1954 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

The 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is for a collector that's also a driver. After all, this example is nearly identical to the first-year cars (including the color theme) but this first full year of production made for a better Corvette. So dig into the details on a rare legend that appears clean, complete, and truly vintage.

Finished in Polo White with a red interior, this one keeps the same color theme offered on all 1953 Corvettes. So it passes for the six-figure original in many circles. But you don't need to pretend about anything with a '54 car. These get a huge level of respect all on their own for being part of the foundation of America's sports car. This one likes to look good but also be properly vintage. The finish has a good gloss but still shows the right age from responsible use. The body is well done with a fit that looks better than stock, but not too perfectly, because that would be straying too far from how the factory did it. And you'll love all the classic details. The toothy grille has a nice shine, the wraparound trim hugs the body, the dual exhaust tips are routed through the rear, and the stone guards are in place over the headlights. Even the hubcaps are a thoughtful design with the turbine slots painted red to match the wheels. And while we said this has the right color theme for a 1953 car, the tan roof is a feature they never got.

The Corvette was the American interpretation of the best that came from Europe, and the interior is a great reminder of this heritage. The red bucket seats look like they could almost have come from a Jaguar XK. But the body-colored waterfall in-between that gives it a seamless interior/exterior appearance is pure American style. This also did a fantastic job of hiding the manual convertible top. The dual hump dash is a Corvette hallmark, and you see the infancy of it here. Auxiliary gauges were arrayed in the center of the dash, adding to the pleasing symmetry of the design. You'll even notice classic items like the AM radio and heater are still there for display (they will need servicing to work correctly again.) The extra space in the interior was a great reminder of how the Corvette held an advantage over its European counterparts. Plus, with a real trunk, this rare classic is actually practical for grand touring weekends.

Under the hood is the correct 235 cubic-inch Blue Flame inline-six. The motor looks great sitting in the tidy engine bay with the distinct colored block and plenty of polished details. The 1953 car was also desirable because of the upgrade to a triple set of side-draft carburetors that raised the horsepower to 150. This is all part of the great original Corvette history. It was built to be part of the sprightly European crowd, and that's why Chevrolet developed the lightweight fiberglass body. The total package gives these early C1s a different feeling on the road than all the rest of the Corvettes. Backed by a PowerGlide automatic transmission, it's easy to drive and has a low-slung, nimble feel that is entirely appropriate.

This one is for the enthusiast who loves to drive, show, invest - or all three. This '54 is waiting for a true connoisseur, but it won't wait for long. Call today!!!