---
title: "Retro-Styled 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Is a Questionable Throwback to Yesteryear"
description: "Classic American styling meets 21st-century performance thanks to the 53-03 Commemorative Edition kit, but the looks are definitely love-or-hate."
date: "2019-09-02"
modified: "2019-09-02"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Constantine"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-constantine"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/29644/retro-styled-2004-chevrolet-corvette-z06-is-a-questionable-throwback-to-yesteryear"
categories:
  - "Chevrolet News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Corvette"
  - "Coupe"
  - "sports car"
---

# Retro-Styled 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Is a Questionable Throwback to Yesteryear

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/09/Corvette-Z06-Commemorative-Edition.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

So you're in the market for a [Corvette](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29071/the-495-hp-2020-mid-engine-chevrolet-corvette-is-here-and-it-costs-less-than-60k>) but you've arrived at an impasse: nothing beats the styling of the original, but you want something that can make today's crop of supercars nervous. Which do you choose? If you can't decide, this C1-inspired C5 Z06 currently [for sale on Bring a Trailer](<https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-chevrolet-corvette-14/>) might be the best of both worlds. Or not.

The car up for grabs is a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 that has been converted to a 1953-2003 Commemorative Edition by Advanced Automotive Technologies (AAT). Not to be confused with the much more subtly-styled factory 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition Chevy itself put out, this kit fuses the original Corvette's looks with the underpinnings of a top-of-the-line C5. AAT built approximately 200 Commemorative Editions, helping to celebrate 50 years of American supercar dominance.

![message-editor%2F1567364098496-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112702f9f98764da29.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364098496-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112702f9f98764da29.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364088202-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112647d565ef66e7dff9f39.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364088202-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112647d565ef66e7dff9f39.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364156408-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112626ff9f98764da42.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364156408-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112626ff9f98764da42.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364140332-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112682cfcd233.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364140332-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112682cfcd233.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

The package's most obvious changes are its new fiberglass panels that give the car the C1's signature brace-faced front end, quintessentially-1950s rear, and retro chrome bumpers that snake all the way around the exterior. In addition, the engine has had many of its components painted red and features C1-style valve covers.

As a primarily aesthetic kit, the 53-03's modifications leave much of what makes the Z06 a Z06 alone. Thus the car retains its 5.7-liter LS6 V8 and six-speed manual transmission, although it has been fitted with an aftermarket ProCharger supercharger. That's quite the step up from the 3.9-liter I-6 and 3-speed automatic transmission found in the 1953 'Vette it honors. The car has remained in Michigan for most of its life and currently shows 24,000 miles on the clock.

![message-editor%2F1567364184605-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_15651127529f98764da21.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364184605-2004_chevrolet_corvette_15651127529f98764da21.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364177225-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112723dff9f98764da26.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364177225-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112723dff9f98764da26.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364196267-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_1565112830565ef66e7dff9f988.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364196267-2004_chevrolet_corvette_1565112830565ef66e7dff9f988.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

![message-editor%2F1567364206341-2004\_chevrolet\_corvette\_15651128075d565ef66e7dff12.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1567364206341-2004_chevrolet_corvette_15651128075d565ef66e7dff12.jpg>)
*Bring a Trailer*

What do you think? Is this conversion a worthy commemoration of the Corvette's heritage or another poorly-executed kit car?

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