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Restomod vs Original: The Classic Corvette Showdown Plays Out At Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach

CorvSport tracks the Top 5 Restomod Corvette sales against their Top 5 original counterparts—does the modern movement continue to outshine the unmolested classics at the king of no-reserve auctions?

Douglas Barton··
Last updated:
Our top Restomod brings big money! Photo Credit: Barrett-Jackson

This past weekend, the sun shone down on enthusiasts from across our country as they convened on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, Florida—Barrett-Jackson was back in town! For the Corvette faithful, the atmosphere was electric, but the talk under the tents wasn’t just about factory-correct NCRS Top Flight winners. It was about a high-stakes showdown between two worlds: the pristine, numbers-matching classics that represent our history, and the rising tide of “Customs”—better known to the community as The Restomod Movement. To test that movement in Barrett-Jackson’s no-reserve arena, CorvSport is pitting the Top 5 Restomod sales from Palm Beach 2026 against their all-original counterparts—sit back and enjoy the showdown in the virtual cage fight with no safety net.

The Visionary: Jeff Hayes And The Custom Revolution

While many builders have touched the classic Corvette, few have redefined the market like Jeff Hayes. Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Jeff Hayes Customs began pushing boundaries in the early 2000s, often facing criticism from purists who felt he was “destroying holy grails.” 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. Today, his signature builds, often featuring an Art Morrison sport chassis and LS3 power, are regular multi-six-digit contenders.

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