- 1954 Corvette restomod is heading to Mecum’s Kissimmee auction.
- The car features the 405 hp 5.7L LS6 from a C5 Corvette Z06.
- It rides on a modern chassis with updated brakes and suspension.
Plenty of restomods have turned heads in recent years, but few land quite as intriguingly as this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette. The first-generation ’Vette is a landmark car, an icon of American automotive design, and perhaps that’s why so many tread lightly when it comes to modifying one. Updating a classic like this takes nerve, and a clear sense of what to leave untouched.
In this case, the body of the C1 Corvette remains original. It now rides on a modern chassis, with a fresh coat of paint and refinished chrome details that bring out its vintage lines without overstating them.
A set of two-piece billet Schott wheels gives it a grounded stance, and the factory-style look is finished with a new aftermarket canvas top.
Watch: The Original 1953 Corvette C1 Is A Joke To Drive, But Would You Care?
Beneath the classic silhouette are the kind of upgrades that make restomods worthwhile. Slotted into the engine bay is the same 5.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 as the C5 Corvette Z06, which produced up to 405 hp back in the day.
The listing doesn’t make any mention of how much the car currently delivers, but we can see it sports custom billet valve covers and a new aluminum intake.
Chassis upgrades round out the package. Adjustable coilovers have been fitted front and rear, and a six-speed Tremec manual gearbox sends power from the LS6 to the rear wheels.
The steering has been modernized with a power-assisted rack and pinion system, and new brakes have been installed on all four corners to match the performance.
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For as impressive as the powertrain is, it’s perhaps the interior that’s the highlight. It retains all of the C1’s original gauges stretching across the dashboard, but has been re-trimmed in vivid red leather, complete with a smaller, flat-bottom steering wheel that’s both thicker and more practical than the original.
A Vintage Air HVAC system adds comfort without disrupting the aesthetic. Even the trunk has been fully lined in the same red leather for a uniform finish.
Mecum Auctions
Mecum Auctions is offering the car at its Kissimmee sale on January 16. There’s no pre-auction estimate listed, but given the quality of the build and the rarity of the model, it’s fair to assume the final bid won’t come cheap.
Think purists will panic? Probably. But this ’54 Corvette doesn’t care, and neither should you. It’s loud, fast, and unapologetically red. Check out the listing over here before someone cooler buys it first.
