Photo Credit: Dave Cruikshank

The 1957 Corvette in the Steve’s Auto Restorations (S.A.R.) booth at Goodguys Del Mar 2026 was not there as a finished showpiece. It was there as a work in progress, and seeing the bones of the car was fascinating.

Sprayed in blue primer with cream coves, it was the late Steve Frisbie’s personal project before his passing in October 2025. When purchased, the car was a rough Aztec Bronze 1957 model found in Sandy, Oregon. The car carried fuel-injection badging on its front fenders, suggesting it may have been a rare fuelie at one point, but the original engine and interior were long gone when Steve purchased it.

Today, the car is available for sale and sits approximately 25 percent complete. The major work is already in place, while key choices remain open, including paint color, trim, interior finishes, wheel style, and final drivetrain direction.

CorvetteBlogger spoke with S.A.R.’s Chris Clark, who said the car is ready for a new owner to step in and shape the finished product.

“The heavy lifting has already been done, fast-tracking your journey to owning a one-of-a-kind C1 Corvette. We’ve invested extensive effort into creating a clean, unique foundation that stands apart from anything else on the road.”

This opportunity comes from a shop with a long history behind it. Steve’s Auto Restorations has been in business for 50 years, and its story begins with Frisbie himself.

Steve was born in South Dakota and moved to Portland early in life. He began painting cars in 1972 while moonlighting from Boeing. While at the aviation giant, he worked in the machining and plating departments before eventually moving up to head the company’s paint division. He used to tell people his painting “education” came from Boeing, and that experience followed him into his automotive career.

Eventually, Steve opened his own paint shop and built a business that supported his family. From that beginning, Steve’s Auto Restorations grew into one of the country’s most respected names in high-end restoration, custom fabrication, and Corvette builds. The shop now operates from a 12,000-square-foot facility with a 12-person crew.

Today, although S.A.R. can restore almost any car, Corvettes remain one of the shop’s specialties. The company is known for its unique C1 Corvette template, which combines meticulous craftsmanship with a modern chassis, modern engine options, upgraded brakes, a sleeker 1953 windshield, and laser-straight bodywork.

Recent C1 Corvette builds include these two 1957 Corvettes using the S.A.R. template, along with a very nice 1961.

The 1957 roadster at Del Mar shows S.A.R.’s approach in raw form. Clark explained the hardware and preparation already completed on the car.

“This Corvette is built on an Art Morrison Sport GT chassis with independent tubular-arm suspension front and rear, rack-and-pinion steering, and Wilwood four-piston brakes,” Clark said. “The body has been stripped, any stress cracks have been ground out and repaired, and the panels have been gapped to a standard far beyond what these cars had when they left St. Louis in 1957.”

It already has the 1953 windshield treatment, custom-fabricated door trim, and a small C2-style Stinger scoop in the hood. Although the rear wheel wells have been tubbed, the body has not been widened. That keeps the overall shape pure 1957 Corvette while allowing for a more aggressive wheel-and-tire package.

Powertrain selection is still open as well. S.A.R. can build the car with an LS or LT engine, an old-school small-block, or something more exotic, depending on the owner’s vision.

A finished build would take roughly two years. Depending on budget and direction, the car could be completed as a show car, a driver, or a blend of both. For the right buyer, it is a rare chance to complete Steve Frisbie’s final personal project with the talented and experienced S.A.R. crew behind it.

If all this piques your interest, your dream 1957 Corvette is just a phone call away.

Source:
Photography: Steve’s Auto Restorations

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