Corvorado Chronicles: The Eccentric Fusion of Corvette and Eldorado

Unique ONES - The realm of automotive innovation often sparks from the fusion of iconic car designs. Among these amalgamations, the Dunham Coach Motor Car Company's creation, the Corvorado, stands out as a peculiar masterpiece. In the realm of unique cars, the Corvorado, a hybrid of the 1970s Chevy Corvette and Cadillac Eldorado, holds a distinctive position.

In the realm of unique cars, the Corvorado, a hybrid of the 1970s Cadillac Eldorado and Chevy Corvette, holds a distinctive position. (Picture from: Madle.org)

Dunham's workshop in New Jersey birthed seven of these peculiar creations, with one even gracing the silver screen in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. Les Dunham, the mastermind behind this automotive spectacle, aptly dubbed his creation the Corvorado, showcasing his ingenuity in blending two classic car models. The result is a visual marvel that captures attention and sparks intrigue.

The Corvorado crafted by Dunham Coach Motor Car Company, and adorned with a faux exhaust, spare tire, two-tone paint, and colossal "Super Fly" headlights. (Picture from: Madle.org)

Crafting the Corvorado involved melding parts from early 1970s Eldorados seamlessly onto a partially stripped C3 Corvette chassis. The A-pillars and T-tops, cleverly integrated, camouflage the Corvette's origins. 

Inside, the Corvorado offered a luxurious experience, though photographic evidence remains sparse. (Picture from: Madle.org)

Later iterations of the Corvorado employed fiberglass cut from molds derived from the initial steel cars, accentuating the audacity of this fusion. To elevate the extravagance, Dunham adorned the vehicle with a faux exhaust, spare tire, two-tone paint, and colossal "Super Fly" headlights.

As you can see, some Corvorados boasted custom "pedestrian slicer" wire wheels with centers extending beyond the tires, creating a spectacle of opulence. (Picture from: Madle.org)

In a nod to excess, some Corvorados boasted custom "pedestrian slicer" wire wheels with centers extending beyond the tires, creating a spectacle of opulence. These cars, aptly dubbed "pimp phones," paved the way for their features to influence mainstream Eldorados, Cadillacs, and Stutz Blackhawks, adding an air of eccentricity to the automotive scene, particularly in the streets of New York, where pimps took the wheel.

Propelled by a standard Corvette 350 ci V8 engine paired with an automatic transmission, the Corvorado preserved the integrity of its original drivetrain. (Picture from: Reddit)

Powering the Corvorado was a standard Corvette 350 ci V8 engine linked to an automatic transmission, maintaining the integrity of the original drivetrain. Robust springs and shocks provided necessary support for the heavy loads, from the chrome steel radiator shell to the oversized bumpers and flamboyant chrome features.

One of the seven Corvorados crafted by Les Dunham had played a role in the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die.' (Picture from: MotorBiscuit)

Inside, the Corvorado offered a luxurious experience, though photographic evidence remains sparse. Some even boasted waterfalls with storage tanks in the trunk, a testament to Dunham's commitment to extravagance. 

This neglected Corvorado discovered in Chicago is currently undergoing a gradual restoration, shedding light on the mysterious destiny of these unique vehicles. (Picture from: MotorBiscuit)

Regrettably, fuel shortages and changing automotive trends in the 1970s resulted in the abandonment of several Corvorados, even by their extravagant owners. A neglected Corvorado discovered in Chicago is currently undergoing a gradual restoration, shedding light on the mysterious destiny of these unique vehicles.

Yet, as time progressed, interest in these unique creations experienced a renaissance. A reproduction in California and the enduring curiosity surrounding Dunham's series production cars attest to the enduring legacy of the Corvorado, an automotive oddity that refuses to fade into obscurity. In the grand tapestry of automotive history, Dunham's creations, including the Corvorado, stand as vibrant testaments to the spirit of innovation that thrives on the unexpected and the extravagant. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DUNHAM COACH | MOTORBISCUIT | HEMMINGS | MADLE.ORG | REDDIT ]

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