If Larry Shinoda were here to see this 1973 Corvette, he might raise an eyebrow—then crack a grin. The legendary GM designer once said the ’73 was the epitome of the C3, the perfect blend of the new urethane front bumper and the last year chrome rear. This one, though? It takes that idea and punches the throttle.
Listed on eBay for $40,900 in Tea, South Dakota, this restomod Stingray has Barn Finds readers buzzing. Some love it. Some… don’t. But nobody’s ignoring it.
Under the hood sits a built 468—a .060 over 454—paired with Edelbrock fuel injection, modern roller cams, Doug’s headers, and side pipes. The seller says everything on the engine is new, from the fuel system to the radiator and fans, and estimates output north of 600 horsepower.
As commenter OiIL SLICK put it: “That’s one nice vet! If I were to build one that’s what I would have done because the stock ones were dogs.”
With a Tremec 6 speed, Wilwood brakes, Hydrotech booster, and fresh bearings, bushings, and shocks, this C3 is built to run—not just pose.
The most polarizing feature is the custom front fascia, which replaces the stock grille with a piece crafted from a Peterbilt 389. It’s bold. It’s different. It’s definitely not subtle.
Reader reactions ranged from admiration to disbelief:
Howard A: “You have to admit, it is one sharp looking Corvette… With this kind of power and a 6 speed, you may not bury the speedo, but by golly, you’ll come close.”
Mark: “The front bumper work is hideous on an otherwise good looking C3.”
oldrodder: “We’ve all heard the old saying, ‘a face only a mother could love.’ Well, here it is.”
Love it or hate it, the craftsmanship appears clean, and the Cinnabar Orange paint is deep and glossy.
Inside, the car blends factory Corvette pieces with custom leather, Dynamat insulation, rebuilt door guts, and a modern stereo with Infinity speakers. The seats look supportive enough to handle the big block’s punch, though there’s something not quite right about the shape of buckets like this in a C3.
As Marc Mendelson noted: “I usually don’t care for restomods, but this one is a pretty good example… I’d rather have this than a new Tesla.”
Shinoda loved the ’73 for its transitional styling. This one pushes that transition into a different universe. Whether he’d approve is anyone’s guess, but he’d certainly have something to say.
And that’s the thing about this Corvette. It’s not trying to please everyone. It’s trying to be memorable.
As Acton Thomas summed up: “Big block with a 6 speed—very good choices! The ‘cow catcher’ front end? Well… Mom said if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.”
Given the fresh drivetrain, extensive mechanical upgrades, custom interior, and quality paintwork, several readers pointed out that you couldn’t build this car for the asking price.
Rick Haner put it bluntly: “You couldn’t do the paint, body work, and interior for that price unless you’re doing it yourself.”
Restomods are always subjective, but this one appears thoughtfully built, mechanically stout, and visually striking—whether that strike lands as a compliment or a critique depends on the viewer.
![[PICS] The Striped Corvettes of Corvettes at Carlisle](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2026/09/091426_122-218x150.jpg "[PICS] The Striped Corvettes of Corvettes at Carlisle")
Or there must be some really dumb people that read “oil slick,“ I never heard of the publication, but anybody that knows Corvette‘s, which obviously the commenters didn’t, know that a chassis of a C2 and C3 are essentially the same and I think the only thing that happened is, the guy ran out of money when he had to figure out what to do with the front of the car. I’m guessing this car was probably a crash car that was bought cheap and replaced. 73s are not exactly the highest priced Corvettes right now in many cases just the bumpers are probably worth more than the rest of the car. But I give the guy credit, especially if he built it himself more power to you buddy and I am a Corvette owner and have been one since 1965.
The front end leaves a lot to be desired. Otherwise, it is likely a head turner and gets a lot of attention for those who are not Corvette aficionados.
The front end is ugly as hell. It would be a decent car if only he would’ve left the front end factory stock.
Swing, and a miss.
73 Vettes will always hold a place in my heart. Graduated high school in 1974 and bought a 73 the next day. On my 4th and final C7 Z06 M7, all that I have dreamed about…
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