1962 C1 is Dripping in Restomod Magic

What's Old is New Again

For those unfamiliar with the term “restomod,” it’s time to pay attention to one of the fastest growing trends in the automotive customization and restoration world. By pairing old classics with contemporary performance engineering, automotive fans worldwide have given way to imaginative and groundbreaking restorations that will alter the automotive world for decades to come. The story of John Pantanella’s incredible 1962 Corvette restoration combines everything car hobbyists and collectors love: an embrace of classic style and a celebration of contemporary performance capability.

[Photos courtesy of Super Chevy]

Classic Interior with Digital Guages

Pantanella had pined for a 1962 Corvette his entire life. After all, the car is the ideal embodiment of classic Corvette contours that have made the make legendary. However, when Pantanella realized the vehicle’s performance failed to meet his expectation, he decided to take matters into his own hands —with the help, of course, of some of the nation’s foremost experts in automotive design and engineering. 

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

Runnin' Down a Dream

His solution? Joining forces with Classic Car Studio of St. Louis to brainstorm a restomod —restoration/modification —to pair his dream car’s classic Corvette look with a contemporary performance punch. Pantanella and CSS’ goal was to pair a restored 1962 Corvette body with a newly-designed, custom-built, one-of-a-kind modern chassis. What better way to combine classic Corvette style with contemporary performance capability?

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

'62 Style Meets a Modern Chassis

With the help of the Roadster Shop of Mundelein, Illinois, the car's 1953-1962 Fast Track chassis was constructed on fully-boxed frame rails utilizing the car's original body mount locations, core supports and bumper positions. And while minimal changes were made to the car's outer plastic shell, a few cool touches were added to further illustrate its unique style.

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

Reframing Conventional Corvette Thinking

First off, the car was outfitted with a front grille from a 1953 Corvette, an addition that looks fantastic playing off the vehicle’s iridium silver paint scheme. For the interior, Pantanella and a master fabricator opted for vermillion red leather, which extends from the seats to across the steering wheel, dashboard and door panels. It's a look that's bound to catch the eye of those on the road and those on the sidewalks —particularly when the roof is dropped.

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

Killer Vintage Style

Pantanella's Corvette is powered by a Connect & Cruise LS3 6.2L 430-horsepower engine —one that's as practical as it is powerful —offering 425 ft/lbs of torque at 4600 RPM. The motor is seated in a color-matched engine frame and paired with a custom-designed exhaust provided by a MagnaFlow performance exhaust system. 

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

Art on Wheels

Pantanella's and CSS' vision has resulted in one of the most impressive C1 rebuilds on the road today —a car that's as performance-savvy as any modern speedster, complete with the classic looks that automotive fans the world over can fawn over. 

>>Join the conversation about this restomod C1 Corvette right here in CorvetteForum.com.

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