Frame Off Built Corvette Restomod Smeding 383ci V8 450hp 5spd A/C

The classic car world is full of fun creations with wild paint schemes, extreme drivetrains and artful interiors. While those cars are awesome to look at, 10-minute start-up procedures and blind hunts for accessory controls frustrate even the most enthusiastic gearhead. Anyone who's spent time around the collector car hobby will agree there's truly something special about owning a well-built classic that's comfortable and easy to live with. And this superb Corvette is just that - a first class cruiser that's wrapped in bare-knuckle Motor City style. With proven Chevrolet power, an engaging 5-speed and modern air conditioning, this roadster was built to be driven. And if you're tired of superficial classics that emphasize appearance over practicality, it's the real deal retro relic you've been longing for!

APPEARANCE

When it comes to appeal, modern society operates on a myriad of unspoken rules that ultimately determine the winners and the losers. On the surface, judgements might seem shallow or fickle. But a deeper look reveals a pattern or, 'algorithm' if you will, that highlights the value of basic attributes. Take the iPhone, for example: it's relatable, it's charmingly attractive and it's incredibly engaging. Or Facebook, a service that's easy to use, visually appealing and highly addictive. That 'just right' mindset feels like the perfect way to describe this Corvette's killer appearance. Simply put: the car is a winner. It's handsome without being too traditional. It's fresh without being too outlandish. And it manages to be unique while mastering the art of mass appeal.

The car's solid body, massaged to near perfection during a 2009 restoration, is covered in a glossy coat of metallic 2-stage. Not nearly as pastel as the C1's 1956 Artic Blue, that paint is also much more subdued than Jetstream Blue Metallic: the popular hue that characterized the 2009 Corvette line-up. At the front of the silky pigment, an aggressive chrome grille floats chromed guards between chrome-trimmed parking lamps, bright halogen headlights and convex bumpers that bend around peaked fenders. Between those fenders, a crisp header emblem leads the eye through a sculpted hood, which fronts like-new glass that's cleared by electric windshield wipers. Those wipers blend perfectly with classy stainless frames, which reflect a neutral canvas top. Below that top, traditional handles and correct mirrors perfectly complement chrome fender vents and stainless-trimmed door coves. And at the back of the car, a crisp trunk emblem reflects flashy taillights, two more bumpers and vertical trim spears that center stainless exhaust pipes in dramatic quarter panels.

POWER

Tilt the hood and you'll find 383 cubic inches of stroked Chevrolet small block that, thanks to the pros at Smeding Performance, twist a stout 450 horsepower into 450 lb./ft. of curve-carving torque. Power originates when wind whips from a polished air cleaner in to a 750cfm Holley 4-barrel. That carb, sequenced behind stainless lines, feeds an Edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap intake. That intake floods trick AFR heads, which hide a custom-grind hydraulic roller cam under a matte breather and detailed Proform valve covers. Those covers anchor color-keyed looms between a hot HEI distributor and thick MSD Super Conductor plug wires. Fire from those wires bumps hypereutectic 9 to 1 pistons that have been finished with anti-friction graphite coating and moly rings. Those pistons push 4130 forged I-beam rods, which spin ARP Wave-Loc bolts around a forged, micro-polished crank. Spent gases roar through coated long-tube headers. Charge comes courtesy of a polished Powermaster alternator, which, thanks to pliable V-belts, spins next to an aluminum water pump and a polished AC compressor. Cooling comes courtesy of a beefy Griffin radiator that's mated to dual Proform pusher fans. And the car's iron, 4-bolt block is dressed with items like a deep-sump oil pan, a high-torque mini starter and an old school Harrison expansion tank.

POWER MANAGEMENT

Under this regal roadster, a tough Richmond 4+1 transmission kicks a 9-inch Currie third member that's fitted with 3.73 gears and a Truetrac limited-slip differential. That third member, detailed with 31-spline axles and Torino ends, pushes a traditional leaf suspension. Opposite those springs, Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering leads a modern Jim Meyer Racing front-clip. Stops are provided by four power-assisted Baer calipers, which utilize braided fluid lines to squeeze four vented rotors. A high-octane soundtrack is provided by throaty Flowmaster mufflers, which are threaded into large stainless tubes that employ an H-shaped crossover. And at the corners of the car, Gloss Black steelies spin 215/65R16 BF Goodrich Traction T/As around polished, bowtie-branded hub caps.

COMFORT

Inside this awesome Vette, class is the name of the game as tasteful Tan vinyl creates a stylish complement to the car's luxurious paint. Pop the doors and you'll find short bucket seats that are both firm and supportive. At the sides of those thrones, quilted panels back traditional door hardware. Below those panels, tight carpet frames an elegant shifter. At the front of that carpet, a 2-tone dash founds Vintage Air conditioning next to a traditional speaker that's wired to modern audio. And in front of the driver, a leather-wrapped steering wheel laps modern Cruise Control.

VEHICLE SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

* A vintage Operations Manual
* Component literature

This fully sorted Chevy is a wonderful classic to drive, enjoy and turn a lot of heads in. It's really no surprise that first generation Corvettes are amazingly popular with almost everyone who sees them, because they mix distinctly American style with a great ownership experience. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the phone, park this roadster in your garage and get ready for years of carefree cruising!

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SUMMARY

* The beneficiary of a detailed, ground-up restoration
* 383 cubic inch Smeding Performance crate engine / 450 horsepower
* Richmond 4+1 5-speed manual transmission
* Modern air conditioning
* Modern Cruise Control / Modern audio
* Jim Meyer Racing front suspension
* Currie 9-inch rear axle / Truetrac limited-slip differential / 3.73 gears
* Baer 4-wheel power disc brakes
* Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering
* 16-inch steel wheels