To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Arizona event, 17 - 18
January 2019.
Estimate:
$225,000 - $275,000
- Desirable first year of the Corvette
- The 87th of only 300 built
- Three known owners from new; less than 6,000 actual miles
- Restored to NCRS standards; Top Flight winner at chapter
level
First introduced as one of the GM Motorama Dream Cars, the
Chevrolet Corvette was put into production in June 1953. Born
somewhat by accident, it was built as a show car and skeptics
thought of it merely as a publicity model. In order to get the car
into production quickly, the body was built of fiberglass, rather
than taking the lengthy time needed to mill dies and produce a body
out of steel. Although considered a production model, each car was
essentially hand-crafted. The powertrain was quite simple, a 150-hp
"Blue Flame Six" with three side draft carburetors and shifted via
a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. All were finished in
Polo White with red interiors and black tops. With a base price of
$3,513, just 300 were made.
This Corvette, the 87th of those 300 built for 1953, is presented
in the original Polo White over red combination. The car was
purchased new by Gerald Wiles of Orrville, Ohio. He owned the car
for a number of years, at one point changing the exterior color to
black. Admired from afar, the Corvette was acquired in 1962 by
fellow resident of Orrville, Ohio, Lyle Hill, then just 20 years of
age. Hill enjoyed the car in nice weather, with a work vehicle
being his main mode of transportation. In 1968, Hill, a member of
the National Guard, was called into full duty in the U.S. Army,
where he was assigned to a base in Germany. Prior to leaving for
service, not knowing how long he would be away or if he would be
headed to Vietnam, Mr. Hill disassembled his beloved Corvette, not
wanting anyone to drive his car while away.
In 1970 Mr. Hill returned home, married, and began his quest for a
college degree. With the focus put on his family and career the
Corvette remained in storage, awaiting restoration. In the early
1980s Mr. Hill began purchasing up parts for 1953-1957 Corvettes
from estate sales, advertisements, and swap meets. He and his wife
attended numerous Corvette shows around the country. Mr. Hill
became well known in the Corvette world, selling parts throughout
the U.S. and into Europe, South America, and Asia.
The year 2003 marked the 50th anniversary of the Corvette, and Mr.
Hill, having worked on putting his Corvette back together over the
years, used this date as his goal to complete the restoration. An
event was held in Flint, Michigan, where the first corvettes were
built, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of America's sports car.
While he was not able to complete the drivetrain restoration, Mr.
Hill was proudly in attendance with no. 087. At the reunion, a
general agreement among the officials was that there were no. 1953
Corvettes known with any lower original mileage. Mr. Hill owned the
car until his passing in 2014. Later in 2014 the car was purchased
from the estate by a private collector, and current owner, who went
on to complete the restoration to NCRS standards. Less than one
year later the car was judged by Bonneville Chapter National
Corvette Restorers Association where the car received the chapter's
Top Flight award in 2015. The car is accompanied by Mr. Hill's
title from 1962. The current owner is only the third registered
owner of this fantastic first-year Corvette.
With its restoration to NCRS standards, no. 87 is a stunning
three-owner example, and with less than 6,000 actual miles from
new, possibly the lowest mileage 1953 Corvette in existence. It is
a fine example of the first year of the of the Chevrolet Corvette,
America's first sports car.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az19.
