The iconic split-window 1963 Corvette is always in demand. At the January 2023 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., we saw a pristine black Corvette with “matching numbers” sell for $313,500. You might suspect this high price only applies to pure and authentic original models. But soon after, we witnessed a silver custom split-window restomod Corvette sell for $381,700.
At the same event, a 1965 Corvette convertible with an NCRS Regional Top Flight award sold for $159,500, while a 1966 custom Corvette convertible sold for $181,500. The writing is on the wall, and Joe Clevenger knows it.
Shop now for 1963-1967 CorvettesClevenger is an electrical contractor from Kansas City. He works on a new restomod Corvette every year and brings it to Barrett-Jackson for sale. His beautiful work fetches top dollar.
Clevenger tells us:
Buyers like the originality, but they want modern conveniences.
Have It Your Way
Classic cars offered for sale usually fall into one of three categories:
- An original survivor that is unchanged
- A faithful restoration that replicates the original design and equipment
- A restomod that blends old equipment but adds modern conveniences
Each category has a market, but restomods stand out as the rising stars.
An Original Survivor
When a vehicle is sold as “original,” it usually means that the owners drove it without upgrading or updating any components. Survivors are typically low-mileage vehicles that a first owner no longer wants. Or it’s a vehicle with several owners who fixed issues as soon as they arose.
A survivor might have new paint, but not necessarily in the original factory hue. For it be a legit survivor, it must use only original factory-installed parts. Many collectors covet the authenticity of a survivor classic.
Restored to Original
Many restored cars are brought back to “like new” condition. That means it has the original engine, or a similar one, with a matching transmission. Attention to detail makes the difference in restorations. For example, experts might point out what parts of the engine bay should be painted flat black or which components should be painted the body color.
Sometimes, aficionados take things to the extreme and demand that every piece of the vehicle is “date-code correct.” For example, if the car was built in March 1967, they insist on using a carburetor made before that date.
Many marques have a collectors group that judges cars and publishes standards that an original car must match. For example, Corvette owners have the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). It assists owners and builders wanting to restore a vehicle to “as manufactured” status. The NCRS Top Flight Award is given to cars passing a 4,500-point judging process.
Restomod Corvettes on the Rise
When a vehicle undergoes a “restomod” restoration, there’s a new double focus. First, it’s essential to keep the outward look of the classic. But it’s even more critical to improve the ride, reliability, and power of the car, even if it means using brand-new gear.
A restomod might have a newer engine with electronic fuel injection and an overdrive automatic transmission. It might ride on a new suspension and chassis to offer a superior driving experience.
The chief benefit of a restomod is that it retains the look of a classic car but with the performance and handling of a newer car. In addition, builders can improve a classic by eliminating flaws in the original model.
Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson, tells us:
We’re showing that this is an important part of our hobby. Restomods are going to keep evolving.
Restomods are also often built faster. Restorers don’t need to search for specific components— usually produced in limited numbers—which might be hard to find.
Purity is of less concern with a restomod Corvette. The newest generation of classic-car fans is often looking for eye candy, and they like the look of an older car. At the same time, they want modern conveniences like power windows, a bluetooth head unit, and a digital gauge display.
Shop now for 1963-1967 CorvettesThe sale listing for a classic car might mention that it’s a restomod or custom. There’s no official terminology, but these terms suggest that the car was modified from its original condition. There’s another sign that a vehicle was changed into a restomod: a high price reflecting market demand for beautiful vintage cars with upgraded modern technology.
