Restored Corvette Roadster 283 4 Speed

If you're looking for a gorgeous car to cruise in next summer, allow us to present this heartbreaking 1960 Corvette roadster. If there's a better way to spend a warm summer evening than behind the wheel of a car that looks and drives like this, with a 283 cubic inch V8 under the hood and a 4-speed under your hand, I can't imagine what it might be. Classic styling with surprisingly modern performance, it's a car that will hold its value year-in and year-out with just a little bit of maintenance.

Go ahead, daydream a little bit about what it might feel like to have the wind blowing past as you motor down a quiet country road, I'll wait…

Got that image firmly planted in your mind? Good, because after you look carefully at this car, you're going to want to take it home. First off, it's a largely original car that's in spectacular condition you can see that in the photos with a claimed original mileage figure of about 34,500. The color is called Tasco Turquoise, one of only 635 painted that color in 1960, and it is in great condition, although it was repainted some years ago. The 1960 Corvettes were little changed from the '59s, which means that the cool '50s hue looks exactly right on the curvaceous little roadster. 1960 was the last year for the taillights to be integrated into the rounded rear fenders, and I think it perfectly compliments the contrasting side cove and wrap-around windshield. That side cove is probably the most instantly recognizable design element on these early Corvettes, and it is beautifully outlined with a slender stainless steel strip. Gaps are decent, about what you would expect from original, vintage 1960 fiberglass. In fact, the more I look at this Tasco Turquoise, the more I like it. You couldn't paint a new car that color and have it look this good. Only vintage curves can carry it off, and this car does it superbly.

Much of the chrome and other trim remains unrestored, and for 50 years old, it's remarkably well-preserved. There's quite a bit of ornamentation on this sports car, from the aforementioned stainless around the side cove to the polished windshield frame, to the chrome strips that run along the tops of the front fenders. I also really dig the prominent Corvette badges front and rear, which appear to be excellent quality reproduction pieces. There's always some debate over whether the single or dual-headlight models are more attractive, but I don't think anyone can argue that this isn't a spectacular-looking car in every way. And speaking of headlights, those are original T3 units up front.

By 1960, just seven short years after its birth, the Corvette had evolved into a very potent performer on the road. The 283 cubic inch V8 was the only engine available, but it could be ordered in a variety of tunes, ranging from 230 horsepower in the standard engine to a whopping 315 horsepower with fuel injection. The 283 in this roadster is a later block sporting dual 4-barrel carburetors and doing a great impression of the top carbureted engine in 1960, a 270 horsepower piece very potent in such a lightweight package. The engine was rebuilt and installed a few years ago, and like most small-block Chevys, runs beautifully without being fussy, despite the hot camshaft. Bathed in correct Chevrolet Orange paint, it also features correct hoses and clamps, color-coded return springs on the carburetor linkage, and the correct Corvette finned aluminum valve covers. A chrome air cleaner and distributor shield add a little underhood flash, and this one still runs a correct 12-volt generator, which works perfectly. Once again, I'm going to ask you to think about the sound this engine will make on that quiet country road I was talking about earlier imagine you're at 3500 RPM in 3rd gear and you crack open all eight barrels as the car lunges forward. Music!

Of course, the only transmission I care to use behind an engine like that is a manual, and this one packs a T10 4-speed from Borg-Warner. With positive throws and light action, it's the ideal traveling partner to the 283. Clutch action is surprisingly light, and the car drives easily. The chassis is clean and original, not necessarily detailed for show, a fact you'll appreciate when driving down that country road I've been talking about you won't be worrying about chips and cleaning it up afterwards. A throaty dual exhaust system gives the engine a crisp burble that you'll relish when you run through the gears, giving the throttle an extra blip every time you go through a tunnel. The brakes have been rebuilt and stop the car confidently. Original 15-inch steel wheels with spinner hubcaps ride inside a set of 205/75 Coker Classic wide whitewall radials for vastly improved ride and handling.

The mostly original black interior is HIGHLY unusual for a Tasco Turquoise car, but definitely a factory option. Probably no more than a handful were configured in this way, since most opted for the matching turquoise interior. Personally, I think the black gives this car an aggressive edge that perfectly complements the potent small-block under the hood. The wheel looks and feels like a race piece (which, I suppose it was in 1960), the cue-ball tipped shifter feels great in your hands, and the bucket seats are just as comfortable as they look. The door panels are absolutely gorgeous pieces that are a symphony of materials and shapes, and the dashboard is stuffed full of useful gauges that are all fully functional, including the center-mounted tachometer. I'm guessing that even the carpets are original, since the center transmission tunnel carpets look like they have some history and represent further evidence that the black interior in this car is correct. Overhead there's a white vinyl top that stows easily under the rear deck and seals up nicely, just in case. The trunk features the original mat and full-sized spare tire.

Ready to hit the road yet? Despite being 50 years old, these cars drive and handle like much more modern pieces. Their performance allows them to keep up with traffic, and you might surprise a kid or two in a hopped-up Honda or Mustang, it's fast. With gorgeous looks that everyone can appreciate, you're a 1-car parade anywhere you go. But really, this car looks best from behind the wheel, where you can feel the machine doing it's thing, feel the wind, and see the sun overhead. What better way to enjoy the Plastic Fantastic than this highly original, clean, unmolested roadster. Until you've been at the wheel of your own Corvette, you just don't know what you're missing. To find out, call us now!