C1 Corvette Restomod Packs Otherworldly Amounts of Power

Auction-bound dream C1 Corvette rocks C4 suspension and LS7 with a Tremec 6-speed manual tranny. What more could you want? 

It’s hard to say what the ideal setup for a C1 Corvette would be, but this has to be pretty close. The resto-mod scene continues to evolve into crazier and crazier things, and this is certainly no exception.

This 1957 Corvette will cross the auction block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale 2020 event, which occurs January 11th through January 19th. It has an LS7 under the hood, and a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission bolted to it, but that is not at all where the modernization of this thing stops. Rightfully so, as this build took seven years to complete, and it’s only gone 945 miles.

That LS7 is breathing better than ever thanks to a custom cold air intake and 3-inch polished stainless exhaust system. It also has a dry-sump system. Even without hearing it, you can feel that rumble in your chest through sheer imagination. Furthermore, the power is transmitted through a McLeod flywheel, dual-disc clutch, and pressure plate to the 3.73 geared positraction rear end, so it’s happy to put the power down through both rear wheels.

That’s a lot of fun in a little package.

This C1 Corvette has a bigger trick up its sleeve, though. The rear quarter panels are 3.5 inches wider than a standard-issue C1, allowing the widest tires they can shove under them. Additionally, it has C4 Corvette suspension on all four corners. The suspension also sports carbon fiver leaf springs.

Stopping this bad boy is a full disc brake conversion. With 15-inch Baer rotors and six-piston calipers all the way around, this thing will stop on a dime.

Rounding out the modern amenities is power windows, power locks, modern Bluetooth and Apple/Android compatible stereo, heated seats, and even air conditioning. This thing could be your new daily driver.

You can see why, then, this build took seven years to complete. This resto-mod is one of the most nitpicky and finely done examples we’ve seen. Though Barrett-Jackson doesn’t list an estimated sale price, we can only imagine the number is going to be staggering. We just hope whoever buys it ends up doubling or tripling its mileage in the near future.

Photos: Barrett-Jackson

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Braden Carlson

Braden Carlson is an automotive enthusiast from Boise, Idaho. At 19 he quit his day job to pursue a career in automotive journalism, launching his Youtube channel in his own name. Today you can still find him producing DIY video content, reviews and writing for an amassment of automotive websites. His work is most frequently found on Rennlist, The Mustang Source and Corvette Forum. When not writing or driving, he's likely to be found covered in grease and oil undoubtedly from one of his gratuitous collection of questionable project cars.