Restomod vs Restoration: Which Classic Corvette is Best for You?

Owning a classic Corvette is amazing, but driving habits play a critical role in choosing a car. Here are a few tips & suggestions.

Not long ago, I came across a Craigslist ad selling a vintage Corvette Stingray with a 427 under the hood. This was a stunning example of American Iron, but it got me thinking about the comparisons between authentic, Concours-ready restorations and daily-driver RestoMods. The labels give a clue as to what the differences might be. From a practical perspective, there are ramifications to each option.

Concours-Quality Pros & Cons

So you want to show off your car at a Concours-type exhibition? That’s a lot of work, and for someone that likes to drive muscle cars, some of the work is tedious. Add to that the amount of time it may take to find the exact matching speedometer or a steering wheel from the right year; the swap meets, car shows, and obscure publications you peruse for that one part that makes the restoration complete. Of course, the search is half the fun for many restorers. But remember, every mile you drive in an authentic restoration takes it further from original condition. And you can’t really drive the wheels off of a car like that. The reward is high – there’s nothing like exhibiting your car with a winning trophy from a really tough Concours.

Driver Quality Pros & Cons

What if you want to drive your prized possession, getting the long stares, high-fives, and revving salutes from admirers along the way? A resto-mod might be the answer. A resto-mod keeps the spirit of a vintage car, but includes some cool factor and other niceties. Add air conditioning, stereo, custom wheels, disc brakes, and a creative paint job, and you have something unique to you that you can drive more often. As someone who loves to drive, this is the kind of restoration I like. If you only have room in your garage (or budget for that matter) for one vintage car, this might be the way to go. Rather than spending all of your free time searching for hard-to-find parts, drive around, smoke the tires, and wow bystanders.

Vintage Racing

There is one more subcategory – racing. Vintage racing is super popular as race fans remember the ‘good-ol-days’ of Trans-Am racing in the US. The muscle car classes are very popular as Camaros. Mustangs, Chargers, and Vettes scream around modern race courses. There’s a certain ambiance in the paddock when vintage muscle cars are being prepped for high-speed action. These were the cars you could sling around the turns, get all sideways, and scream down the straights.

Final Tips

So owning and driving a vintage muscle car can come in many different colors and flavors. Decide what about vintage cars makes you happy and go from there. We all look at vintage cars in many ways. Think Chip Foose (car designer and artist, host of TV’s Overhaulin;) vs. Wayne Carini (master car restorer, host of TV’s Chasing Classic Cars) vs. Ron Fellows (Corvette race driver).

What’s best for you? Only you will know. And, who knows, maybe you want one or more of each. Good luck!

Photos: General Motors

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