Inside the Build With Jeff Hayes Customs / RestoMod Corvettes
Bloomington, Indiana, resident Jeff Hayes has an eye and passion for revitalizing and modifying aged Corvettes, turning them into breathtaking Corvette RestoMods. He was one of the first individuals to craft a Corvette RestoMod in the United States.
While his shop, Jeff Hayes Customs, is now highly renowned, Jeff received a lot of criticism for his work when he first started in the early 2000s. Classic Corvette purists regarded Jeff’s RestoMods as corruptions of the original models and insulted his work to his face. Despite this pushback, Jeff persisted and created a successful business with his stunning Corvette RestoMods, gaining confidence in his creations along the way.
Today, we’re excited to explore two of Jeff’s recent breathtaking cars that were sold at the 2025 Barrett-Jackson Auction: a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible RestoMod and a 1963 Split-Window Chevrolet Corvette Coupe RestoMod. We also had the pleasure of learning more about Jeff’s creative process, including some of his sources of inspiration.
Corvette RestoMods at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson Auction
Jeff Hayes has had a great deal of success and acclaim selling his Corvette RestoMods at the annual Barrett Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. His cars have become an important part of the auction, as he delivers top-tier quality as well as unique styling and modifications. In 2024, Jeff Hayes’ work broke a remarkable record at the Barrett Jackson Auction – his stunning 1967 Corvette RestoMod sold for over a million dollars.
For the 2025 auction, Jeff came up with the idea to develop nearly identical RestoMods, as he had never seen a pair of identical cars at a Barrett Jackson Auction. He decided to restore and craft matching Corvettes with two different body styles.
He was incredibly intentional with his decision in choosing the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and the 1963 Split-Window Chevrolet Corvette Coupe. He regards 1967 as the best model year for the mid-year convertible range because it was the final year of the C2 and boasted improvements from past models. Jeff selected the 1963 Split-Window Chevrolet Corvette Coupe because of its iconic status, as it perfectly embodied the C2 Coupe’s renowned style. He thinks of both cars as the best of the best in the C2 lineup, perfectly complementing each other while being two of the most acclaimed sports car designs of all time.
Jeff crafted the two stunning vehicles to be the same in almost every way. They sport the same colors, interior, wheels, drivetrain, chassis, and everything else, making them truly identical cars, aside from their different body styles.
Jeff Hayes’ Corvette RestoMod Specifications
Jeff Hayes’ Corvette RestoMods offer the best of both worlds – they have the breathtaking styles of classic Corvettes while providing car enthusiasts with smoother rides and comfort features.
He noted that while there’s much to love about classic car drivetrains, they can be incredibly unreliable. He upgraded his stunning Corvette RestoMods with LS3 540 HP Hot Cam computerized fuel-injected engines and new 4L70E automatic transmissions, which he bought directly from General Motors. The vehicles also feature power hoods and power steering for even better driving performances.
His Corvette RestoMods also feature Art Morrison Sport chassis, which Jeff regards as an unbeatable choice. The Art Morrison team specifically designed and engineered each car’s chassis, giving the cars an incredibly comfortable and smooth feel. The vehicles are made even better with their 4-wheel polished Wilwood disc brakes and custom-built Schott wheels with line radial tires.
When you take a look inside the cars’ cabins, you’ll see immaculate and luxurious Camel interiors with Ididit chrome steering columns along with custom mahogany steering wheels. These RestoMods also provide riders with other modern comforts and conveniences, including Vintage Air systems and power windows.
Inspirations From Contemporary Sports Cars
Every year, Jeff designs and develops remarkable Corvettes for the Barrett Jackson Auction, often offering motorheads with never-before-seen Corvette colors and style choices. He takes pride in developing Corvettes in incredibly unique colors, as original and modified Chevrolet Corvettes typically have very few color options.
For this breathtaking pair of Corvette RestoMods, Jeff drew inspiration from contemporary Ferraris. He was looking for ideas from luxury dealerships in Naples, Florida, when he came across a beautiful finish at the high-end Ferraris on Fifth car show. He spotted a Ferrari with a creamy, pearl-white finish called Bianca Fuji. Despite the difficulties of obtaining the paint code and spray out, Jeff persevered in acquiring the eye-catching and highly original color for his matching RestoMods. Ferrari also inspired Jeff to equip his cherished custom Corvettes with the luxury automaker’s convenient magnetic battery tenders.
Another convenience that Jeff appreciates in certain contemporary sports cars is their interior LED lighting. For that reason, he and his team have installed LED lighting within the doors and footwells of his RestoMods for years. These lighting additions make it easier for riders to get in and out of their vehicles while also giving the cars a rich, elegant look.
Jeff made his LED lighting designs even more impressive on his pair of RestoMods. Automakers like Bentley and Mercedes inspired him to create custom door sills, as contemporary luxury vehicles stylishly showcase their brand names in illuminated letters. Jeff and his team installed custom door sills to beam the “Corvette” name in its signature script, further conveying an impressive, high-end appearance.
Jeff Hayes Customs Dedication to Top-Tier Quality
Jeff Hayes Customs has made a name for itself by delivering the best quality Corvette RestoMods with unique stylings and impressive specifications. He and his team care so much about delivering top quality that they regularly deny people’s requests to buy their vehicles. People desperately want to buy Corvette RestoMods directly from Jeff Hayes Customs, but Jeff insists on selling his beauties only through Barrett Jackson Auction.
Jeff takes great pride in improving his cars every year, showing tremendous detail and care on each unit he sells at the Barrett Jackson auction. He and his team are dedicated to setting the definitive industry standard for RestoMods, delivering craftsmanship that you can’t get elsewhere.
Get the Best Insurance for Your Corvette RestoMod
The Scottsdale Barrett Jackson auction proved to be highly successful for Jeff Hayes Customs. While neither of Jeff’s matching Corvette RestoMods broke his previous record of $1 million, they still sold for incredibly lucrative sums. His 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible RestoMod sold for $850,000, while the 1963 Split-Window Chevrolet Corvette Coupe sold for $900,000.
If you’re fortunate enough to own a Jeff Hayes RestoMod Corvette or another remarkable luxury vehicle, you need to protect it with the best insurance possible. With Classic Auto, you can rest easy knowing that you have trusted, top-tier insurance to protect your one-of-a-kind ride for years to come. Learn more by calling 888-901-1338, or get a quote here.
