Interested in a 59-year-old Chevy Chevelle with $350k in upgrades?

A rather unusual Chevrolet Corvette restomod is up for sale in the U.S. right now. Its owner claims to have invested around $350,000 in it, but both the exterior and the cabin look fairly understated for what it is. At least the engine is a big and pleasant surprise for anyone looking for a vintage car to drive.

Underpinning the project is an Art Morrison GT Sport chassis. The body has been updated to fit onto the platform, all distracting trim bits removed and chrome only allowed to stay on the bumpers. The resulting look is tasteful, understated and close to that of the original Chevelle.

Similar elegance can be found in the minimalist interior, with its black leather seats, blue stitching, a three-spoke steering wheel and a metallic dashboard. Dakota Digital gauges and a Vintage Air HVAC lend the space a more modern aura, but nothing sticks out as inappropriate.

A glimpse of the engine bay reveals a 6.2-liter LSA V8 blown to deliver 735 PS (725 hp / 541 kW). An automatic transmission conveys the momentum to the rear end via a limited-slip differential. The brakes, the suspension and the rack-and-pinion steering mechanism have all been updated, the listing claims, and should result in a much sportier feel to the handling. Rounding off the list is a loud exhaust system.

Mecum evaluates the car at U.S. $220,000–250,000, which is considerably less than the claimed restoration costs.