Does This Solid Axle Corvette Open A New Chapter In Restomodding?
Whether you call it a first generation, a C1, or a solid-axle Corvette, you know the formula for a top dollar price: either do a factory-correct nut-and-bolt restoration, or inject a large amount of new parts to make an eye catching restomod. Except not, because here’s a restomod 1958 Corvette that is both highly sympathetic to the original, but has no intention in earning credentials from the likes of Bloomington or The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). Even with a Powerglide automatic transmission underfoot, this Corvette just blew the doors off everyone’s expectations, coming down with a $181,900 price including fees this week on Hagerty Marketplace.
That’s not hyperbole, as it’s one of the few solid axle Corvettes with a carbureted small block V-8 to crest the $175,000 mark. It went for $5100 less than this dual quad/big brake example. (The RPO 687 Big Brake package adds 25 percent to a Corvette). It’s $10,600 less than this highly predigreed 1960 Corvette sporting a desirable four-speed manual. But what’s most impressive is how this example sold for only $5100 less than the last C1 Corvette ever made, which was another four-speed manual example with NCRS Top Flight certification.
We aren’t just taking note of this Corvette’s performance relative to Solid Axles sold at auction. This sale also knocks our average in the Hagerty Price Guide for a #1 (concours, or best in the world) condition 1958 Corvette out of the ballpark, and does so with a Powerglide automatic, crank windows, a soft top delete, and the lower line suspension and engine options. There are likely many good reasons why this happened, one of which is the quality of the work performed. But the bigger issue here is the level of sympathy in the modifications.
With phrases like “a more reliable driving experience” and “the original components can easily be replaced if desired,” its clear the builder wanted to keep the originality while addressing its shortcomings in a sympathetic way.
There’s an alternator to provide reliable power for a modern audio system, both of which are easily reversed if needed. A smaller-diameter, leather-wrapped steering wheel adds comfort your hands can feel. There’s an aftermarket carburetor with a larger volume air cleaner. An aftermarket transmission cooler and an electric fan keep the powertrain happy, while modern sound insulation on the floor reduces heat and NVH levels in ways that could never be imagined in 1958.
And it all works astonishingly well when presented in the Hagerty Marketplace auction. There will be great audio from those speakers, but there’s no trace of them in your forward view. The color-matched steering wheel looks factory correct, and it is easy to unbolt and replace when purity is demanded at a car show.
While this Solid-Axle Corvette appears to be restored to the highest standards, an honest representation of its flaws was also provided. The rear axle and the Powerglide transmission can leak, the old WonderBar radio is nonfunctional, some interior materials show signs of wear, and the exterior has paint and body flaws that are hard to see in the photos. Perfection is in the eye of the bidder, and clearly these (and others listed in the auction) did not stop a bidding war from happening in the last few hours of the auction.
Perhaps this moment is a cause for celebration, as three bidders took this restomod’s auction to interstellar space. And it marked the moment a Solid Axle Corvette became a milestone for a sympathetic restoration with a splash of modern comforts. Because you won’t find an LS motor, 6-speed manual conversion, disc brake swap, 18+ inch wheels, or conversion to an independent suspension here. Such levels of reserve should demand appreciation from owner and onlooker alike.
This C1 Corvette remains a Solid Axle in both (nick)name and spirit. We can only hope this balance in improvements and restorations can be a bellwether for a new era in restomod appreciation.
I just had this discussion with a buddy on his 66 roadster.
If a Vette is a rare model, original and numbers matching you restore it.
If you have a baby and bad from, numbers don’t match and it is not a rare model you put a modem chassis under it and build it.
Now as a buyer. The modified car will only be worth what you paid or less with time depending on how well it was built. If it is a rare or numbers Bloomington it will continue to increase in value.
The resto rod cars are like many hot rods, you take them to suction and sell to big money people who can’t build a car. I have a number of customers who build a car or two a year for auction just for the profits.
I sadly saw a 78 Indy pace car with 8k miles torn apparat to resto rod it. He should have sold it for $35k and then picked up a cheap 78 with a good body. The other car would have paid for much of the Chassis and doneone rose could enjoy a low mile pace car. One more 78 could have also been saved.
Yeah but, a “cheap 78 with a good body” wouldn’t have been as cared for, nor as good a starting point as the pace car likely was. Start with the best one you can afford, and all that. We hear that spouted here all the time.
Or maybe that car was sentimental to the builder for some reason?
It’s easy to sit back and say what he shoulda done, but really, nobody is crying because a plastic bumper c3 got cut up and made into something that didn’t suck. They made 6500 of them. The best part about the pace cars is the paint. A stock one couldn’t pace a spec Miata field nowadays.
Bill when all you are using is a body you only need solid fiberglass and bird cage. The rest is going to the bargain pile or scrap. That can be found in a $6K doaner car.
The new car has new chassis, engine, suspension, interior, drive line, etc.
If the cars is sentimental so little is left there is little to be sentimental about. Also like gambling you don’t bet on the Cleveland Browns because of sentimental feelings.
There is no crying in car building. Just good business and tearing up a car that could put at min $30k into your project is just a smart move. The builder should have pointed that out.
Not a matter of what it can or can’t do. I just saw someone piss away a car someone could have enjoyed, and on other that could have netted $30k and save a car from scrap.
Not my money but a good lesson for those who can’t be foolish with their money.
Just my take.
not gonna debate or take sides here, but agree with one thing you said: ‘just my take’.
Where am I wrong. You only will reuse a body. It is fiberglass no rust. Why waste money from selling a complete car when a shell is all you need?
This is just smart money.
