This C4 with sliding doors was named after a green-colored lizard and was created in Italy.
Name: Bertone Ramarro (after a green lizard)
Debuted: 1984 Los Angeles Auto Expo
Specifications: Based on the Chevrolet Corvette C4, 17-inch wheels with Michelin experiment tires, 4150mm (163.4 inches), long, 1920mm (76 inches), wide, 1190mm (47 inches), tall, 1,400kg (3,086lbs) weightWhy It Matters Now:
It is always interesting when an Italian design house reinvents an American icon. Bertone’s futuristic vision of the C4 is no exception.
It’s not often that a new concept is unveiled. So when Bertone revealed the Ramarro, everyone was focused on this very green. Chevy coupe. The original plan was for the C4 to debut at the Turin Auto Show in 1984. However, it was delayed several months and the unique C4 finally debuted in Los Angeles.
The Corvette , which was a wedge-shaped Corvette , was markedly different from the donor car in appearance and body proportions. Bertone retained the wheelbase and reduced both the front and rear overhangs to create a compact appearance. Ramarro was about the same height as the C4, but slightly wider to give it a muscular appearance.
The body could be reduced by moving the water-conditioning radiators and air conditioning radiators to the rear of the car. This also allowed for aero to be increased. Ramarro’s long doors, which are common on coupes, can cause problems in tight spots when trying to get in and out of your car. Bertone solved the problem by installing sliding doors. However, these are not the same ones that you’ll find in a minivan.
Bertone named the Ramarro after a green Lizard. It’s not surprising that the interior and exterior of the Ramarro have this striking shade. Some C4 bits and parts were transferred to the cabin, but those seats won’t be found in a fourth-generation Corvette. There was also a storage area behind them, and green leather was everywhere.
The Ramarro was a design exercise and not a production model. It’s not hard to see why the Italian design house was so highly praised for its concept’s aesthetics. The special Corvette looks futuristic three decades later.