emccomas

I ran across an old ad for a 57 resto-mod that was completed in 2003, using a custom chassis and C4 parts. The car had been sold, so no price was listed.

It got me thinking, what happened to those older resto-mods. That may be just what I am looking for.

The ad I saw was for a real 57 body with VIN tag, and the car had just over 4K miles on it.

Nothing depreciates faster than last season's resto-mods.

I wonder what those things are selling for these days.

wmf62

GTOguy

Not a Corvette, but a '54 Sedan Delivery panel wagon (Chev) was for sale in my complex awhile back. Built in the '90's, a 100K build. Guy was trying to get 35k for it.....and couldn't. Looked like a clown car: Easter Egg colors, tri-tone paint, with the Barrett Jackson Glazed Ham look, steamroller tires, and '80's-'90's 'flavor of the week' Night Rider interior. He pulled it back off the market and stuck it back in its warehouse. I think with a 'restomod', it'll hold value OK as long as the body and styling isn't screwed with too heavily. This '54 would have taken at least 30k to make it decent looking again, IMO.

emccomas

The 57 I referred to above looked great. The only issue I had with it were these massive speakers that were hung on the doors. The looked like crap.

But other than that, solid car with lots of upside.

I would drive the heck out of something like that.

ChattanoogaJSB

I would say that car would be terrific on the road. The LT1 was awesome and torquey and many preferred its bottom end to the early LS cars. I owned one in a Firehawk.

As for the C4 suspension, people pay up for c5/6/7 suspension but the c4 was actually a big leap forward for corvette build technology. People trash them because hey are plentiful and the early ones weren't powerful- yet I'm always reminding folks that an '84 with z51 made a full G on the skidpad. This is still an accomplishment today.

Benton.

pop23235

Benton, ever wonder how they got that '84 up to speed to measure the 1G?

ChattanoogaJSB

perhaps they have a skidpad at the bottom of a very steep hill at Milford, perhaps JohnZ can clarify...

Randy G.

Except for the speakers I like the '57. Tastefully built and retains much of the original look. Key is to not go over the top on them. Otherwise they become a dated build.

biggd

Another conversation thread started? Sounds like a lonely sole, we may be his only friends.

jimh_1962

Sky65

I don't know what is considered a "Restomod" anymore. Not everyone has the money it takes to built the latest version. My 65 is a stock beefed up frame with VBP full transverse spring suspension front and rear. RG 5spd, R&P steering modified 1st gen sb. It runs good, handles well, and is very reliable. We've done 6 Power Tours in it and hope to drive cross country next year.

I think, and hope, they are still being driven and enjoyed!

Tom

wmf62

as my soon-to-be-100 mom says, "you only need a few REALLY GOOD friends"...; it's worked for her for almost 100 years...



Bill

69427

An upside of using a C4 suspension (versus a C5/6/7) is that it doesn't require the massive butchery of the floor pan to fit the rear suspension in. I put a C4 suspension on my spare C3 frame and didn't have to touch a bit of the original bodywork of my '69.

emccomas

Please feel free to ignore my threads, it really won't hurt my feelings.

biggd

I can't wait until you actually buy a car so we can stop all the dreamer/wish list threads and see some pictures of the real thing.

Root2812

I was just thinking the same thing. It seems like people only use that term for cars with the newest modest chassis and driveline but the term seems pretty subjective. Technically if I added disk brakes and 350 sbc my 59 would be running newer tech and would be a restomod I guess. I don't care what's underneath on a car as long as they look original. To each their own though.

emccomas

It could be months...

Now that I think about it, I may wait months before I tell ya'll I bought a car.

PS: I am now getting the post Bloomington Gold sales pitches, which I appreciate.

GTOguy

No doubt because she's the only one left!

GTOguy

Used to be the term 'Hot Rod' for any performance-modified car. Now it's 'Resto-mod', which generally means upgrades in all areas, over-the-top luxury, and in general, expensive. Hot Rods used to be the exact opposite: the only thing the kids could afford. A stripped down junkyard refugee with a later, more powerful engine and better running gear, (if available!).

OHSIXX

The term "highly modified" fits my car perfectly.