Vehicle 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. And this one is
coming off of an impressive 55+ years under the same ownership. 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 already has the
appeal of the Corvette's genesis moment. Plus, the backstory is
impressive: a husband and wife first bought this car in 1966, and
it hasn't left their possession. It was given good care over the
years, including a professional restoration in 2012. So this level
of respect and investment is how you get a car that looks so
impressively classic. The body and finish are well done with a look
that's often better than stock... but not too perfect because that
would be straying too far from how the factory did it in the early
days. 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 (for display), working
heater, and working interior lights. It all feels quite nice thanks
to the later restoration. And because this comes with everything
from proper side curtains to a spacious trunk, you can genuinely
enjoy this classic for special road trips.
Under the hood is the correct-style 235 cubic-inch Blue Flame
inline-six. This is actually a replacement motor that was installed
in 1966 - when the couple first bought the car. So it's a nice
catalyst to tell this Corvette's unique history. The Powerglide
transmission was rebuilt at this time, too. This car was desirable
because of the upgrade to a triple set of side-draft carburetors,
and this correct setup continues to showcase it quite nicely today.
We like the inline-six cars because it showcases the initial aim of
the Corvette. 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.
And as you look underneath, the ultra-clean style gives you the
confidence to go out and actually experience what it was like to be
part of the Corvette's origins.
A car this special comes with nice paperwork like the owner's
manual, title documentation, build receipts, and maintenance
records. This long-term loved '54 is waiting for its next
generational owner, but it won't wait for long. If you're a true
enthusiast, you need to call today!
