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 5th or 6th 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.