Highlights

Award-winning show car with multiple ‘blue chip’ show wins
$400,000 USD build cost across a 4,000-hour restoration
Chassis modified by Newman Car Creations of California
Full C4 Corvette suspension front and rear with C5 calipers and discs
5.7-litre LS6 V8 producing 395bhp paired with a Tremec T56 six-speed manual
Hundreds of hand-fabricated components chromed, polished and powder-coated to show standard

The Appeal

This 1958 Corvette is what happens when a visionary idea and deep pockets combine. The idea was to create a C1 that goes as well as it looks. $400,000 later, invested by high-end specialists like Paul Newman’s Classic Creations of California, the result is one of the best and most capable early Corvettes in existence.

A bold claim, but we suggest that the condition and specification support it. Just look at it - it is a magnificent example, finished in black metalic with silver coves and a full red leather interior. Every aspect of this car has been touched and restored, replaced or improved by high end restoration specialists. The body was extensive refurbished and repainted, including modifying the rear wings by 1.5in to accommodate the 9.5in wheels. The chassis was refurbished and modified by Classic Creations, and the running gear was extensively improved.

Beneath the sculptural bonnet lies a LS6 5.7L V8 delivering close to 400bhp. It’s said to be capable of up to 550bhp. There’s also a Tremec 6spd manual box from a 2004 Camaro, 1996 C4 front and rear suspension, a Dana 4 differential and C5 callipers and discs. The engineering to accommodate all this is truly impressive. A glowing article from 2014 by VETTE magazine accompanies the car.

On completion in 2005, the car won a series of show awards, including Top Convertible and Top 20 Finisher at Australia Summernats 2007. Since then it is said to have covered just 200 miles, so naturally remains in extremely good condition. This is reinforced by a 2022 Controle Technique, valid to February 2024, that shows no advisories.

This C1 retains what the factory perfected, namely the aesthetics, but draws from later models and specialist knowledge to deliver arguably the perfect early ‘Vette.

History and Paperwork

1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1, built on an original C1 chassis
Chassis modified by Newman Car Creations, Paso Robles, California, from mid-2002
4,000-hour restoration completed in Australia
Major Show Car title won in 2005
Top Convertible and Top 20 Finisher at Australia Summernats 2007
Fewer than 200 miles covered since completion
Currently located in Sydney, Australia
French Carte Grise paperwork
Controle Technique dated 2022 valid to February 2024 as shown
Vendor advises shipping to the United States costs approximately $3,000 USD

The Condition

Very well presented car in black metallic with silver coves
Red leather interior with matching dashboard and three-spoke wheel
Chromed deep dish wheels with white banded tyres
Fibreglass bodywork restored over approximately 500 hours by Chad Parrish of Mustangs R Us, Castle Hill
Chassis modified and powder-coated by Newman Car Creations, Paso Robles, California
Rear quarters widened by 1.5 inches per side to accommodate wider wheels
Painted in black with silver coves
The vendor describes the paintwork, above and below, as being in very good order
Some minor scratches noted, consistent with approximately 12 years of exhibition use
Chrome and polished metalwork throughout the engine bay, suspension components, driveshaft and differential
Chassis powder-coated after extensive preparation
Red leather interior with custom steering wheel and red-and-silver door panels, trimmed by McKenzie's Motor Trimming, Fairfield
Gauge cluster adapted to retain period-correct appearance, with kph speedometer, VDO tachometer in housing, and voltmeter in amp gauge casing
17-inch PS Engineering wheels with Z-rated Daytona whitewall tyres

Equipment includes:

Air conditioning
Cruise control
Satellite navigation
Aircraft-style seatbelts
Electric windows
Custom Autosound stereo unit
Six-disc CD changer
Sony 4-inch rear speaker

The work to perfect this car, by an array of specialists, likely took considerably longer than the car’s original factory build. Looking at the photos and reading the specification, you can see why. It looks largely ‘stock’ but has been carefully and sympathetically upgraded to incorporate an array of running gear and mechanical improvements plus some useful modern convenience technology, including cruise, a/c and high end sound system.

We’re told that the car has covered very few miles since completion. That much seems evident when you check the usual high traffic areas like the driver’s door sill, footwell and seat. They look little aged. We are told there are a few storage-related marks, but they are difficult to spot in the photos.

The Mechanics

5.7L LS6 V8, assembled by Thornleigh Cylinder Head Service, Australia
Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission with Hurst shifter
Final assembly by owner
Electrical, brake and engine details by Andy's Restorations of Taren Point, Australia
Very few miles since completion

Engine:

Eagle forged-steel H-beam connecting rods and forged Diamond pistons
AFR 205cc Mongoose heads with 66cc combustion chambers
Yella Terra Stealth rockers (1.7 ratio) and Comp 918 valve springs
MTI B1 camshaft:
- 221/221-degree duration
- 0.558/0.558-inch lift
- 114-degree LSA
Compression ratio 10.5:1
LS-series coil-near-plug ignition with ACCEL 10mm leads
Custom cold-air induction, ported GM throttle body and LS6 intake manifold
Mild steel ceramic-coated headers with 1.75-inch primaries
2.5-inch polished stainless-steel exhaust pipes
Hi-line stainless mufflers
ECU reprogrammed by Howell Engine Developments, Marine City, Michigan
Dyno-tested at 395 rwhp by Stillwater Automotive Services, Silverwater, Australia

Front suspension:

1996 C4 Corvette forged-aluminium independent with rack-and-pinion steering#
VBP fibreglass spring
Custom Bilstein dampers
Polyurethane bushings

Rear suspension:

1996 C4 Corvette independent
Dana 44 differential (3.42 gears)
VBP transverse fibreglass spring
Custom Bilstein dampers
Polyurethane bushings

Brakes:

2004 Z06 Corvette front callipers
1996 C4 Corvette rear callipers
DBA 4000 slotted rotors all round

The list above hints at why this car cost $400,000 to build and many thousands of hours. It reads like a wish list of Corvette specifications and was clearly driven by a desire to build the perfect C1, money no object.

The car has been barely used since completion, but is said to be in very good running order.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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