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As I continue down the modification rabbit hole, I was curious what appearance and comfort mod's you've done that you've been happiest with. I am doing EFI, headers, etc...But for this thread I'd prefer to steer clear of performance mod's. I'm really curious what you guys liked the best in retrospect.
With my old 75, I really loved the side vent screens look, the black powder coated emblems, and the leather seats.
With the 70 I'm currently working on, I love my stinger hood, the 2002-2003 Electron Blue Metallic paint, and pulling the center front grill out flush with the side grills.. I've got big plans for the interior (including 1966 chrome door pulls) that go well beyond the c5 seats, but since there's still time, I'm entertaining other changes as well. I'm very curious what changes you're happiest with.
Taking luggage racks off of C3s and throwing them in the woods has been a pastime of mine. So I guess that counts as an appearance mod?
I love the look of large L88 hoods, and stinger hoods. 68-69 gills are the best imo, so incorporating them into later cars always looks cool to me. Same thing with the custom outward facing gills. Big LeMans style gas caps always look cool. Front and rear spoilers are a must on 74-79s imo. The 80-82s had that nice little kick up rear spoiler built into the bumper cover.
Sidepipes always look great. The Hooker style without any heat shields look the best, but the 69 originals look great. The C2 style pipes on a C3 look really cool too.
I've always liked the popup headlight delete, and use square sealed beam headlights. Some hate em, but they look awesome on cars that have other custom touches.
That's what makes C2 and C3 Vettes so awesome. They're basically a blank canvas to do whatever you want.
On my build, the only original body panels left are the doors. lol
Pipes in this photo are mocked up on jackstands but will be installed when I get to that stage.
I’m still old school, so. I’ve always been a big fan of sidepipes and Cragar SS wheels.
I also like the 80-82 rear bumpers as well as sport mirrors on 74-79 cars.
Im also installing C5 Z06 seats on my 74, in addition to all the mods mentioned above.
Id love an L88 hood, but repainting the car or hood is not on the short list.
Form follows function. So anything that makes a tangible improvement and also looks cool is worth doing. Sidepipes come to mind. And though they certainly look cool, don't the stinger hood and side exit grills actually reduce air flow through the radiator?
My wife wants there to be no external indications of having a modded Corvette. The only exception, which seems to really improve the look of the car, is the rear bumper, which was put on during a partial restoration about 20 years ago.. It is not the tacky add-on Pace Car spoiler, but a complete replacement. The 80-82 rear bumper would also be an improvement (see the post above). Discussion thread below with photos and possible sources.
I'm also a fan of the radio antenna delete. I have a 3D printed plug in place of mine, but @Richard454 actually has a useful vent in place.
Finally, replacing the carpeted console trim (77-82 perhaps) with leather was a big improvement, especially when driving with bare legs. CA makes a set, sold through Top Flight, or you could make your own if you have a source of the material (like a furniture supply store or something).
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Refurbing my Turbine rims, adding redstripes to my Cooper tires to make them redlines, 69 style side exhaust, sharkbar chrome harness bar, and C5 seats for comfort...i love my Hotwheels wrap but not everyone does....but its mine.
It really comes down to personal taste doesn't it.
Me, I put on what someone else calls a "Tacky pace car spoiler". Yet I don't find it tacky. But a period correct improvement. I truly like my pace car rear spoiler.
And my side skirts, and the matching rear skirts.
Tacky???
I just don't think so. But then maybe you do.
Doesn't matter. It really does come down to what YOU like or don't like.
So coming on here and asking for opinions is kinda OK. But at the end of the day. I hope your just looking for ideas. Because it's your car.
Do what makes YOU happy. Everyone else be damned.
I'm happy with how my side vents turned out - painted them a gunsomke color to match the wheels - added a little lighting
And I like my polished rollbar-
Just my opinion the 68/69 convertible is the best looking body style of the C3 run. The body is so damn sexy it really needs nothing to enhance the appearance and BTW, don't flare the fenders! Subtle body mods such as side marker and side mirror delete, side pipes, 17/18 wheels, custom paint, rear astro vent delete too. Very few mods are needed to accentuate the coolness of a 68/69.
Oh, yeah. Looking for ideas for sure. I'm still at a stage where I can pivot if there's a look out there I hadn't thought of that after seeing others I'd like to add. I really like some of these ideas, especially on the cars shown. Not all of them are for my ride, but they look good on yours. Thanks for the input.
I'm also digging the Frank Lloyd Wright reference. It's been a while since I've heard anybody else say "Form follows function." Good stuff.
Form follows function. So anything that makes a tangible improvement and also looks cool is worth doing. Sidepipes come to mind. And though they certainly look cool, don't the stinger hood and side exit grills actually reduce air flow through the radiator?
My wife wants there to be no external indications of having a modded Corvette. The only exception, which seems to really improve the look of the car, is the rear bumper, which was put on during a partial restoration about 20 years ago.. It is not the tacky add-on Pace Car spoiler, but a complete replacement. The 80-82 rear bumper would also be an improvement (see the post above). Discussion thread below with photos and possible sources.
I'm also a fan of the radio antenna delete. I have a 3D printed plug in place of mine, but @Richard454 actually has a useful vent in place.
Finally, replacing the carpeted console trim (77-82 perhaps) with leather was a big improvement, especially when driving with bare legs. CA makes a set, sold through Top Flight, or you could make your own if you have a source of the material (like a furniture supply store or something).
Im interested in the plug or vent in place of antenna.
Do you have more info or pics?
Just my opinion the 68/69 convertible is the best looking body style of the C3 run. The body is so damn sexy it really needs nothing to enhance the appearance and BTW, don't flare the fenders! Subtle body mods such as side marker and side mirror delete, side pipes, 17/18 wheels, custom paint, rear astro vent delete too. Very few mods are needed to accentuate the coolness of a 68/69.
From that pic it also looks like you removed the nose emblem, changed the front turn signals, and removed the antenna. Clean, very nice!
I really like the slanted rear window!
im guessing that’s a one-off custom job, and not a kit.
Correct, biggest job was to create a flat mating surface for the glass. OTOH having a piece of glass cut to shape and tempered is surprisingly inexpensive.
Best Appearance Mod's
