A tribute Corvette with roots in drag‑racing lore has surfaced on eBay — but this one’s going to require more than a little elbow grease.

The 1967 Sting Ray, believed to be a replica of the legendary Ko‑Motion Corvette, sits today with its front end crushed, its steering wheel bent, and its future very much in question. The seller, X2 Builders of Granite City, Illinois, has listed it for $34,900, salvage title included.

The original Ko‑Motion Corvette carved its name into drag‑racing history with an 11.04‑second pass at 129 mph at the 1969 AHRA Summer Nationals. The car was originally owned by Charlie “Astoria Chas” Snyder and prepped for racing by the legendary Joel Rosen of Motion Performance. Unfortunately, Charlie’s drag racing career was cut short after he was killed while serving in the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, but friends and family continued to campaign the car in his honor.

Several replicas have appeared over the years, and this one seems to be among them — though its last outing clearly didn’t end at a racetrack.

Barn Finds reader Howard A didn’t mince words: “This car wasn’t damaged on a race track… looks more like ‘oak tree you’re in my way.’ That steering wheel says, should have had the seat belt on.”

The impact was violent enough to shove the radiator support nearly into the water pump and crack the dashpad in multiple places. Replacement fiberglass is easy to source, but the frame? That’s another story.

Troy echoed the concern: “From the pictures it looks like the frame is bent, and impact might have damaged the crankshaft.”

Under the hood sits a 427 crate motor, faithful to the Ko‑Motion spirit even if the exact specs are unknown. The seller says the engine still rotates, a small silver lining in an otherwise grim mechanical picture.

But readers weren’t convinced the price matched the condition.

Don summed it up bluntly: “That’s a lot of money for a busted car with a salvage title.”

And gary offered a market correction: “Drop the price 20K and it might be worth buying.”

Despite the tribute paint and big‑block bravado, several readers pointed out that this Corvette wasn’t built for competition.

Steve R noted: “This isn’t a race car, it’s a street car with a big engine painted to look like one… hard to see the value anywhere close to the asking price.”

djjerme added: “No roll bar, stock seats, no safety equipment… definitely all hat and no cattle.”

Even the safety discussion turned technical, with Steve R explaining that a convertible running quicker than 13.50 would require a five‑point roll bar — something this car never had.

Inside, the black interior is surprisingly decent. The carpet is worn, the dashpad cracked, and the steering wheel bent like a pretzel — a reminder of how hard the hit was. Still, many parts could be reused if the buyer chooses to part the car out.

Old rodder, a self‑described ’67 big‑block fan, wasn’t optimistic: “I wouldn’t even consider this thing as a viable project.”

The emotional reaction from readers was immediate.

Philbo427 quipped: “Name changed to ‘No‑Motion’… very sad, was a beautiful car before the crash.”

But the strongest response came from george mattar, who has personal history with the real Ko‑Motion: “When I first saw this car, I almost threw up. Thank God it isn’t the REAL KO‑MOTION… I wrote an article about that famous race car for Hemmings Muscle Machines.”

His comment underscores the reverence enthusiasts have for the original — and the relief that this wrecked tribute isn’t it.

Some people believe the car could be revived — at least by someone with the right skills.

Michael Hutt argued: “Easy fix. Frames are easy to straighten for a frame shop.”

But others weren’t convinced the economics make sense.

dominic put it plainly: “Looks like a nice $7,500 project for a body man… It is not worth it to pay for a repair and restoration at a body shop.”

And hairyolds68 added: “Needs a frame for sure. Lot of money all things considered, and you have to spend even more to make it right.”

This 1967 Corvette tribute is a mix of nostalgia, potential, and heartbreak — a big‑block bruiser that met something bigger and lost. Whether it becomes a resurrection project or a donor car is up to whoever takes the plunge. Are you ready to dive in?

Source:
eBay Motors via BarnFinds.com

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