Corvette is perfect combination of past and present

When it comes to Corvettes, there's downright plenty out there for enthusiasts to pursue, but there was just one Rick Last wanted to own.

The Downers Grove resident saw one like it here in the suburbs 10 years ago. He had to wait nearly a decade for another one to come along so he could snag it for himself. “I just knew it would be the car I would own,” Rick says.

It's called the 1953/2003 Commemorative Edition and it's a hybrid of sorts. Not a hybrid as in battery technologies and electric power. It's a hybrid in the sense of an expert blend of a storied Corvette past with the more potent present.

In 2003, the 'Vette hit a major milestone: 50 years of production. In the coming years, that landmark prompted Advanced Automotive Technologies in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to craft a truly unique celebratory car. The design house created this package, converting a C5-generation Corvette to have the looks of the original '53 while retaining the powertrain of a modern sports machine.

The work was done at the company's Rochester Hills facility, where customers can ship their donor Corvettes for the conversion to begin. From there, extensive bodywork is added to give it the look of the '53 model, which was quite curvy and voluptuous. In all, fenders were added, along with a new hood, deck lid, headlights, taillights, bumpers and trim.

Inside, changes were few, being limited to such things as a classic Q-ball shifter knob and a special commemorative plate mounted between the seats. Rich's car is number five of the run, which to date is at 210 vehicles.

While exterior colors can range, Rich's car was paired to the original, sporting Pearl White paint and a red interior. All 300 1953 Corvettes were painted Polo White and had red interiors.

While the original classics only had inline six-cylinder engines underhood, Rich's has the contemporary stock 350-cubic-inch V-8, which is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. His also has custom wheels and other creature comforts to make cruising a breeze.

Rich is a new owner, having just bought his custom Corvette two months ago. However, he's already found it has no trouble turning heads and drawing interest.

“Everywhere I go,” Rich says, “it just gets attention.”

Share your car's story with Matt at auto@dailyherald.com.