The Pick of the Day is an LS3-powered 1957 Chevrolet Corvette restomod listed for sale on ClassicCars.com.
Vintage cars have something that can’t be replicated: history. It’s true that they don’t make them like they used to. You may be able to find a low-mileage, one-owner 1963 Studebaker Avanti, but a new one will never roll off of a production line. However, vintage cars have plenty of things that can be improved. That’s why cars like this LS3-powered 1957 Chevrolet Corvette restomod exist.
If you look at a 10-year-old car, you’ll see several things that have changed since it was built. Engine output has increased and many convenience, safety, and driver assistance features have not only gotten more sophisticated, but many of them have become standard. Now think about how many advances have been made since 1957. Nearly every part of a vehicle has transformed since then, from the type of paint and glass used to the brake hardware, from the lighting to the tires.
This C1 Corvette has its original gorgeous lines combined with the features and amenities of today. The body has been refinished in Seafoam Blue with Inca Silver coves and comes equipped with LED headlights and taillights as well as a Seafoam Blue hardtop (there’s also a soft top, but it’s not shown in the pictures). The builder went big with the wheels, installing a set of 18-inch Evod Industries Classic 58 wheels wrapped in Diamond Back whitewall radials.
They even went underneath the bodywork and replaced the original underpinnings with an Art Morrison GT Sport chassis. To help this Vette stop and handle like something from the 21st century, there’s a set of 13-inch Wilwood brakes with six-piston calipers, power rack-and-pinion steering, and an independent rear suspension. Getting to that hardware won’t damage the two-tab knockoffs because the seller will include a tool they made just for doing that as part of the vehicle sale.
The cabin has been completely restyled with a cream Al Knoch custom interior that features waffle-patterned door panel and seat inserts. Tech upgrades include Viper keyless entry, power windows, Dakota Digital gauges, and a Bluetooth stereo. Whoever buys this car will not only cruise in style, but they’ll do it in comfort as well thanks to the Vintage Air climate control system.
Underneath the power-operated hood is something that C6 Corvette owners will recognize: an LS3 6.2-liter V8, which produces 430 horsepower. That drinks gas from an aluminum fuel cell and channels its output through a 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission equipped with a Shiftworks shifter.
As you can imagine, this sort of frame-up mechanical time traveling does not come cheap. The seller is asking $275,000 or best offer. There’s no question that that’s a lot of money. The question that you need to answer is is that worth it for a classic Corvette with history and nearly 70 years of updates?
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com