Vehicle Description
Awesome resto-mod with numerous upgrades under the skin. Corvette
L98 tuned port injection 350, 6-speed manual transmission, full C4
Corvette suspension with disc brakes. Tasteful custom interior, new
canvas top. A great-looking C1 Corvette that drives like something
a lot more modern! There aren't many universal cars out there, but
the C1 Corvette is pretty much accepted by everyone as a cool car.
They have the right look, a lot of history and nostalgia behind
them, and reasonable performance. But they're also crude,
primitive, and, well, a bit of work to drive. That's probably why
resto-mods like this 1961 Chevrolet Corvette are so popular today.
After all, who says you can't have your cake and eat it, too? The
paint color was borrowed from Cadillac, a hue called Persian Sand,
and we really like the subtlety of the finish. It works extremely
well on the familiar Corvette shape, offering a contrast that
stands out in an ocean of bright red and black Corvettes. It also
forces you to pay attention to the details, such as the tastefully
shaved and smoothed bodywork, the custom C5 Corvette door handles
and mirrors, and the crisp details of the original design. It's
still 100% solid-axle Corvette, but you'll linger a little longer
to see what has changed. Finish quality is excellent, with
better-than-new gaps, super straight panels, and a complete absence
of the 'factory flaws' that so many people expect to see on these
cars. Instead, you get a car where someone was sweating the details
to make it look its best. Inside you are treated to the same blend
of old and new. Factory bucket seats are wrapped in two-tone vinyl
that works rather well with the soft gold tones of the exterior.
Yes, there's a little damage on the driver's lower seat cushion,
but that's because this car was a favorite to drive and has been
fully sorted and dialed-in to make it an excellent driver. The
slightly smaller, yet fatter, steering wheel makes it a lot easier
to climb in and out, and the original instrument panel is now full
of digital gauges from Dakota Digital. The 5-speed manual
transmission falls easily to hand in a custom mini-console and
there's a modern Kenwood AM/FM/iPod/USB stereo in the center of the
dash. The car is configured for A/C, with all the hardware in place
under the hood, but it doesn't seem to have any interior controls
(or perhaps they're hidden so well we just couldn't find them).
Either way, that's an easy situation to remedy if you need the A/C.
There's also a nicely finished trunk that's upholstered in black
carpet with a few electronic bits neatly installed. There's also a
recent black canvas convertible top that fits nicely and looks
upscale, but if you're using this car correctly, you'll never see
it except in an emergency. For power, this Corvette stays all
Corvette, borrowing a torquey and virtually indestructible L98 350
cubic inch V8 from a C4 Corvette. With factory fuel injection, it
always starts easily, idles nicely, and generally behaves itself in
a way that a '60s carbureted engine just couldn't match. The engine
bay is full of polished aluminum, including custom machined valve
covers that are unique to this car. As noted, the A/C system is
intact and appears to be operational, and it has been upgraded with
power brakes and a dual master cylinder for the C4-spec discs at
all four corners. It also comes with power rack-and-pinion steering
and a fully independent suspension (both borrowed from a C4), so
it's far more capable than your average '60s solid-axle 'Vette. A
custom exhaust system gives it a fantastic V8 soundtrack that
quiets down when cruising in 5 or 6 gear, and we believe there are
3.42 gears in the Dana pumpkin out back, making it a peerless
cruiser. That's the original frame, reinforced as needed, and the
fiberglass floors are obviously in excellent condition. It has been
driven and enjoyed, but there are no issues that will stand in the
way of getting in and having fun. 17-inch wheels from a late-model
Corvette are a nice finishing touch, and they wear 235/60/15
Michelin radials all around. A long-term build by a guy who loved
to drive, this Corvette gets that part of the equation exactly
right. It's far more capable than an original without losing any of
its Corvette soul, and that's not always easy to do. The fact that
it's also attractive and almost practical enough to drive every day
is simply icing on the cake. With today's reliability and
performance wrapped in a classic look, this is why resto-mod
Corvettes are red-hot right now. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
