The Restomod Corvette Movement Crashes Through Mecum Houston & Indy

The Restomod Movement is no longer a fringe corner of the Corvette hobby—it is one of the most fascinating and fast-moving segments in the collector car world. At CorvSport, we’ve made it our mission to follow every twist and turn of this evolving market, and we’re still the only publication consistently covering the ins and outs of this dynamic space. Our latest chapter takes us under Mecum’s bright spring auction lights, where the Top 7 most expensive Corvettes weren’t preserved exactly as they left St. Louis—they were reimagined, modernized, and transformed into rolling expressions of what classic Corvette passion looks like in the 21st century.

If you’re anything like the team at CorvSport, you’ve watched this movement evolve from niche curiosity into a full-blown mainstream phenomenon with equal parts fascination and admiration. The Corvettes crossing the block at Mecum Houston and Indianapolis weren’t simply restored; they were reinvented. Some blended timeless Mid-Year styling with contemporary drivetrains, chassis upgrades, and modern conveniences in ways that bordered on automotive art. And the hammer prices? They may leave you speechless. Then again, after seeing the craftsmanship, engineering, and vision poured into these remarkable machines, you may find yourself nodding along and saying, “Of course, they brought that kind of money.”

Alongside our countdown of the Top 7 Restomods, we’re also bringing you CorvSport’s exclusive Mecum Tracker, offering the kind of year-over-year sales data and side-by-side analysis you simply won’t find anywhere else. Enthusiasts can quickly see how the Corvette market is trending across Mecum’s biggest venues, and this year’s numbers tell an interesting story: inventory is down across most events, yet sell-through rates remain impressively strong. It’s another sign that demand remains healthy, even as the market continues to evolve. But before we dive into the standout auction results and the remarkable builds that captured bidders’ attention, let’s take a quick look back at how The Restomod Movement became one of the hottest stories in the Corvette world.

From Taboo To Seven-Figure Treasures

The Corvette Restomod Movement represents one of the most radical cultural shifts in automotive history. Decades ago, modifying a classic early-generation Corvette was considered a cardinal sin by rigid NCRS purists who valued strictly factory-original assembly marks and matching numbers over drivability. Early custom builds often justified this stigma, as they frequently paired hack-job body modifications with crude mechanical swaps.

However, the movement matured as owners grew tired of wrestling with subpar vintage brakes, steering, and carburetors just to enjoy a weekend cruise. The culture shifted entirely when master builders elevated the craft to a high art form, seamlessly fusing iconic mid-century aesthetics with cutting-edge engineering. Today, the purist stigma has nearly evaporated, completely replaced by a booming market segment where six- and seven-figure price tags are routinely commanded for custom Corvettes that drive like modern supercars.

The Jeff Hayes Effect

No single visionary has fueled this market’s explosive valuation quite like Bloomington, Indiana’s own Jeff Hayes. Through Jeff Hayes Customs, his signature recipe—combining pristine C2 donor bodies with Art Morrison sport chassis, LS3 Hot Cam V8s, and ultra-luxurious, bespoke interiors—has set an astronomical baseline for what collectors are willing to pay. Through the years, Hayes has silenced the skeptics, culminating with his record-breaking $1.1 million Vintage Champagne ’67, which sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2024.

This “Jeff Hayes Effect” directly set the stage for block-busting spectacles, driving unprecedented demand through the big-tent auctions, as builders across the industry emulate Hayes’s high-caliber attention to detail. Mecum has become a primary battleground for top-tier restomods. The bidding wars witnessed in Texas and Indiana prove that the appetite for pro-touring tech under classic fiberglass has evolved from a niche trend into a premier market powerhouse.

Bridging The Divide: The NCRS Embraces The Custom Culture

The ultimate validation of the restomod’s legitimacy has finally arrived from the highest court of Corvette purism. In a historic shift, the National Corvette Restorers Society introduced its new Open Class Judging program, specifically creating a dedicated division for Custom/Restomod Corvettes. Rather than checking for factory-correct chalk marks or matching date codes, NCRS judges now evaluate these modified machines based on operational performance, fit, finish, and the overall completeness of the engineering. This means a high-caliber build can now bring home official NCRS accolades right alongside a bone-stock survivor, bringing the hobby full circle and proving that world-class craftsmanship is respected regardless of build style.