This would pay for the chassis and possibly part of the engine. You will use a modem new Chassis and a new engine not the original. Same with seats and gauges ie wire harness.
Where is the benefit of destroying a low mile car that for the year dose hold value? .
Note too this is minor resto mod here. I’m talking full chassis and engine. Replacement as most do to qualify my comments.
The one here is lightly modified and way over priced for what it is.
I tend to agree with you, hv6. The significant atypical aspect of this car is the fact seller was able to recover some restoration expenses, which unusual.
Without a doubt, the appearance of this tame-drivetrain ‘Vette is exceptional, so six figures could possibly be justified if the structure of this car is truly completely rust-free (which would be expected).
There’s certainly nothing exceptional about the common, single-carb (not even dual, or fuel-injected), small-block with Powerglide drivetrain.
Negligible, subtle, reversible mechanical modifications of this type, are fundamentally rational and reasonable, that almost anyone would have made without regret, to almost any older, driver-quality car to make it just a bit more reliable, especially when considering the 65+ year life of this car.
The next practical things this car could use would be at least front disc brakes and a modern ‘Vintage Air’ a/c system.
To me, elimination of the original large steering wheel is a glaring distraction away from the pristine, nostalgic, interior aesthetic, before power steering became commonly available.
To me they just updated this car with mild mods.
I have friends with mid 60’s Sting Rays that were shells or rusted and they will buy a modem Alston chassis and put a c5-6 suspension on with ceramic rotors and 19” wheels. The interiors are all modern and are as comfortable as a new C7.
These cars are like custom hot rods where only the body is mostly original.
These are true resto mods. But here it is more modified stock.
My C5 has some. Modifications to update things but I would refrain calling itva resto mod.
For sure this is a nice car but way over valued in the auction. I don’t see it being repeated unless the owner gets lucky with two motivated bidders.
Even back in the day these cars got Hurst shifters.
Now THAT”S a “restomod” that I could love! (All I lack is a spare 180k…)
I am wondering what he did with the steering. Adding a smaller wheel to a manual steering car makes it a beast to park or turn at slow speeds.
My buddy just sold a 58 that was stock some color in great shape for $70K the mods here could be fine for just a little more.
This resto mod is over priced for what it is. Most that go for this much have nothing stock but the body. They gave C6 suspensions etc. this car is an $80k to $10ok at best.
Look around that is what you normally find.
Well this is a database of ONE. We’ll see if this is something new or just a bidding mistake.
It was two motivated bidders and I don’t expect it to be repeated. Now if it had an original FI it could see 6 figures.
It may not be repeated, but the bar just got raised.
1978 Corvette Pace cars have specific VINS. There is no replacing that as iron core. 6500 produced and the herd keeps thinning. Is that what everybody wants? Modify some scummy foreign car. They have made at least 6500 Ferraris. LS one of those.
Beautiful color.
Im all for it.
My first car was a used 1959 Corvette that I purchased in 1965 – my last year in collage (with not a lot of money). It was charcoal grey with red interior, 2 tops (including power convertible top), Corvette dog dish hub caps, and Powerglide transmission. The engine was not in top shape and it needed a valve and ring job. The previous owner had the rear license plate frenched under the bottom the the trunk lid so it was recessed (nice job). Over the year and a half I owned it, I had it repainted metallic silver, the grille replaced with the “62 black mesh version, ’63 Stingray spinner wheel covers, and the upholstery and convertible top replaced (to match the original). I had a lot of fun with this car (which I thought of as my Motorama Dream Car), but a lot of aggravation as well with numerous problems. When I decided to sell it in late 1966, it stalled during a potential new owner’s test drive. I sold it for $ 900.00 dollars !!!
There is “no cents” in that price! 😛
But I’ve imagined the mods you did in my head, Arthur, and I certainly couldn’t disagree with them. I think a phrase in your post is the most important part: “I had a lot of fun with this car”. Sure, there are examples of vehicles that should be preserved for purposes of value in future sales, but for the VAST majority of cars – and owners – it’s all about the enjoyment!
I’m not an automotive investor but I am an auto enthusiast and I like to drive my cars. I like to look at perfectly restored examples of all old cars but I resto modded my ’62 Vette 20 years ago (LS1, independent suspension, etc.) With the exception of larger wheels required due to the disc brakes, it retains the character and appearance of the original. I have driven it many thousands of miles all over this great land enjoying its reliability, performance, and decent fuel mileage. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
When for the love of god are people going to stop using these cheap plastic tri -bar wing nuts on their air cleaners? They look like s**t. Throw em in the garbage first thing and get a simple Dormans wingnut from the orange box.
I have a 62 corvette and I am all about improving on a great car. I previously owned a 65 NCRS car and was unhappy with the restrictions on any modifications. The 62 was already basterdized with A/C so I felt really good about making it mine (5 speed, independent front suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, new upholstery, modern sound system). But it still LOOKS like a 62 corvette and don’t mind, and do, drive it anywhere.
👍
+1
I own a C2 and have replaced everything from the radiator to the gas tank, all new, including 4 wheel disc brakes. Will I ever get all of my money back when and if I sell it? Who cares, this is fun. You only live once so if owning a concourse correct car makes you happy, that’s o,k., and if you like to wrench one up a bit, that is o.k. too.
I would not call this “Vette a restomod, of which I am not a fan. When only the body is retained, I always hope any salvageable chassis and running gear are passed on to someone restoring a similar model. My ’55 Studebaker is actually the opposite of a restomod. The body was so rotted I had to replace it with an identical one and painted it a modern color of my choosing. I’m using the original motor and chassis, but updating to a 12-volt system and alternator.