We’ve seen numerous modified Chevrolet Corvettes over the years here at Barn Finds, with the end results ranging from mild to wild. This 2006 Chevrolet Corvette started life as a Z06, making over 500 horsepower right from the factory. While the power has been raised significantly, it’s the exterior that draws attention here before what’s hiding under the hood. This one’s been transformed outside to resemble a ’63 coupe, split windows and all, with the work completed back in 2012. The ‘Vette is now looking for a new home, so if you’re finding this one irresistible, it can be seen here on Hemmings. So far, bidding has reached $20,000, but that’s still short of the reserve. PRA4SNW, thank you for another great tip!
The seller points out that this is not a kit car, but rather a custom creation made by Karl Kustoms in Des Moines, Iowa, a company that lists the Corvette as one of their favorite models to work on. The story goes that the car here retains about 50% of the 2006 donor, including the chassis, doors, windshield, and drivetrain. They’re quick to point out that no iconic ’63s were sacrificed to build this one, and that no expenses were spared to create this unusual two-seater. The color is also a custom hue, which is called Crystal Red Sunglow Metallic, and it seems like a perfect choice to complement the exterior here.
Most drivers would have considered the factory LS7 engine adequate, as the 7.0 churned out 505 HP in stock form, but not this customer! An Edelbrock E-Force supercharger was ordered and placed on top, boosting the horsepower number up to 657, so this one’s got plenty of performance to go along with the looks. Borla mufflers were also added, and since the build was completed, only 3,683 miles have been traveled. More good news is the transmission, which is the original 6-speed manual from the donor Z06.
To be nearing the two-decade anniversary, things inside are still looking good, with the interior condition leading me to believe the 18,391 miles showing on the odometer may be actual for the Z06. The seller also mentions that the donor Corvette wasn’t wrecked or salvaged, and I’d like to thank reader jeffschevelle for pointing out that the seller lets us take a peek at one “before” photo in the documents section from the listing. Regarding a bid of $16k, the seller replied to a comment on Hemmings, saying it will take a “HECK” of a lot more than that to move the hammer here. What are your thoughts on this custom Corvette? Any ideas of how much cash the owner may be expecting?
Interesting car. The foundation, chassis and drive train are great starting point, the question is, how does it look in person. The pictures are taken from angles that make it hard to tell it’s true proportions. The 1963 Corvette coupe is one of the best looking cars to ever come out of Chevrolet, it’s hard to improve but easy to mess up, especially if you extend the front or squash the roof.
Steve R
Pic # 11 in the Documents pics has a picture of the “before” car.
Nice vette but a little over done for my taste, especially the painted engine cover. Again nice vette.
IDK, it looks pretty proportioned to me un like some of the Frankenstein kit cars we see here. Faithful reproduction of the style of those Sting Rays. But I wonder, it’s possible to build a classic Mustang from parts still available (NOS?) and this one company whose name escapes me has done it. It ain’t cheap. What should this one go for? $100000. Not saying it’s fair but I would expect it.
For what it probably cost to build this Frankenstein, you probably could have bought a Z06 & a 63 Coupe.
I’ve seen photos on a couple of 63 conversions and one shown on TV. Most looked ‘off’ when you look at the body. This one though looks OK proportionally in some pictures, it looks off in others. Personally if I wanted a C2 63 Vette, I’d look at whether one could be found or not.
I have seen these cars in person and it is hard to find faults with them. The Resto-Mod Corvettes have become extremely popular and bringing big money, many times more than original cars. I am not understanding the low bids. I wouldn’t have any problem owning this car and driving it like I didn’t!
Beautiful car, well thought out design making a slight improvement over the original 63 coupe. Easily a $100k car.
Don’t really care for the mirrors but other than that the exterior looks real good. Interior I probably would’ve tried to go with little more of the 63 look if possible. Owners had it built to their liking.
Looks a hell of a lot better than the donor car, which to me always had a rather bulbous jelly-like nose on it that didn’t seem to mesh with the rest of the car. I agree with the seller it’s worth a lot more than what the current offer is, the question is how much more?
I can tell you exactly what he is expecting. I just bought one. That is an $80,000 dollar car at minimum.
If you just bought one I would guess that you would know that it is way more than a $80,000 car.
I have to say, I love this..a Z06 Vette made to look like my favorite of all Vettes, a C2. Careful with that throttle. Hit it hard and it might rip the chassis right out from underneath that body! Power to spare, power to go with the looks. One of the commenters is right, I’d be surprised if the hammer fell before $100k.
Maybe the coolest custom Vet I’ve ever seen!
Very nice and well done.😁😁😁
Well guys, I guess I’m going to be the lone one here with my opinion. I’ve owned 3 Corvettes and I love them. But I’m not in favor of taking something and trying to make it look like something else, especially when that “something else” is a 1963 split window Corvette. But hey, each to their own. I hope it will sell to someone who really appreciates it.
Wondering about that CEL showing in the cluster photo? Might be a nightmare to own and maintain with all the custom bits. Agree with Steve that this one seems like a strange beast.
This is how the Seller addressed the CEL light:
RE: @Khosi5656 The photographer put the ignition in the accessory mode in order to take a pic of the (low mileage) odometer reading; the engine was not running; therefore the reason for the “check engine light”. Good eye Khosi5656! Happy bidding!!!!!!!!!!! Jim
If there never was a Corvette, everyone would love this, but complain that the back half looks like an old Riviera. For a custom SWC wanna be, I like it a lot more than Mazzilli’s 1983 Lost Vette with the SWC treatment. Looks well constructed from the pix..
This is the nicest looking Corvette I have ever seen of every year sine the beginning of the Corvette line.
Really?????
This is a resto kit car…..why do it when one can buy a split window; remove th e body and plant to a C-5???? Waste of time and money. I am @$35,000 strictly toy kit car that was someone else’s dream/design. Neither a split window nor a C-5 but a grouping of pieces!
Not for me or my collection. Then again, it is said” there is an ass for every seat”. Good luck to the builder/seller!
This is a resto kit car…..why do it when one can buy a split window; remove the body and plant to a C-5???? Waste of time and money. I am @$35,000 strictly toy kit car that was someone else’s dream/design. Neither a split window nor a C-5 but a grouping of pieces!
Not for me or my collection. Then again, it is said” there is an ass for every seat”. Good luck to the builder/seller!
Well, I’m not sure how to feel about this thing. Carl Moyer is pretty well known in the Corvette crowd and certainly puts out a quality product but I’m just not feelin’ this example. If I was going to dump the kind of money that it will take to buy this, I’m pretty sure that I would much rather go with a ’70 SS Chevelle reproduction from Trans Am World in Tallahassee than this. Both shops are expensive, (200 to 400K) but I just don’t particularly like the look of this one. I’m sure there will those that disagree with me, but that’s what makes the car world interesting.
I wouldn’t kick this little cutie out of my garage ! But then again, I’m no purist, either I like a car, or I don’t, other peoples opinions are just their opinions.
Ridiculous and ugly. That about sums this silly thing up.
Always nice to see the skill that’s out there
Funny thing about ebay. If you want to know what the market thinks itis worth, you will get a direct answer. But for a one off car like this, you won’t like the answer.
I like this, but can’t see it going for much more than a stock one in similar condition. Certainly worth more than the current bid, but ebay is probably the wrong place to list this anyways.
Not my cup of tea, but to each their own.
Once I saw one of those late model, nondescript T-Birds with a kit to make it look like a 50 Ford.
But I’d still rather have a 50 Ford
What! No side pipes!
It’s up to 75K now with 3 days left.
I’m afraid that the only way the seller is going to realize a big payday on this is through a popular TV auction where they eat these things up. The seller even mentions seeing 4 similar replicas built by “no name” builders hammer at > 200K.
It’s over 100K.
Watch out when they say “ tribute, or “Project”. Could be a minefield.
I’m not a real fan of these re-made cars, but I’ll say without looking at the ebay ad, nicely done with a body that seems to mesh together.
Certainly a few miles better than that first generation Seville 2-door with the fake fender spare tires or, even worse, the convertible.
…whew …..past $100,000 already….maybe I’ll just buy a home in Tennessee instead….oh well….
…whew …..past $100,000 already….maybe I’ll just buy a home in Tennessee instead….oh well….
A back dated creation that doesn’t look weird or “off”. Only thing I would do is change the engine cover. It’s a little too much.
With no room for wheel travel & those huge low profile tires & wheels, this vette will ride like a truck on all the bad roads in my area.
Lose the ugly “modern” door mirrors & mount ’70s GM or even Ford true racing mirrors.
Too bad it’s got that ugly plastic piece at the front of each door where there’s supposed to be glass. GM, starting in the ’80s, wanted to save cable & wire by not having to run remote wires or a cable to the bottom of the door & back up the other side.
This car still definitely looks a million times better than the current vette & too bad this ISN’T the current vette!
From what I see, this sold on Hemmings for $162,000. Personally, if they could’ve made the roof look a little more authentic I would’ve liked it a whole lot better. I’m sure the buyer got it for a song compared to how much it would’ve cost to have it built. not to mention having to wait for it. Personally I would much rather have the questionable 69 COPC 427 Maroon Chevelle. It may not be the real deal but I certainly like it better than this. Although, I would like to “borrow” this for a weekend. HA HA! I’ll bet it would be a blast to drive. Really like the color as well. Looks a lot like my wife’s 08 CTS-V. Just looked at the pics and the driver side quarter looks like a slightly different color. Anyone else notice that? And defiantly replace those mirrors!
Oops. Definitely.