American Metal Customs Took this 1959 Corvette from Crashed Glass to a Stunning Custom Rod Finalist
Congratulations to Jim Goodyear for being named a Finalist for the Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year with his 1959 Corvette built by American Metal Customs.
Jim Goodyear’s 1959 Corvette arrived at American Metal Customs in pieces, in boxes, and in bad shape. The end result, though, shows what can happen when the right parts, people, and passion come together to create a new vision of an iconic American sports car.
The starting point was an abused fiberglass shell that had been badly repaired after a wreck and cut up in a failed attempt to build a Gasser drag car. That meant replacing large sections of the 1959 Corvette body and rebuilding them, as well as restoring nearly eight decades of wear and tear everywhere else. Additional custom touches included a redesigned firewall and inner fenders, splash shields, undercarriage panels, relocating the gas tank, and hiding the fuel filler cap behind the flip-up trunk emblem.
Other under-hood modifications included an engine cover, custom air intake, and a hand-built fan shroud. The distinctive PPG Byram Blue paint was applied in-house at American Metal Customs, along with the caramel brown paint in the coves to match the interior color.
The freshened body now resides on an all-new Roadster Shop Fast Track IRS chassis that features C7 Corvette front and rear suspension components as well as a Camaro SS rearend with 3.73 gears. Baer 14-inch drilled and slotted disc brakes are found on all four corners, surrounded by 19×8-inch EVOD wheels that mimic factory hubcaps and are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
The updated chassis cradles modern power in the form of a BluePrint Engines 376c.i. LS V8 that cranks out 530 horsepower. Custom finned aluminum Corvette valve covers provide a vintage look that’s augmented by generous body-color detailing. The one-off exhaust system steers waste gases through stainless steel mufflers and pipes with custom exhaust tips. A Lokar electric shifter controls the GM 4L65E automatic transmission.
The inviting interior makes extensive use of caramel-colored Hydes leather, including on the custom seats that are heated and ventilated. AutoMeter Antique Beige gauges are housed in a reshaped dash that also has a custom inlay on the passenger side. The Budnik Stratos steering wheel is leather wrapped with perforated inserts and a custom horn cap emblem made at American Metal. The shop’s upholstery team also fabricated the custom armrests that hide the power window switches.
The just-completed two-year build was debuted at the Mid-Atlantic Nationals in Dover, where it garnered plenty of attention. That was also the first time Jim saw his 1959 Corvette finished!. The goal was to balance performance, nostalgic styling, and classic design in a restomod creation that more than holds its own when compared to other recent C1 builds. Based on Jim’s reaction to the reveal, all expectations were exceeded. 
Photos: Terry Lysak
