Adding personal touches to your ‘Vette was a popular trend back in the sixties and seventies, with the efforts often producing results ranging from mild to wild. This 1970 Chevrolet Corvette would fall into the latter category, as it sports a plethora of unique features just about everywhere you look, and while this one’s not perfect, for $25,000 the C3 does seem reasonably priced for what you’re getting here. The Corvette is presently turning heads on the streets of North Hills, California, and can be spotted here on Craigslist, with our thanks going out to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for finding this unusual ride and sharing it with us!
The seller tells us he purchased the Chevy from New York and brought it to Cali with the intention of turning the car into something different, but once reality set in on how cool the paint job was just couldn’t bring himself to grind it down to bare fiberglass, although he’s very upfront in stating that there are several imperfections in the finish. I have to agree with this mindset and feel that just keeping this one like it is outside as a driver sounds like a lot more fun than scrapping all that vintage work and starting over.
More good news is the element of fun isn’t limited to the outside, as the Corvette now sports a 400 Chevy engine with a Dyer’s supercharger sticking through the large cut-out in the hood. Along with the nicely dressed engine bay, there’s also more function, such as a Griffin aluminum racing radiator and a couple of electric fans to keep things cool, plus a pair of 650 CFM 4-barrels on top. Two fuel pumps with separate lines deliver gas to each Holley, and with the lack of power steering and brakes, this one must feel pretty old school when you get behind the wheel!
It’s not uncommon for customs to sometimes be lacking in uniqueness once you crawl inside, but that’s not the case here as several interior mods compliment the exterior feel nicely. Although it looks retro, that’s a modern Stereo with Bluetooth capability plus upgraded speakers can also be found everywhere, and while T-Tops were standard equipment for ’70 they sure seem right at home on this one. I would in all likelihood keep this Corvette just the way it is and live with the paint flaws, but understand others may see things differently and want to take the car to a higher level. What would you do here?
I had this exact car as a kid. Mine was made by Hot Wheels though. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Not getting lazy in my old age but I’d have a lot more fun driving this car than working on it.
All the power, Muncie 4spd, and 3.70 gear ⚙️ will keep you smiling bob 🔧 😃
The ultimate chick magnet. For chicks our age.😬
Happy New Year peeps!
All the mods and it still has a non-HEI stabbed in it – now that’s old-school.
Would a standard HEI distributor clear the 6-71?
HEI is too big to clear the blower. The same reason that you won’t see one on a tunnel rammed Chevrolet.
I assumed so. You can’t run an standard cap HEI with a Pontiac Tri-Power either. Small cap, yes.
Joe hunt magneto works just fine with a tunnel ram, problem solved.
HEI came on in 1975. The owner must have wanted to keep it ready for NCRS judging. :)
I assume the choice was made because of the tach drive.
I would install Pertronix innards inside that distributor.
Have had the same set in my Nova for almost 30 years.
I agree. Pertronics is a great way to go.
Got to pop the cap to discover what’s inside!
There’s a number of after-market electronic ignitions that will fit into the original distributor. I’ve done this with several 50’s and 60’s cars, really makes a difference in the overall performance!
Sweet, and blower whine too! The heck with the purist attitude, it’s a car!
Hideous thing!
YES, Jim ! I liked it too ! ! !
Throttle Response must be crazy, all in for the alpha male.
Those 2 mechanical secondary Holleys keep the engine (other specs or history?) from getting too lean with that blower setup.
Sure, not for everyone but I really like the vision and execution.
That interior is a big dose of velour!
Good luck!
That interior is a big dose of vomit. JMO…
Yeah it’s one the coolest cars I’ve seen both in appearance and I want it with the full on blown blower !! That thing would be my 50$ worth of gas powered barrel of fun every weekend !
Not a bad deal for $25k. Only thing I would change would be the headlights. They gotta flip for me. Ruins the look of the Vette
It also has some crappy Chinese speed equipment such as valve covers, breathers and the upper radiator hose. Those would need to be replaced by early 70’s vintage parts. I’d probably replace the MSD distributor, coil and wires while I was at it. Those parts are easy to change out and won’t cost a fortune but would add to the cars overall presentation.
This is a nice car representative of a specific period in time. It wouldn’t take much effort to perfect that look.
Steve R
Hey Oil Slick. Like your idea about the headlights but matching that paint would be a challenge. Other than that since I’m getting older and a bit lazy, I would want to try and figure out a way to add power steering and power brakes. With all that go, you really need the whoa. I mean, if my finances would allow I would “SETTLE” for it as is and probably just leave it just like it is. Chips and all. I also really like the tru-spoke wheels and of course the”BFG’S! Also for the inevitable complainers, Gotta watch yourself on the Sidepipes. Just wouldn’t look right without them though. Perfection in my mind. Color and all. Even the “Gold Flaked” steering wheel. Too cool.
Flip up head lights wow that’s something you don’t see very often !
Good thing the last picture was the interior. As soon as I scrolled through the reading and seen that, I stopped reading and skipped right to the comments. What joy.
Change then wheels then drive it.
Car is screeming for some Cragars!!
Wow, I thought Car Craft hacked this site…lol. This is seriously Kool. Kinda like the 1970s all over again. Blown sbc 400 with dual -quads and a 4-speed. The interior interior is like the Playboy club meets the banana seat from a high rise bicycle. This is too much fun.
Chick magnet
Shag carpet and monkey fur dash, how can you improve on that? Seriously.
70’s show-car cool, wheels and all. I love it! ( although I would swap the wires for Cragars to make it a driver)
Not for me. I‘ve become a purist. This is just an example of a lot of money wasted. All the things that make a Corvette great have been eliminated.
Reminds me of a blonde in Sandusky OH early 70s. White convertible with a tunnel ram 350 and a red, white and blue banner around the car. Under the ducktail it said “If you can beat me, you can ….”
I absolutely love this Vette! I wouldn’t go too crazy on this one. Id leave it like it is and focus on reliability mechanically and just use it as a fun occasional driver car. I love the appearance and somehow it really reminds me of a 70s toy I had. Maybe a model kit or a Hot Wheels car? I think over time I would lovingly take the interior back to stock. Not really fond of the interior but that’s not a major thing to correct. I’d have a Hurst competition shifter down in there and at 60 years old, I really don’t care about audio. Yep id love to have her!
Look at me! For 25G.
Thanks for the post.
Whoa now, someone went just a little too far on that one!
I wouldn’t have done any of that stuff but then again I drive to drive not to show off my decorating skills.
Also the blower impedes too much visibility in a ‘vette. IMO
I would leave the paint but would have to update that awful interior.
Well…like George Costanza…the dash has been draped in velvet.
The Velvet Fog 😉
Mel Torme.
Wonderful period piece.
Only in a country where it scarcely rains could one contemplate a car like this.
I would have loved this Vette when I was 16 years old. I’m not 16 years old anymore. No thanks on this one.
The seller calls it “lowrider style paint”. Wrong. Though similar and each is cool in it’s own way, this is 70’s wild paint not lowrider. Agree that some of the cheap engine chrome could be changed out for more period correct shiny stuff and ps/pb should be added… but other than that it’s fantastic as-is!