If you’re into classic automobiles, chances are good there is an iconic car that stands out in your memory for one reason or another. For many people, the Corvette is that car – with good reason. The Corvette is the iconic American sports car, and one of the few mass produced cars capable of keeping up with much more expensive vehicles.

Chances are good that, even if you’re not a “Corvette guy,” you still have respect for what they have done in the automotive world.

Photo Credit: Barrett Jackson

As a side hobby, I collect die cast cars. One year, as a young kid, I was given a blue and white 1957 Chevy Corvette convertible. I fell in love with the bold styling and voluptuous lines – which was something I’d never seen before. Though my favorite year is 1967, that die cast Vette started something that continues on to this day.

In 1957, the Corvette was still gaining in popularity, and a mere 6,339 units were built. The performance of this heart throb was considerably better than that of the earliest years. An optional 250 horsepower V8 engine helped propel the ’57 from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. What’s more, these pretty little cars cost under 4k in 1957. Can you imagine that?

Today, some of them go for six figures.

As I’ve stated in another Corvette post, some of the purists believe that modifying these classic sports cars is sacrilege. Good for them. The original charm of this car has been preserved by keeping a lot of the car as it was when it rolled off the showroom floor in 1957. If it has been changed, it was done so with taste and to look original.

Photo Credit: Barrett Jackson

The upgrades come in the form of performance modifications. And to be honest, that’s where it’s at. As usual, I like to start with horsepower. Because, let’s face it, you could have the best suspension and other stuff in the world, but if you have no engine, you’re stuck.

This sexy little car is laced with a 430 horsepower engine. Not just any engine, mind you. This is the LS3. This baby is meant to throw down some serious power while being efficient, reliable and incredibly lightweight. To help you get all that raw power to the wheels, you get to row, row, row through the gears of the T56 – manual six speed transmission. To make it even better, there is a heavy duty Dana 44 axle in the back.

Photo Credit: Barrett Jackson

Ask any soon to be 60 year old how their knees are feeling, and I bet they’ll say they aren’t what they used to be. So, the restorer gave this Vette a total knee replacement with some modern suspension components. To help this beautiful blue 1957 Chevy Corvette into, and out of, the tight corners, a C4 front and rear suspension were added.

Everything has been touched during the course of the restoration process. From top to bottom, this beauty is brand new with the original charm still intact.

Photo Credit: Barrett Jackson

If this Corvette is up your alley, you may want to check out the restoMODS post about a very large, forgotten about, collection of these beauties.