Throwback Thursday: The LT1 Supercar That Goes Off-Road

Rising from the sands

A body with the capabilities to take on any off-road challenge and an engine straight out of a Corvette and you get what you see above.  This creation from Zarooq Motors out of the United Arab Emirates is called the Sandracer 500GT and is basically a roided out luxury dune buggy for those who may have a screw or two loose. Remember, the SandRacer 500 hails from the same location where police patrol the streets behind the wheel of Bugattis and Lamborghinis so this wild ride will fit right in. 

It's got power under the hood

The off-road, street-legal wonder vehicle clocks the scales at 2,646 pounds with a body that comprised of carbon-fiber and has a roll cage inside. The name of the vehicle comes from the Schokari Sand Racer that translates to Zarooq in Arabic. The vehicle originally had a 3.5-liter V6, but we all know that wasn't close to enough power that something like this should have. So that engine was thrown out and now power comes from a mid-mounted C7 Corvette sourced 6.2-liter V8 that makes 525 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 137 mph. The 5-speed transmission comes from Weddle who is notorious for crafting drivetrain and transmission components for Darkar and Baja racing vehicles. 

>>Join in the conversation on the SandRacer 500GT right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

Split identity

With this being an off-road centric vehicle then the suspension needs to be something special to keep up with the potential punishment it could face out on the unforgiving Arabian Penisula. In this case the system that's installed in the Sandracer has nearly 18 inches of travel giving it vehicle the ability to make tall leaps and then safely land without damage. The suspension also comes with two settings: one for the sand and one for the city. 

>>Join in the conversation on the SandRacer 500GT right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

What's waiting for the occupants

So what kind of features can you look forward to inside the vehicle? How about two carbon fiber seats for you and a passenger along with leather appointments stitched together by Mansory in Germany. There is also a full infotainment system that compliments the digital dash that lays out all pertinent info.

>>Join in the conversation on the SandRacer 500GT right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

It is not a cheap weekend toy

If you've been scratching your head at the design of the vehicle itself and it's almost video game-like shape then you can blame Mansory, the German tuner shop, for that one. All it takes is an image search of their creations to see how badly the outfit does by tacking on aero pieces and over the top trim to really push the envelope. Just 35 of these vehicles will be made with a price tag of $450,000 so make sure you all get into an orderly line. 

>>Join in the conversation on the SandRacer 500GT right here in the LS1Tech Forum!

For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how to section of LS1Tech.com