About Our Selections
When a high-quality product creates a following for its performance, aesthetics, or innovation, it often serves as an inspiration for others to benchmark it and try to create something even better. The same applies to iconic cars like the Chevy Corvette. The Chevrolet Corvette is a beloved sports car in America, and many car customization companies around the world have based some of their outrageous creations on one of the Corvette generations.
From the C3 Gen Corvette to the C7, these Vettes we bring you today have served as the basis for creating custom cars with an aesthetic and performance that pay homage to this nameplate's legacy. From custom cars with Italian flair to alternative performance variants of the Corvette from Cadillac, the Corvette has served as a blueprint for numerous fantastic automotive creations like the five we've picked.
Iso Rivolta Grifo 90
The Iso Grifo 90, a sleek 1991 revival with Italian design and American muscle, featured 490 horsepower but only one prototype.
1991 Iso Rivolta Grifo 90
The revivalist prototype
What Makes It Special
The Iso Grifo 90 was a rare, limited-edition revival of the original Iso Grifo, introduced in 1991 to mark Iso’s return after its 1974 closure.
Designed by Marcello Gandini, the Grifo 90 was meant to combine Italian styling with American muscle. It featured a sleek, angular design, powered by a Chevrolet 5.7-liter V8 engine.
It produced around 490 horsepower and was paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The use of multi-material construction kept the weight down to a mere 1200 kilograms.
Despite its appeal, only one prototype was built due to financial constraints, making the Iso Grifo 90 a rare collector’s item with classic heritage.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 5.0L V8
Power: 490 hp
Torque: 370 ft-lbs
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Highlights
Rivolta chose GM's 5.7-liter V8 engine from the C4 Corvette, enhanced with a turbocharger by Reeves Callaway.
It boasted a Brembo custom braking system and locking differential, to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, reaching top speed of over 180 mph.
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Cadillac XLR-V
The Cadillac XLR-V was a luxury roadster with a supercharged V8, blending Corvette performance with premium features.
2006 Cadillac XLR-V
Cadillac's answer to the Corvette
What Makes It Special
The XLR-V was Cadillac's answer to the C6 Corvette. From 2006 to 2009, Cadilliac produced the XLR-V, a high-performance luxury roadster based on the C6 Corvette platform, which featured a retractable hardtop and distinctive styling.
Powering the XLR-V was a supercharged and intercooled 4.4-liter Northstar V8 engine, producing 443 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
The XLR-V accelerated from 0–60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. It also included Magnetic Ride Control, adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, and 19-inch wheels.
Inside, it featured premium leather upholstery, wood accents, and advanced technology such as a head-up display and navigation, seamlessly blending American power with refined luxury.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 4.4L V8
Power: 443 hp
Torque: 414 ft-lbs
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Highlights
The sound of the engine on the XLR-V is fantastic thanks to an optimized intake for maximum airflow.
Despite its sporty nature, the XLR-V offered excellent comfort, impressive power, and stylish design.
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Rossi Sixty-Six
The Rossi Sixty-Six blends 1960s Corvette design with modern performance, featuring a 450 horsepower V8, carbon fiber body, and contemporary comforts.
2007 Rossi Sixty-Six
A nod to the past
What Makes It Special
The Rossi Sixty-Six was a custom-built sports car blending modern performance with classic styling inspired by the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette. Created by Rossi Motor Company in 2010, it featured a sleek, retro design with contemporary engineering.
Based on the C6 Corvette platform, it retains the naturally aspirated Corvette’s 6.0L LS3 V8 engine, producing 450 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheels. The Sixty Six weighted 400 pounds more (3,550 pounds total).
The Sixty-Six boasts carbon fiber body panels, upgraded suspension, and modern interior comforts like leather seats and advanced infotainment systems. It offers a unique fusion of 1960s Corvette aesthetics with modern performance and technology.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 6.0L V8
Power: 450 hp
Torque: 400 ft-lbs
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Highlights
It incorporated a C6 Corvette platform, split rear windows, and design elements reminiscent of the C2 Corvette.
Pricing was around $130,000, including the price of the donor C6 Corvette.
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Equus Throwback
The Equus Throwback fuses 1960s Corvette style with modern engineering, featuring up to 1,000 hp, carbon fiber body, and luxurious, customizable interiors.
2018 Equus Throwback
The ultimate C7 Vette
What Makes It Special
In 2018, Equus Automotive introduced the Throwback, a 1,000 hp powerhouse inspired by classic Corvettes of the 1960s and 1970s.
Based on the C7 Corvette, this carbon fiber-clad beast blends retro design elements with modern innovation, offering customization for both design-focused drivers and performance enthusiasts.
The Throwback features round headlights, classic rear circular lights, and exaggerated exhausts. Inside, Alcantara upholstery, leather, and diamond stitching enhance the luxury feel.
Under the hood is an eight-cylinder engine, with an optional upgrade delivering 1,000 horsepower and 822 lb-ft of torque, a massive triple-exit exhaust pipe, and endless customization options.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 6.2L Supercharged V8
Power: 1,000 hp
Torque: 822 ft-lbs
Transmission: 7-speed manual
Highlights
Equus claimed the Throwback could go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and reach up to 220 MPH.
The base model cost $130,000 and only 25 units were produced.
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Corvette Callaway Sledgehammer
The Callaway Sledgehammer, a 1988 C4 Corvette, achieved 254.76 mph with an 880 hp twin-turbo V8 and custom aerodynamics.
1988 Corvette Callaway Sledgehammer
The record-braking beast
What Makes It Special
The Callaway Sledgehammer is a legendary high-performance Corvette created by Callaway Cars in 1988. Based on the C4 Corvette, it was engineered to break speed records. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.7-liter V8 engine, it produced an impressive 880 horsepower and 772 lb-ft of torque.
The ‘Bow Tie’ V8 engine had a blueprinted block, four-bolt splay-design bearing caps, a Cosworth crankshaft, forged pistons, a dry-sump oil system, an MSD ignition system, and Zytek engine management.
The Sledgehammer featured custom aerodynamics, including a reinforced body, improved cooling, and suspension modifications to handle high speeds. It had a 6-speed manual transmission and high-performance Goodyear Eagle tires.
Engine & Drivetrain Specifications
Engine: 6.2L Supercharged V8
Power: 1,000 hp
Torque: 822 ft-lbs
Transmission: 7-speed manual
Highlights
Turbonetics provided two T04B turbochargers with twin intercoolers.
The Sledgehammer reached an astonishing 254.76 mph, a record for a street-legal car at the time.