Vehicle Description
Only 63,848 original miles and restored to original specifications!
All original, date coded drivetrain and never modified! Comes from
the private collection in Tennessee after 13 years of ownership! An
incredibly original and worthy Corvette blue-chip investment! It
just continues to look authentically untouched in every respect! In
1951, the initial seed was planted at GM by the legendary Harley
Earl, creator of the GM Art and Color department which was the
predecessor to automobile styling departments around the world.
Although essentially classified as a Harley Earl design, the first
Corvette was actually sketched up by a young stylist named Bob
McLean for the 1953 Motorama. Over the next several months the
Corvette quickly took shape in the form of a clay model in late
1952 and shortly thereafter, a running prototype finished just in
time for the show. By the end of 1953 the first production
Corvettes rolled off the "line" in Flint, Michigan, essentially
hand-built cars, the 1953s are the rarest of all Corvettes with
only 300 units produced. In 1954, production moved to St. Louis,
Missouri to a new facility capable of building hundreds of cars per
month. Although people loved the new Corvette, 1954 sales were slow
and more than 1,100 units still sat on showroom floors at the end
of the model year! Faced with sluggish sales, GM's top brass
panicked and almost ended Corvette before it had a chance to get
started. The introduction of the V-8 in 1955 saved the Corvette and
breathed new life into the model, sales rocketed and the legendary
automotive milestone was assured a bright and prosperous future.
Today they are as American as apple pie! Finished in Polo White
with Red interior, this classic 1954 Chevrolet Corvette features a
numbers & date code correct 235ci Blue Flame 150 Inline 6-cylinder,
heater with defrost, full instrumentation, parking brake alarm,
courtesy lights, windshield washer, Power Glide automatic
transmission, wide whitewall tires, and correct Signal Seeking AM
radio! Having been sympathetically restored using the original body
and factory components, this classic Corvette shows exceptionally
well in person with a very original appearance. This includes
original LOF windshield glass, correct mesh air cleaners, 'X' down
pipe, chrome overflow tank, proper ignition shielding, original
starter, AC fuel filter bowl, and more! Being a mid-year
development example, #2462, you will note the short exhaust tips
but dual pot air filter assembles added, and correct single hood
release handle. The only noted enhancements include newer BF
Goodrich Silvertown Radial white whitewall tires measuring
205/75R15 for better road manners. Because these first generation
Corvettes were essentially hand built at the factory, they were
known for cosmetic flaws and body panel alignment imperfections.
Today, many of these cars have been "over-restored" which,
according to many, is a detraction from the collector value and
visceral hand-built character that has made these early Vettes so
desirable. With only 3,640 produced, and all equipped exactly the
same, this 1954 Corvette is among the rarest and sought after of
American favorites! And for many represent one of the most
collectible and investment worthy cars available to enthusiasts
today. Also included will be the original date-coded Plexiglas side
curtains, storage bag, reproduction owner's manual, with authentic
poly-4 spare tire hidden in the storage well. This example hails
from the previous Tennessee owner of more than 13 years! It has
been wonderfully kept in his climate-controlled garage, and
properly serviced and exercised annually during the driving season.
Most recently, the YH Carter carburetors were fully rebuilt with
new intake gaskets, new tires, fresh oil/filter, and overall
tune-up along with new valve cover gasket. The last compression
results reported perfect compression between 132-140 across all
cylinders. For the extremely savvy collector or investor, there
will be few such opportunities to acquire such an affordable
example of this special car in all the years of appreciation to
come! With prices of freshly restored examples exceeding $100,000,
acquiring a drivable and exceptionally clean original like this is
truly a unique find. This Corvette is in authentic cosmetic and
mechanical condition and can be driven right off the showroom
floor. Ownership and service records from 2002 will be provided to
the next owner. All cars are advertised locally and nationally.
Please do not hesitate to call us with questions or to discuss
securing a vehicle. We look forward to working with you!