Cars & Bids recently announced it would leave its modern enthusiast roots behind and begin selling older classics, as well. It’s the kind of move you’d expect from an auction site now owned by private equity, but it also felt like a pretty big risk since the kind of enthusiasts who love cars from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s tend to be a lot less interested in the pre-Oil Embargo classics that other auction sites focus on. One of the first pre-1980s auctions just ended, though, and if this restomodded 1963 Chevrolet Corvette convertible is any indication, older classics are going to do just fine over there.
Not only did the Corvette meet its reserve, it went for real money. It sold for so much money. If you don’t follow restomodded C2 auctions very closely, it might’ve even gone for more money than you would have imagined anyone would pay for any C2 convertible. This thing went for $160,000 U.S. American dollars.
Granted, the amount of work the builder did to this car means it’s more modern performance car than classic Corvette. There’s an LS3 with a Holley Sniper electronic fuel injection system under the hood, a Tremec TKX five-speed manual, and an upgraded suspension that uses Vansteel coilovers and QA1 shocks. It isn’t as cool as it would have been if it were a split-window coupe, but it’ll also probably be far more enjoyable to own than a stock C2 convertible. Plus, convertibles are more fun than coupes, anyway, and the Rapid Blue paint borrowed from the C8 looks rad as hell.
And yet, that still is just so much money. It’s also close to $100,000 more than you’d expect to spend on a stock soft-top C2. It does raise the question, though — if you had the same $160,000 to spend, what would you actually buy?
V10 for the win
For the purpose of this question, we’re going to assume you’re now worth several million dollars at a minimum and can actually afford to spend $160,000 on something fun. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a convertible or even a classic, either, and we’re going to assume you already own at least one practical, reliable daily driver. I’m just interested in what you’d buy with a budget that high. It doesn’t have to cost exactly $160k, and it’s totally fine if your dream car is actually significantly cheaper, but let’s also set a hard price cap at $165,000 so things don’t get too crazy.
Personally, my choice would be an Audi R8 Spyder with the V10 and that sweet six-speed gated manual. First-generation R8s will always have a special place in my heart, and you’re welcome to disagree, but I also think they look the best. And with such a huge budget, why would I settle for the V8 when I could afford the V10 it (mostly) shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo? I also don’t care if another transmission option could lap the Nurburgring slightly faster — as far as I’m concerned, the manual is the only transmission the R8 ever offered. And, of course, if you go for the convertible, you can drop the top and hear that glorious V10 scream past 8,000 RPM before you finally shift.
And it’s fairly comfortable, too? Forget it, I’m sold. The only downside of going with the R8 is that there aren’t that many real colors to choose from. The good news (for me) is, the original owner ordered this one in a custom reddish orange that I’d much rather own than white, black or gray, and it fits the budget, so there we go. Done.
What about you?
