To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$150,000 - $200,000
- First-year of small-block V-8 power
- Desirable Harvest Gold with green roof and interior
accents
- One of only 700 Corvettes built in 1955
- Awarded restoration, including a Chapter Top Flight in 2006, a
Regional Performance Verification in 2008, a Regional Top Flight in
2008, Bloomington Gold in 2008, National Top Flight in 2010, and
lastly the coveted Duntov Mark of Excellence Award from the NCRS in
2010
Pairing classic C1 styling with real muscle for the first time, the
1955 Chevrolet Corvette was an instant classic. The new
265-cubic-inch small-block V-8 delivered a healthy 195 horsepower
with help from a four-barrel Carter carburetor. The V-8 would prove
a pivotal moment in the history of the Corvette as it transitioned
from a sporty roadster to a genuine performance model. Predictably,
demand for the V-8-powered 'Vette far outpaced its 1954
predecessor, which-amazingly, in retrospect-was difficult for Chevy
to actually sell.
Nearly every Corvette to leave the St. Louis plant for the 1955
model year was optioned with the $135 engine, even though the
straight-six could still be had. The V-8 also brought with it an
upsized gold "V" logo worked into the stylized side emblem. So
strong was the engine that Zora Arkus-Duntov traveled to Daytona
Beach, Florida in a prototype to set a Measured Mile record. 60 mph
arrived in 8.7 seconds for production Corvettes equipped with the
Powerglide automatic transmission. While a three-speed manual was
introduced later in the model year, the vast majority of Corvettes
built in 1955, this car included, featured the Powerglide.
Just 120 of the 700 Corvettes built for 1955 were finished in
bright Harvest Gold, a new color for the model year. This Corvette
was restored by Marquis Auto Restoration of Philadelphia in the
distinctive hue, paired with an elegant gold interior with
contrasting green carpets, upper dash and door trim, and a fabric
convertible top. Also new for 1955 was a 12-volt electrical system;
further, this example is fitted with a correct signal-seeking AM
radio.
The car's award-winning history includes, a Chapter Top Flight in
2006, a Regional Performance Verification in 2008, a Regional Top
Flight in 2008, Bloomington Gold in 2008, National Top Flight in
2010, and lastly the coveted Duntov Mark of Excellence Award from
the NCRS in 2010. The Duntov award is bestowed upon the select few
Corvettes that consistently achieve top scores at a minimum of
three NCRS events within a three-year period; it is considered by
many to be a pinnacle achievement for a restored Corvette. While
this car earned the award in 2010, the Duntov plaque and award are
not included with the car.
Early C1s, especially 1955s with small-block power, have always
been rare; the quality of the restoration, as recognized by the
awards it has earned, make this example especially desirable.To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.