With the line between purist preservation and Restomod performance officially blurred, the financial floodgates have opened on the auction block. Collectors are no longer just buying a cool custom cruiser; they are investing in heavily vetted, judges-approved automotive art. This newfound institutional respect is setting a scorching tone for the 2026 auction season, fueling intense bidding wars across all the big-tent events. Now, let’s dive into the big picture Mecum data, then we’ll count down the Top 7 highest-earning Corvette Restomod sales that shook the blocks at Mecum Houston and Indy.

CorvSport’s Comprehensive Mecum Tracker

♦ Kissimmee

Kissimmee 2024: 527 Corvettes offered–379 sold (72%)
Kissimmee 2025: 477 Corvettes offered–381 sold (80%)
Kissimmee 2026: 401 Corvettes offered–293 sold (73%)

♦ Glendale

Glendale 2024: 136 Corvettes offered–87 sold (64%)
Glendale 2025: 113 Corvettes offered–71 sold (63%)
Glendale 2026: 113 Corvettes offered–81 sold (72%)

♦ Houston

Houston 2024: 83 Corvettes offered–59 sold (71%)
Houston 2025: 85 Corvettes offered–67 sold (79%)
Houston 2026: 71 Corvettes offered–51 sold (72%)

♦ Indy

Indy 2024: 332 Corvettes offered–232 sold (70%)
Indy 2025: 267 Corvettes offered–199 sold (75%)
Indy 2026: 219 Corvettes offered–146 sold (67%)

♦ Tulsa

Tulsa 2024: 56 Corvettes offered–45 sold (80%)
Tulsa 2025: 35 Corvettes offered–30 sold (86%)
Tulsa 2026: Coverage coming next week!

♦ Florida Summer Special

Florida Summer Special 2024: 100 Corvettes offered–63 sold (63%)
Florida Summer Special 2025: 83 Corvettes offered–53 sold (64%)
Florida Summer Special 2026: No auction is scheduled for 2026

♦ Harrisburg

Harrisburg 2024: 96 Corvettes offered–58 sold (60%)
Harrisburg 2025: 87 Corvettes offered–64 sold (74%)
Harrisburg 2026: Scheduled for July 22-25

♦ Monterey

Monterey 2024: 35 Corvettes offered–24 sold (69%)
Monterey 2025: 34 Corvettes offered–22 sold (65%)
Monterey 2026: Scheduled for August 13-15

♦ Nashville

The inaugural Nashville event is scheduled for September 23-26!

♦ Dallas

Dallas 2024: 148 Corvettes offered–105 sold (71%)
Dallas 2025: 129 Corvettes offered–98 sold (76%)
Dallas 2026: Scheduled for October 21-24

♦ Indy Fall Special

Indy Fall Special 2024: 65 Corvettes offered–52 sold (80%)
Indy Fall Special 2025: 46 Corvettes offered–36 sold (78%)
Indy Fall Special 2026: No auction is scheduled for 2026

♦ Las Vegas

Las Vegas 2024: 43 Corvettes offered–30 sold (70% )
Las Vegas 2025: 30 Corvettes offered–22 sold (73%)
Las Vegas 2026: Scheduled for November 12-14

♦ Kansas City

Kansas City 2024: 81 Corvettes offered–60 sold (74%)
Kansas City 2025: 43 Corvettes offered–28 sold (65%)
Kansas City 2026: Scheduled for December 3-5

♦ TOTALS:

2024: 1,701 Corvettes offered with 70.2% sell-through (1,194)
2025: 1,429 Corvettes offered with 74.9% sell-through (1,071)
2026 Running Total: 804 Corvettes offered—71% sold (571)

The Top 7 Restomod/Custom Sales From Spring Mecum

7 — 1962 Corvette Custom Convertible

Hammer Price: $134,750

♦ Key Listing Details:

Ground-up build in 2013 with 232 miles since completion
Custom fabricated powder-coated chassis
6.2L LS3 V-8 engine
Automatic transmission
Mercedes-Benz-sourced convertible top mechanical system
Classic Air climate control
Retro-style audio system with auxiliary input
Dakota Digital instrumentation
Pushbutton start with keyless ignition
Power windows
Repositioned side coves for improved engine bay heat extraction
Rolled front fenders
C4 Corvette suspension with coilovers and upgraded sway bars
Dana 44 rear end
Wilwood disc brakes with cross-drilled and slotted rotors
Widened rear body to accommodate staggered 18-inch chrome wheels

