October 30, 2018
Posted By : Barrett-Jackson
Written By : independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

MIND MELD: This custom 1957 Corvette roadster is a reimagining of a C1 ʼVette from the ground up

MIND MELD: This custom 1957 Corvette roadster is a reimagining of a C1 ʼVette from the ground up

October 30, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Yellow Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

custom 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Steve's Auto Restorations

A stunning custom 1957 Chevrolet Corvette roadster built by Steve’s Auto Restorations will be heading across the block at the 2019 Scottsdale Auction.

1957 Corvette Custom Roadster

You can build one heckuva Corvette if you throw out the rulebook and pick and choose all the best parts from Corvette history and the GM catalog, along with a large dose of aftermarket hardware. A creator with vision can build a vintage Corvette that maintains its nostalgic charm and yet performs like the hottest late-model exotic.

That’s what the builders of this remarkable 1957 custom Corvette roadster did. The car, which will cross the block at the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction at No Reserve, was designed and constructed by Steve’s Auto Restorations, the shop that was most recently in the news for building the hot rod that won the Ridler Award at the 2017 Detroit Autorama.

1957 Corvette Custom RoadsterSteve Frisbie, the owner of Steve’s Auto Restorations, had clear goals in mind for the car. “I wanted to start with a 1957 C1 Corvette body and restyle it using ‘one-off’ designed components – such as bumpers, hood, gauges, wheels, plus several subtle body modifications – to create a vehicle that was not only custom but also had a degree of elegance to it,” he said.

At first glance, the car is pure 1957 Corvette. But then you start noticing the details. The custom hood scoop looks like it came from the Corvette bloodline, and it did, being patterned after the famous 1967 Sting Ray “Stinger” big-block hood scoop, reimagined and proportioned for this ’57.

The trunk lid is the 1953-55 Corvette design with the recessed license plate, and is integrated with stock 1957 taillights and rear bumpers, redesigned and fabricated for a snug fit. The windshield is from a 1953 Corvette, which is two inches shorter than the ’57’s windshield. The lower profile works, since the door windows have been removed, with new door trim top pieces, making the car a true roadster. Custom-designed 18-inch aluminum wheels are painted to match the car and are fitted with custom tri-bar center caps with Corvette emblems inserted.

1957 Corvette Custom RoadsterThe Corvette influence from different eras carries on under the skin. The SR111 Motorsports chassis was fitted with a C5 front suspension and C4 rear suspension. The rear outlets for the stainless-steel exhaust were inspired by the C5 outlets.

As you’d expect, this Corvette packs a punch they could only dream about in 1957. The LSA 6.2-liter supercharged Cadillac engine produces 556 horsepower. It is teamed with a T56 6-speed manual transmission, although the vintage Corvette shifter maintains the retro vibe.

“This car handles like a newer sports car when taking curves and sticking to the road, with a ‘not too firm’ independent combination C4 and C5 suspension to soak up the irregularities in the road surfaces,” Frisbie said. “The responsiveness of the 556-horsepower supercharged Cadillac motor is instantaneous. Shifting the 6-speed Tremec manual transmission is like running a hot knife through melted butter as you go through the gears.”

The seamless meshing of old and new includes some extraordinarily slick packaging. The engine compartment panels show no visible fasteners. The custom, color-keyed engine cover is cleanly integrated under-hood. The entire color palette of the chassis components was designed to complement the Murano Yellow Pearl Yellow exterior paint color.

1957 Corvette Custom Roadster“I needed to pick a color that was not widely used but was still pleasant to the eye and would present itself well, thus the Murano Pearl Yellow, which was a total custom mix and the offset white in the side coves and on the ‘baby’ stinger,” Frisbie said.

That attention to detail carries over to the interior. Although still recognizably 1950s Corvette, unique touches are everywhere. The custom-designed Classic Instruments gauges have the Z06 checkered background pattern. The waterfall console panel is custom-designed. The leather interior includes custom door panels with fabricated armrests and a padded leather dash pad. The primary driving interfaces are a wood-grain steering wheel and custom-machined pedal assemblies. The trunk, too, features carpet and leather coordinated to match the rest of the car.

We mentioned earlier the possibilities that can emerge when you toss out the rulebook. For this custom ’57 Corvette, it resulted in an utterly unique classic sports car combining elegance, technological sophistication and blistering performance.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at the entire 2019 Scottsdale Preview Docket (with more vehicles being added daily), click HERE.

Heritage Partners