life between its six registered keepers garaged and tended to by Kent-based Corvette specialists, Claremont Corvettes, storing it for extended periods along with other American cars belonging to its owner, a Hong Kong based car collector.

Having arrived at GM House, Frankfurt, Germany, the largest distribution centre for American GM vehicles, in Europe, on November 2000, it was UK registered on New Years’ Day, 2001.

Unfortunately, its current owner, an arch Corvette enthusiast, needs to part with the car owing to a foot ailment; his other car is an automatic. He said that the car creates a stir wherever it goes, partly down to its bright yellow paint; he added that those in the know become seriously interested when they realise where the steering wheel is located.

There’s two keys and the private plate – ‘X3 VET’ – is to be sold with the car.

The car comes with a current MOT with no advisories to 25 July 2022 at 26,621 miles.

There seems very little to complain about with the Corvette’s exterior.

Painted ‘Millennium Yellow’ from new, all the panels retain their factory gaps, and there’s no cracking around the gelcoat in critical Corvette areas like the pop-up headlamp apertures and rear light nacelles. The headlamps themselves are the correct E-marked items for driving in Europe (and the UK), added by option T84 at the factory which also deleted the daylight running option fitted to other Corvettes.

The rear fog lights were fitted as part of the car’s export specification and remain as bright as when they were originally specified (option T89).

The only thing which has altered the car’s outward appearance is the finish of the factory fitted wheels, at 17 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear. Originally, these thin spoke wheels were polished at the factory (option QF5 on the build sheet) but have been subsequently repainted in a standard silver finish with chrome caps and a set of locking wheel nuts.

The Bunce right-hand drive conversion is conspicuous by its absence; it looks as if GM did the work itself.

Plenty of critical ire has been at the C5’s cabin for its appearance and durability – but the cockpit of this car has stood the test of time. A relatively rare option for the time is the head-up display (option UV6) fitted to the car; having been introduced as an option a year prior, the unit displays speed, revs, engine temperature, oil and fuel levels along with indicators. It’s fully functioning along with the other accessories on the car, including the air-conditioning. Re-gassed in 2011 by Claremont Corvettes, the car received a new compressor last year sourced and fitted by IGS American in Surbiton, South West London; following on from a full HVAC belt service with new pulleys sourced and fitted by West Sussex based specialists, Autoworks American.

Everything else inside the cabin appears to be holding up well, with minimal wear to the leather covered gear knob and steering wheel. There’s no chipped fibreglass around the door apertures and the removeable hard top, itself looking pristine, fits into its factory stowage inside the boot without issue. The wear on the seats, limited to slight wrinkling of the leather trim, is the other way around to most Corvettes; the now-offside drivers’ seat is lightly patinated.

Under the bonnet, the 5.7-litre LS1 is clean and tidy, with no leaks from the rocker covers or any other orifices. Autoworks American fitted a new alternator last November, and the protective ‘VG1’ export coating applied by the factory has kept the engine bay and its supporting metalwork free from rust.

Transmission is the desirable six speed manual gearbox option.

Corvettes in Blighty tend to either be spotless or hiding horrors that can only be sorted after body-off surgery.

This car very much presents as the former – as befits the 27594 miles displayed on its odometer. As part of its export specification, the car received a layer of protective wax (option VG9), which, together with garaging, has done much to preserve this Corvette’s underside.

The chassis, body fixings and undertrays are all as they left Bowling Green, Kentucky, with only light discolouration throughout the exhaust system, a Magnaflow, whose rear boxes look sound.

A very fussy inspection might throw up light surface rust on the bottom rear suspension arms and anti-roll-bar U-bolt fixings, but that’s as bad as things appear to get. Let’s not forget that new drop links were fitted by CCM Vettes (of Kent) last June, in response to a previous MoT advisory.

Moving aft, there’s minor scuffs on the plastic valance lip back behind the front bumper, but there are no leaks from the LS1’s sump or transaxle-diff cover. From new, the car was specified with the FE3/Z51 performance package, as declared on the build sheet kindly supplied by the vendor; this comprised stiffer shocks and springs all round, along with a power steering cooler and thicker anti-roll bars. This hardware is retained on the listed Corvette, with no surface rust or leaks to speak of. At some point in its life, cross drilled and slotted brake discs have been fitted to the car – and look as if they’ve plenty of life left in them.

Once you take a look a look at the documents section in the gallery below, you'll agree that the history, service and maintenance file for this very special Corvette is in exceedingly great order, just like the car itself. The seller has spent much time organising sections of the History File into date order and has even supplied a table of contents for future custodians to reference items easily. There are many invoices to warrant the mileage and the works, services undertaken and parts bought. Itemised in the table of contents, but not shown for GDPR reasons, you'll also find correspondence between the vendor and the previous owner and print outs of previous advertisements for the car.

There is also all the books that were delivered new, including an up-to-date and stamped service book. The original fabric wallet that contains the books is also present. There are two keys for the car and one fob. There is also a new and unused model tailored car cover, including optional extras securing strap and padlock.

Particular history highlights below.

RHD conversion – Bunce Motor Company – 2001

New ARB links – CCM Corvettes – 3/6/2020

Belt service (upper serpentine, serpentine accessory, A/C drive), new alternator – Autoworks American – 23/10/2021

New A/C compressor – IGS American – 23/11/2021

This car has been subject to much debate among the Corvette enthusiast community; seemingly one of a kind (at least in the UK), how well it appeals depends on how fixated you are on the authenticity of left-hand-drive.

The Big Three offered right hookers through their export facilities from the Sixties onwards – but they had to be sought out; only now, with the Ford Mustang (S550) and C8 Corvette are the same firms offering right hand drive models through dealers.

While not a factory conversion, the C5 in question came as close as it was possible to get, and a far cry from the Heath Robinson-esque transformation of cars like in the AMC Pacer in the Seventies.

At the estimated price, not only will you be on the ‘correct side’ of the cockpit, but in a C5 like no other in the country – and for less than half of what a UK-specification mid-engined C8 will run you when the model is eventually made available.

Our estimate for this car is £20,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.