Heavily modified yet reasonably stock-looking, this amazing 1957 Corvette is one truly masterful creation.
Restomods are all the rage in the Corvette world, and for some very good reasons – chiefly among them, the fact that old Corvettes are simply gorgeous machines that sometimes need nothing more than modern mechanicals to take them to the next level. We’ve seen some truly stunning restomods over the years, and yet, we’re continuously blown away by what the highly skilled craftsmen out there continue to conjure up. The latest is this – a simply amazing 1957 Corvette built by Steve’s Auto Restorations out of Portland, Oregon, and featured in a new video from Hand Built Cars.
This particular 1957 Corvette started life as little more than a well-worn shell, at which point the folks at Steve’s sat down and came up with a design for their build – one that would showcase the best of the car’s classic styling, while also blending in some truly modern elements. As such, essentially none of this car’s original mechanicals remain, as it now rides on a custom round tube chassis built by SRIII from New Lenox, Illinois.
To that sturdy base, the folks at Steve’s added a thoroughly modern and rather powerful source of motivation – GM’s supercharged 6.2-liter LSA crate V8, which generates a healthy 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque. That power flows to the rear wheels via a Tremec six-speed manual transmission for what we assume is brisk performance, without a doubt.
Underneath, Steve’s Auto Restoration treated this C1 to a full C5 suspension in the front and rear, topping it off with a set of custom machined 18-inch wheels wrapped with BFGoodrich 245/45 tires in the front and 255/45s in the rear. Those complement some subtle yet major body modifications that include a brand new front clip and a more streamlined design with a 1953-1955 windshield frame and trunk lid.
There are loads of other subtle custom touches present here as well, including “capped off” doors, custom trim pieces, and custom fabricated front and rear bumperettes, with the front piece now serving as a holder for the turn signal housings. The hood is also a one-off piece with a Stinger-style scoop. Inside the cabin, that custom theme continues with a one-off steering wheel and pedal assembly, making for a truly stunning showpiece by anyone’s standards.
Overall, this 1957 Corvette is sort of like the Goldilocks of restomods – it’s just right – not too hot, and not too cold. Steve’s did a fantastic job of enhancing what was already a gorgeous, iconic machine, even though it’s far more modified than the casual observer might think, and that’s a true testament to this particular shop’s skill level.
Photos: Steve’s Auto Restorations
Keyword: LSA-Powered 1957 Corvette Is a Truly Stunning Work of Automotive Art