When Originality Is The Problem, Restomod Is The Solution

An artistic amalgamation that blends modern upgrades with classic lines

- Joe Greeves

Since the goal for every restomod build is to treasure the old but infuse with the new, the transformation needs to be handled with care. What to keep and what to discard become vital decisions that spell the difference between tears of joy and just plain tears. If the process is beyond your skill level, choosing the right shop is a critical step since the effort must be a fusion of ideas between owner and builder to achieve the best of both worlds.

Matt Verzi and Gavin Broome are the owners of StreetHeat Customs, a build shop in Melbourne, Florida, known for turning out high-end cars and trucks. With 30-plus years of combined experience, they’ve had more than a dozen magazine feature vehicles and a long list of satisfied customers driving their cars on streets as far away as Australia. While patina cars and trucks are their specialty, they took on a new challenge with this 1958 Corvette. Owned by Debbie Bull from Melbourne, Florida, the car was destined to be a Christmas present from her husband. Unfortunately, it needed some work before it could be wrapped with a big red bow.