CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion - 1958 SPECVETTE Corvette #001 unveiled at the NCM

We have built many customs and restomods for customers around the world and the one thing we have found is that with a custom you get about a 50% approval rating. The custom guys love it and the purist hate it. However they both agree that the modern performance and comforts are awesome. So we put two and two together and decided to design a line of custom Corvettes from 1953-1982 that have 2014 performance, ride quality and amenities but stay true to the looks of that specific year of Corvette. We call this program the SPECVETTE Program. We also wanted to build these cars at a set price so the customer knew exactly what they were getting into financially on day one.

We didn't just want a bent tube frame (round or rectangle) with C5/C6 suspension bolted onto it, we wanted a scratch designed chassis that gave us the ability to run a wheel with a nice offset for a retro look while still having the correct geometry to give the car 2014 performance and ride quality. We partnered with the Roadster Shop who we believe to be the front runners in chassis design. They computer designed the chassis to our specs using Solidworks so that suspension travel, bump steer etc. could be simulated and dialed in to perfection. The SPECVETTE Chassis was born and is available in all C1, C2 and C3 year models.

We didn't want to promote the SPECVETTE Program until we had the first car complete. We unveiled #001 at the National Corvette Museum Bash to a crowd of Corvette enthusiasts and GM designers, engineers and personel and received a huge vote of approval a week ago and already have orders coming in.

#001 is a 1958 Corvette original body that has been taken down to the fiberglass and completely reworked from the top to the bottom. Everything else from there out is brand new and reengineered to give the car modern performance, ride quality and amenities.

Here are some specs on the car. Please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind.

Year: 1958
Builder: Heartland Customs, Purcell, OK
Chassis: SPECVETTE C1 Chassis
Engine: GM Performance LS7
Transmission: Tremec five speed
Exhaust: 2.5 custom built with Magnaflow stainless steel mufflers
Driveshaft: Custom
Rearend: 9" center section from Strange Engineering with RS IRS
Brakes: Wilwood six piston with 13" drilled and slotted rotors
Wheels: 18" Custom designed to look like C1 hubcaps
Tires: Nitto with custom diamondback white walls
Gauges: Custom SPECVETTE electronic gauges with check engine light and 7k redline
Seats: Custom Italian leather and enable the driver more legroom
Modernization of electronics: Modern delay wiper system, light sensing headlights, one touch power hood, digital fan control, power locks and windows, modern stereo made to look original with hidden iPhone plug and hidden subwoofer, Integrated CTEK battery management system, theatre dimming interior lighting.