Not a restoration. A statement, built with no expense spared.
This 1959 Corvette began its second life as a giveaway build — commissioned to be good enough to put a shop's name on in front of the entire Corvette community at Carlisle. It was originally owned by a Canadian lottery winner, who commissioned the build into what it is today. The car later spent time in Lance Miller's own personal collection before being given away to its current owner through the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation. Few restomods carry provenance this specific, or this documented.
The foundation is a custom SRIII Motorsports round-tube chassis running a solid rear axle, built to carry a modern drivetrain without disturbing the 1959 body's proportions. Street and Performance — a name well known in the LS-swap world — built the engine: an LS1 making roughly 400 horsepower, paired to a Tremec T56 six-speed manual, backed by a four-wheel disc brake conversion and power steering.
Every detail beyond the drivetrain carries the same intent. The engine cover and intake manifold are paint-matched to the car's custom orange metallic finish and finished with custom lettering — the kind of detail that only shows up when a shop is building to be seen. A BeCool aluminum radiator, Billet Specialties wheels, and BFG G-Force Sport COMP-2 tires round out the mechanical package.
Inside, the cabin was built to feel period-correct at a glance and thoroughly modern in practice: a full custom cream leather interior, a new custom analog gauge cluster styled to match the era, power windows, a Vintage Air climate system, and a Clarion stereo system running a Clarion ProAudio amplifier.
Provenance
- Original Owner & BuildCommissioned by a Canadian lottery winner
- Private CollectionHeld in Lance Miller's personal collection
- Charitable GiveawayGiven to current owner via the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation
- Chassis BuildSRIII Motorsports, custom round-tube, solid rear axle
- Engine BuildStreet and Performance, LS1, ~400HP
- AppraisalProfessionally appraised at $315,000 by Vintage Auto Appraisal