The Corvette has always been a capable car – hell, it’s America’s sportscar.  And, in all but maybe its very earliest iteration, it has been a benchmark of vehicle performance and a potent player for its time. But as automotive technology progresses at an ever-quickening rate, older generations of sportscars can begin to seem archaic.

This ’71 Corvette Stingray, built in conjunction with Chevrolet Performance for NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Jimmie Johnson, does not fall into that demographic. The goal of the project was to let the originality of the car shine through while modernizing the running gear with Chevy’s latest and greatest tech pieces. Mission accomplished.

At its heart is GM’s 6.2-liter direct-injected V8. This engine is one of the pinnacles of Chevrolets engine offerings and the latest in a proud line of small block V8 architecture. Features such as variable valve timing and active fuel management contribute to a broad power band and a whopping 29 mpg highway.

The With an all aluminum configuration, the engine shaves hundreds of pounds off of the original iron power plant and does it with drastically improved horsepower – 460 of them to be exact. All of that power and torque breath through a free-flowing stainless steel exhaust system.

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This is one of the first LT1 swaps to date. The new-age motor is already powering a slew of C7 Corvettes but Chevrolet didn’t announce its availability as a crate engine until last week’s SEMA show. This car is a pioneer and does a truly admirable job of highlighting the adaptability of the LT1 crate engine.

Handling power delivery to the sticky, Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires is a Tremec Super Magnum 6-speed gearbox. The original shocks and springs have been replaced with an uprated coil over suspension system with massive four-piston brakes straight off of a C6 Corvette Z06.

The interior of the car holds steady to its roots with black-leather trimmed bucket seats, but a three-spoke suede wrapped steering wheel and unique carbon-fiber accents gently remind that this Corvette is something unique. Several signatures on interior panels also harken to the involvement of a Nascar Champion.

Exterior modifications are subtle and classy. Push-to-open door latches have been grafted onto the ’71’s doors and a few extra Stingray-inspired vents and louvers expel hot air from the engine bay. The J.J. Blue exterior color is absolutely eye-catching and perfectly accentuated the sharp, seductive lines Stingrays are known for.

The car rolls on 18-inch Dark Android rally-style steel wheels which, although a bit heavier than a modern alloy wheel, are a wonderfully nostalgic nod toward Chevrolet’s performance vehicles of yore. Honestly, it is kind of refreshing to see a steel wheel in place of a restomod-style piece on a car dripping with this much vintage cool. The C6 calipers peaking through the wheel slots are a subtle indicator of the performance potential hiding behind the classic exterior.

Walking through Chevy’s SEMA display, it was clear that this car was an object of desire. The beautiful lines and glass-smooth paintwork didn’t need flashy colors, an aftermarket wide-body kit or any other gaudy trinkets to be cool. The nonchalant attitude of the car was a draw on it’s own, not unlike the man who owns it.