C8 Corvette or C2 Restomod: Which Would You Rather Have?

While many prefer the modern driving experience of the C8 Corvette, there are those that can’t resist the temptation of a C2 restomod.

Over the years, we’ve only seen the world of restomods continue to grow to new heights, which is notable in a world where trends tend to come and go. That certainly hasn’t been the case with restomods – particularly in the Corvette realm – where we continue to be amazed by the craftsmanship and technology that goes into these oftentimes extra-pricey builds. Combining something like, say, the timeless style of a C2 with modern mechanicals and amenities is an unbeatable combination, one could argue. But recently, CorvetteForum member Nelag presented us with a rather intriguing question in that regard – would anyone rather have a brand new C8 Corvette versus a C2 restomod?

This particular question is one that’s a bit more complex than one might think at first, because there are a lot of things to consider here. Would we be driving the C8 Corvette or C2 restomod on a regular basis, or would it be more of a weekend car, for example? “Nope. I value the performance, comfort, refinement, and handling over other things,” said RKCRLR. “And I’m not convinced a retromod would be more reliable than a factory built car.”

Then there’s the matter of what kind of C2 restomod build are we talking about – is it something that’s been put together on a budget, or is it a high-dollar, high-quality build from some top tier shop? “It will always depend on who built it, how much they knew about building a car, craftsmanship, etc.,” said AORoads. “If you expect the best, you can expect to pay a lot. If you want something that ‘seems’ to be good, well, it could disappoint. It’d be interesting to see what most C8 Corvette owners would do. I tend to doubt most would buy it – a restomod C2 – to replace a C8.”

Then there’s the debate over new versus old in general, which is one that has some strong opinions on both sides of the coin. “An old car is just like having a boat. The two happiest days are the day it’s bought and the day it’s sold,” said 1 Sting. “A stock C2 is more a Corvette than any version of a C8. It’s not about tech or horsepower, it’s what it is,” countered MikeFloyd.

As for newcastlegreg, well, he put together an entire pro and con list for such an important decision, albeit with a little sarcasm thrown in for good measure. “The C2 has some superior practicalities,” he notes. “It is incredibly easy to see out of. The visibility is so good you don’t even need a passenger side mirror. It is also very very easy to get in and out of. It does not have road noise/tire rumble It always has plenty of ground clearance. The fuel outlet is in the center so can be fuel from either side. You can put it in neutral and push it instead of dragging it on rollers. It has no annoying buzzers and chimes. It has no CEL codes to terrify you. It has tires and rims that don’t break when you hit a pothole. It does not have the OnStar lady.”

As one might imagine, this debate has garnered a tremendous number of responses in a short period of time, which is to be expected for such a controversial and divisive topic. However, we’re truly curious to hear what everyone prefers in this case, so be sure and head over here to let us know – if you could only have one, would you rather own a C8 Corvette or C2 restomod?

Photos: Retro Designs, Chevrolet

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