1973 Corvette - Aged To Perfection

One of Charlie's favorite shows was FunFest 2006, where his car was honored by judge and CF Performance Techline columnist Dave Emanuel. Driving the updated '73 is a constant pleasure. The 4L60E automatic overdrive transmission is beautifully matched to the engine's output, and the 3.08:1 Posi-traction differential gives the sleek roadster long legs. "The car is fun to drive, gets a lot of attention wherever it goes, and gets 25 mpg on the highway and 18 in the city," Charlie says. It rolls on 17x8 Torque-Thrust wheels and 255/45 17 Kumho tires. Bilstein shocks dampen the ride.

There are so many different ways to go when rebuilding a Corvette. Some people like the wild, chromed-to-the-max show-stoppers with extraordinary paint jobs and radical mods. Some want a funny car tube chassis with gigantic wrinkle-wall slicks, flip-top body, and enough horsepower to bend time and space. But Charlie isn't into either of those extremes. "I like the power of the new ones, but I like the looks of the old ones," he says. It's a recipe that's affordable, D-I-Y achievable, practical, and so much fun to drive that you just can't wait to get back in and drive it again. Isn't that the essence of Corvette's appeal?

Charlie's '73 is built from updated Corvette parts so it retains its essential Corvette DNA. It's what Corvette engineers would have built in 1973 if they would have had the parts.

While we respect meticulous restorations, we also have a great respect for every stone chip in the lacquer paint, every splattered bug on the windshield, and every happy memory Charlie has racked up over the last 18 years and 116,000 miles. Even for a car dedicated to continuous improvement, building a Corvette you just love to drive is hard to improve upon.