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

6 — 1958 Corvette Custom Convertible

Hammer Price: $140,250

♦ Key Listing Details:

LS3 6.2L V-8 engine
Edelbrock E-Force supercharger
4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission
Power rack and pinion steering
Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
Air conditioning
C4 suspension
Leather interior
Dakota Digital gauges
Removable hardtop
Custom-built 18-inch Foose Wheels

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

5 — 1960 Corvette Custom Convertible

Hammer Price: $165,000

♦ Key Listing Details:

Art Morrison GT Sport chassis
6.2L GM LS3 V-8 engine
GM factory fuel injection with a custom engine cover
4L65E automatic transmission with overdrive
Red custom metallic base/clear coat paint
Factory soft top with long-cut Al Knoch canvas top
Tan custom European leather interior
Billet leather-wrapped steering wheel
Custom-fit seats
Vintage Air
Kenwood AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth, SiriusXM radio
AutoMeter gauges
Tan Mercedes-Benz short pile carpets
Power steering, independent front suspension
Currie 9-inch rear end
Triangulated rear 4 bar with Strange single adjustable coilover shocks
3-inch stainless steel exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers
Power Wilwood front 6-piston calipers with vented and drilled 13-inch brake rotors
Rear Wilwood 4-piston calipers with vented and drilled 13-inch brake rotors
US Wheel 5 Star series front 18×9-inch and rear 18×10-inch Sumitomo tires

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

4 — 1963 Corvette Custom Split-Window Coupe

Hammer Price: $220,000

♦ Key Listing Details:

LT1 6.2L V-8 engine
5-speed transmission
Art Morrison chassis
Power rack and pinion steering
Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
Air conditioning
Dakota Digital Retro Tech gauges
Side exhaust
18-inch Shotts wheels

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

3 — 1963 Corvette Custom Split-Window Coupe

Hammer Price: $231,000

♦ Key Listing Details:

Professionally restored and completed in November 2022 by Todd Compton Classic Corvettes
Street Shop C7 chassis with mandrel-bent frame rails
Supercharged 6.2L LT4 crate engine, 650 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque
GM 8L90 8-speed automatic transmission
QA1 coilovers, Hammerhead independent rear suspension
Z06 calipers and rotors
Flaming River power rack and pinion steering
GM Connect and Cruise harness
Billet valve cover, hand-built stainless steel headers
Dual side-pipe exhaust system
Original stainless-steel moldings and polished trim
Satin Red Italian leather with French seams
Clayton Machine Works accessories throughout
Vintage Air, power windows

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

2 — 1963 Corvette Custom Split-Window Coupe

Hammer Price: $233,750

♦ Key Listing Details:

No expense-spared custom Split Window build
Only 893 miles since build was completed
Centerfold feature in Corvette Magazine
Supercharged 6.2L LSA crate engine
Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission
Camaro-style independent rear axle
Fisker Silver Metallic paint
Custom Red leather upholstery
18 and 19-inch Corvette special alloy wheels
C6 generation Z06-specification brakes
Adjustable QA1 coilovers
Vintage Air climate control, AutoMeter gauges
Billet Specialties steering wheel
Digital media receiver, Kenwood and Kicker components

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

1 — 1965 Corvette Custom Coupe

Hammer Price: $264,000

♦ Key Listing Details:

Finished in Mosport Green Metallic
Magnolia leather interior
6.2L/430 HP LS3 V-8 engine
4L60E automatic transmission
Street Shop C7 chassis
Power rack and pinion steering
Wilwood master cylinder
4-wheel Corvette disc brakes
QA1 adjustable coilover shocks
Classic Instruments gauges
Vintage Air with front-runner engine accessory package
Square weave carpet
Schott wheels, Goldline Gatorback tires
Power hood lift, Ididit steering column
Detroit Speed electric headlight door kit
New factory-style Green tint glass from City Auto Classics

♦ The Full Mecum Listing

Thanks for being with us today on this Corvette journey. How do you feel about The Restomod Movement and these recent top sales? What about that flurry of Custom Split-Window Coupes? Join the CorvSport movement and let us know!