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I will begin by saying that the C3 Corvette is one of the all-time best cars ever made, and maybe the best looking car ever. But after 40-some years on the road, in the garage, driving over potholes, speed bumps, tar and chips, and dirt, your Corvette might be a little rough around the edges.
Before you break out the chainsaw and welding gun there are couple things that you can easily do to freshen the look of your C3 Corvette without tearing it apart. If you know your way around a classic vette, these upgrades should be pretty straightforward. If not, find a buddy who can help you out or shop who will do it for you.
Wheels
This is where I tend to get frustrated with C3 owners when they chop the body up to fit a custom set of wheels and tires. There are so many “classic” wheels that you can add to your Corvette, so why in the world would you pick something that is so “modern” that it ruins the classic feel of the car?! Instead, try sticking with some tried and true designs that add a bit of spice to the look without making the car look like some reproduction that was built in a garage last week. While there are all different options available, we prefer the chrome alternatives. Granted, they all look the same, but nothing can replace chrome.
Lighting Mods
Arguably some of the easiest modifications to make to a custom C3 Corvette, updating or altering the tail lights is quite common for collectors. Most collectors want to keep things as close to “original” as possible, but it doesn’t take much to enhance the appearance of the rear of the vehicle. For example, the LED tail lights are incredibly popular, as they maintain the standard aesthetic appeal of the C3 Corvette while updating its appearance just a bit.
Body Modifications
Back when these cars were still fairly new it was very popular to make body modifications and a lot of companies sold different kits ranging from bumpers and hoods to complete body transformations including making them into a Corvette station wagon or into the original mako shark concept car. If you were not looking for that extreme a lot of people went with wider fenders better known as fender flares so they could install wider tires for better looks and traction. Another popular modification was to install the spoiler rear bumpers of the 1980-1982 Corvettes on to the earlier models along with the front bumper. Here are links to two of the modified Corvettes we have in our collection right now.
This was a performance and body modification package sold through the original dealer in the late 60’s and early 70’s: http://www.hobbycarcorvettes.net/corvette/1970-cortez-silver-baldwin-motion-lt-1-corvette-t-top/
This was an aftermarket kit that was built to resemble the original concept car: http://www.hobbycarcorvettes.net/corvette/1969-blue-mako-shark-corvette-convertible/
Side Pipes
This is an upgrade that can really beef up the look of your C3 Corvette giving it that aggressive appearance with an exhaust note to match. Not only that, but it will improve airflow and give you a little boost in horsepower. There are a lot of different types to choose from and each provides their own pros and cons. Before choosing a brand or model, spend some time on YouTube checking out videos from people who have installed them. It’s your best bet in finding the sound you want from your pipes.
Check out these factory side exhaust and hooker header aftermarket side exhaust videos:
Hooker Header Side exhaust
Factory Side Exhaust
Tires
There are tons of options here and you need to make sure you get the right ones to suit your purpose. But, a new set of aggressive looking tires will do wonders for the look of your Vette and of course, improve your performance on the road. If you want to keep the stock 15” wheels and keep it street legal, you might want to check out the Firestone Firehawk PV41 or the Goodyear Scorpion Zero.
Cylinder Heads & Intakes
Driving around town no one is going to notice your upgraded cylinder heads & intake, but these are one of the best upgrades you can give a classic C3 Corvette. A lot of classic Corvette owners like to upgrade these to improve power in their engines. If you are looking to do this at home, you will need to be quite experienced working with engines, otherwise, you might find yourself in some hot water.
This is just a small sample of the upgrades that can be made to your classic Corvette and many hobbyists and experts will give you more ideas and add their own opinions on which are the best.
In the meantime, browse some of our C3 Corvettes.You might find one calling your name.