1959 Chevrolet Corvette

Description

1959 Corvettes have a special appeal for fans of the fiberglass. Perhaps it's the fact that the '50s were ending and taking with them a special time in our history. Perhaps it's the quad headlights or the brightwork that were somehow exactly right for this model. Whatever the cause, this 1959 Corvette deserves a place in your collection simply because it's the ideal combination of charisma and performance.

Roman Red with white side coves – is there anything more purely American than this 'Vette? Detailing on these cars is exquisite and you can see why they're so popular just by looking over all the little things that add up to such a great look. The toothy grille, the slender "gills" in the side coves, and the beautiful emblems on the nose and tail that are miniature works of art, all of it makes this Corvette something for the ages. The fact that the restoration was rather well done certainly helps, and even though it was completed a few years ago, it still looks great when you're rushing down your favorite country road. The fiberglass is in good condition, the doors fit well, and the only notable demerit is a small crack in the hood where someone got a little over-zealous when slamming it, but it's quite minor. The chrome was all refinished, and even though this is just a 2-seater, there's quite a bit of it, all of which is in excellent condition. This is one great-looking Corvette!

Flashy was in style in the 1950s, which certainly explains the bright two-tone red and white upholstery. The seat covers and carpets were replaced during the restoration, and everything is pretty much the way the factory intended. A centrally-mounted tachometer shows you that by 1959, the Corvette guys were serious about performance and the dash-mounted rear-view mirror is just plain cool. The center stack hosts the heater controls, a clock, and original Wonder-Bar AM radio, which has been upgraded with iPod connectivity so you can enjoy modern sounds with the retro look. A 4-speed manual gearbox makes this Corvette a joy to rip through the gears without fear of missing a shift. And for a Corvette, the trunk is downright spacious, with plenty of room for luggage on that dream road trip.

Power comes from a 1967 Corvette's 327 cubic inch V8, a neat fit in the '59's engine bay thanks to the longevity of the Chevy small block. It certainly looks right in the older 'Vette, wearing gorgeous cast aluminum valve covers with 'Corvette' script, a classic louvered air cleaner, and chrome ignition shield, not to mention some Chevy Orange paint. A modern alternator is a nice upgrade for reliability's sake, and ram's horn exhaust manifolds help control heat and noise, critical in a car made of plastic. The underside is perfect for driving thanks to $3000 worth of recent brake and suspension work, and with a recent dual exhaust system, it has that raucous small block Chevy rumble. Cool 205/75/15 whitewall/redline radials look period correct but handle like modern rubber and show off the spinner hubcaps.

A great C1 Corvette at a very reasonable price. Not an investment in anything but fun, you'll always find an excuse to take it out for a drive. Call today!