The ‘60s Told By Two Different Corvettes

The Corvettes that roll out of the assembly plant are much like the families of the workers who build them. They all come from the same place, but over time, they spread out over the vast countryside, forging their own way through life.

These two Roman Red 1960 Corvettes are perfect examples of how vastly different each of those paths may become. Ironically, you could say that they are enjoying a sort of family reunion, as they are both currently residing at Corvette dealer, Corvette Mike’s facilities, awaiting their next owner(s).

We found the two cars while perusing Corvette Mike’s website, envious of the fine examples of American muscle housed within the collection. Both cars are painted Roman Red with white coves and feature white convertible tops. Both cars have red interiors, but are built-out with entirely different purposes in mind.

These two cars stood out to us, much like identical twins that have clearly, taken different courses through their life. We instantly thought, “Which one would we rather have?” A tough question indeed, and one we thought we’d pose to the CorvetteOnline.com readership.

1960 Resto-Mod Corvette

With so many advancements in performance and comfort since these cars left the Saint Louis plant decades ago, it makes sense to avail some of those technologies, so long as a proper, numbers-matching restoration isn’t the primary objective. That wasn’t a concern when this particular car was commissioned by the competent hands of John Vestri of Vestri’s Vettes in Southern California.

The car is built upon the factory frame, but sports a complete coilover suspension featuring disc brakes at every corner. There’s also an LS2 now powering the ‘Vette, which supplies power to the updated air-conditioning, rack and pinion power steering and power brakes, as well as the T56 six-speed, overdrive transmission.

LS power and an overdrive six-speed, along with coilover shocks and disc brakes will blend to make this updated driver a true joy to haul down the highway. The only viewable clue of change is the American Racing wheels and radial tires, which ALSO greatly contribute to making the car a more capable driver.

A nine-inch differential puts the power down through those American Torque Thrust wheels, which is about the only clue this isn’t a number’s matching resto. The Fuel-Injection trim is even affixed to the fenders, but it refers to a more modern electronic version.

The car has spent most of its life in a climate-controlled collection and while this car was clearly built to drive and enjoy, interestingly, it only has 300 miles on the odometer. We’d rectify that in a heartbeat, given the chance!

1960 270-Horsepower Restoration

In the other corner, we have this beautifully-restored, dual-four equipped ’60 Corvette. Same exterior color, same interior, but totally different. White walls and hubcaps are the first clue that this Corvette has a different focus in life.

Beyond that, the car’s original 270hp, dual-quad 283 with 4-speed manual transmission lets you know that this car can still be a LOT of fun to drive. Options received back when the car was first built in Saint Louis include a Wonderbar radio and windshield washers, proving that even in the 60s, people still wanted to enjoy driving their cars.

The car was restored back in 2002, and includes both hard and soft tops. Since this is a restoration, provenance is of key importance, and a folder of receipts and owner history back to the 70s is included with the sale.

This Corvette stands as a fine example of what those fine folks in Saint Louis were sending out the door to a buying public all over the nation. While it has shaken off all of the parts-wearing miles from decades past, it still holds true to the style and engineering that made these cars the icons that they are today.

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So, when you look at both cars for what they offer, you can see how each one brings particular values to the enthusiast. If you’re from the “drive it like you stole it!” camp, or have memberships to various restoration and preservation groups, the decision might be pretty simple. But, if you live within the bell curve, and enjoy Corvettes of all ages and builds, the decision can get really tough! We love to drive our Corvettes, but can appreciate what it takes to turn back the hands of time with a restoration. If only we had the cash and the storage to buy both!

About the author

Andy Bolig

Andy has been intrigued by mechanical things all of his life and enjoys tinkering with cars of all makes and ages. Finding value in style points, he can appreciate cars of all power and performance levels. Andy is an avid railfan and gets his “high” by flying radio-controlled model airplanes when time permits. He keeps his feet firmly grounded by working on his two street rods and his supercharged C4 Corvette. Whether planes, trains, motorcycles, or automobiles, Andy has immersed himself in a world driven by internal combustion.
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