The COVID pandemic was unpleasant in many ways, but at least one good thing came out of it — it gave a lot of car guys the time we needed to complete our restoration projects. Tom Evans, the owner of this '71 C3 Corvette, says his wife calls it the "COVID Corvette" for that reason. But regardless of the circumstances it was completed under, this is a cool build that has a decidedly old-school restomod approach. In a recent video from AutotopiaLA, Tom showed off the key elements of this project, including a 640hp naturally-aspirated Chevy small block.
A C3 That's Modified Where it Counts
According to Tom, this car started out as a numbers-matching car with a few modifications, such as aftermarket suspension and a coat of blue paint that was applied some time in the mid-1990s. However, he saw potential, so he went through every part of the car in his garage. Some components were replaced with original-style reproduction parts, while others were upgraded and modernized.
Aside from the electric blue paint, which still looks great after 30 years, the exterior remains mostly unmodified. The car rides on Vansteel suspension with coilovers, tubular control arms, and offset trailing arms.
The 18-inch Boze billet wheels feel like an early 2000s restomod touch, similar to what you'd see on Overhaulin' episodes or SEMA builds from that era. They're wrapped in 275/40 and 285/40 Michelin tires. The car also has a set of Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners.
Under the hood, the original V8 was replaced with a carbureted 400ci small block bored out to 406ci. Tom says the heavily-modified engine makes 643hp and 595 ft-lbs at the crank. It's equipped with long-tube headers and a 3-inch stainless exhaust, as well as power steering and A/C for comfortable daily-driving. A Tremec TKO 5-speed sends power to a reinforced 12-bolt rear end with 3.55 gears.
One modern touch is a set of HID projector headlights, which are supported by Detroit Speed electronic headlight door motors, rather than the original vacuum-based system.
The interior is largely original, including the factory radio delete, restored original dash pad, and rebuilt original gauges. The seats have been reupholstered in blue vinyl, and the door panels have been replaced with original-style panels with power windows.
For more on this build, watch the full video below from Autotopia LA:
Looking for Corvette Restoration Parts?
If you're working on a classic Corvette project, Classic Industries is here to help. Our selection of Corvette restoration and performance parts is growing every day, and already contains thousands of parts from the industry's biggest brands. Click the button below to browse our inventory of Corvette parts:
