Magna 'Vette goes back to the future

Sure, some folks who saw the “Commemorative Edition Corvette” at last month's Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit complained that it was trying too hard to capitalize on the retro styling trend. Others were curious about how a current-generation Corvette could get mashed together with a '53. Magna Steyr, preparing for its spinoff from Magna International Inc., calls its creation “a high-tech version of America's first sports car.” The concept features retro fenders, fascia, hood, decklid, lighting and chrome accents, along with 2001 technology such as heated seats and head-up gauge display. A thumping 350 hp comes with the current-generation 5.7L V-8. Before Dream Cruise, the vehicle was on display at the Route 66 75^th Anniversary Festival in Albuquerque, NM, where Magna got a few interesting offers for the one-of-a-kind vehicle: $135,000, two Harley Davidsons and a wife, not necessarily in that order.