The Ultimate Ride: “Qua” Vu’s Stealthy Acquisition of the Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray with a Unique “Cross-Eyed” Charm

There’s a saying that if a car is rare, expensive, and a head-turner, but suddenly disappears, then it’s most likely been snapped up by the businessman Dang Le Nguyen Vu, either taken up to the Central Highlands or kept in Ho Chi Minh City for his viewing pleasure. And the car we’re referring to in today’s article is none other than the Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray.

While there are plenty of Chevrolet Corvette C6 and C7 models available in Vietnam, the C3 version is an absolute rarity, and this particular one is the only one of its kind in terms of its paint job, interior, and engine. Of course, it’s no surprise that it ended up in the hands of Vietnam’s “Coffee King,” known for his penchant for unique finds.

We were thrilled to spot this Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray among the “King’s” collection of supercars ahead of the Gumball 3000 2024 event. It certainly holds its own next to the Ferraris, Aston Martins, and Lamborghinis in his garage, thanks to its stunning design and fashionable Daytona Yellow exterior, even though the car is already 50 years old.

When it comes to sports cars and American muscle cars, Vu often opts to keep their original paint jobs, believing that it’s essential to preserving their spirit and character. What makes his Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray even more intriguing is its unique feature—only one headlight can be opened at a time; to open both, a switch must be flipped.

It’s hard to pinpoint when the Corvette C3 joined Vu’s collection, as the businessman often acquires cars without publicizing them and isn’t particularly keen on discussing his automotive pursuits. However, on one occasion, while enjoying a cup of coffee with friends in Ho Chi Minh City, he casually mentioned that he had recently driven one of his cars out for everyone to admire.

The C3 is the third generation of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car, produced from 1967 to 1982. While the engine and major chassis components were carried over from the previous generation, the body and interior were redesigned. It set a new sales record in 1979, with 53,807 units produced for that model year. The C3 also marked the second time the Corvette bore the Stingray name, which was used for the 1969–76 models. This time, it was a single word, unlike the Sting Ray moniker of the C2 generation from 1963 to 1967. The name was then discontinued until its return in 2014 with the introduction of the C7.

The most expensive Chevrolet Corvette C3 ever sold was a 1969 L88 Lightweight, one of only four L88 Lightweights ever produced. It fetched $2.86 million (approximately £1.73 million) at a Barrett-Jackson auction in January 2014.