LS2-Powered 1959 Corvette Restomod Is One Cool Modern Cruiser

Blending new and old doesn’t always pan out, but this 1959 Corvette restomod build is truly a masterpiece.

Corvette restomods are one of those things in life that can either be done very tastefully, enhancing what is already a great machine to begin with, or they can be botched in horrible ways that makes one want to present face to palm every time they see it. Thankfully, that isn’t the case with this particular 1959 Corvette restomod that’s currently up for grabs at Bring a Trailer. In fact, despite its bevy of modern parts, this 1959 Corvette restomod is anything but offensive, masterfully toeing the line between old and new in a way that many cannot.

That process starts on the outside, where the builder went with a simple approach – give this C1 a beautiful black metallic paint job, which covers the entire surface including the coves. There is some chrome left, however, in the form of the front grille and bumpers, along with quad exhaust tips, a black convertible top, and staggered 18- and 19- Z06 wheels wrapped with Continental Extreme Contact Sport tires measuring 275/40 in the front and 325/30 in the rear.

The interior features a mixture of new and old as well, with black leather bucket seats joined by carbon fiber trim, a Lokar shifter, a Kenwood stereo system, an aftermarket leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Dakota Digital gauges breaking up what is otherwise an original-looking cabin.

Things get really serious when we peek underneath the surface, however. There, we’ll find a full Art Morrison Max-G chassis with a C5 Corvette-derived front suspension, adjustable coilovers, power steering, and drilled and slotted Wilwood brakes with six-piston calipers in the front and four-pistons units in the rear. Power for this gorgeous machine comes from a modern LS2 V8, which breathes through a dual exhaust and sends its power to the rear wheels via a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission and 9-inch rear end.

Add it all up, and this 1959 Corvette restomod is a truly masterful build, one that blends plenty of modern elements into a decidedly old vehicle without looking like some sort of Frankenstein-like creation. That isn’t terribly easy to do, of course, but in this case, the builder certainly nailed it.

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Photos: Bring a Trailer