Today, the Corvette is as intertwined with American popular culture as baseball, but it was a dream that nearly failed. In 1953, Chevrolet introduced a new sports car aimed directly at European competition. Fitted with an inline-6 engine and an automatic transmission, the Corvette was well-loved by its owners and misunderstood by many sports car enthusiasts. Even though initial sales were lackluster, Chevrolet knew that they had a potent recipe on their hands and would introduce a small-block V8 for the Corvette in 1955. With that, an American icon was born. The first-generation 'Vette went through many styling and mechanical updates throughout its production cycle, with the quintessential quad-headlight design arriving in 1968. Engines and transmissions were upgraded over the years to include high-output options and manual transmissions. By 1962, Chevrolet had turned the Corvette from a poor seller to one of the most iconic vehicles in American history.
This 1961 Chevrolet Corvette is a spectacular numbers-matching example that has been exceptionally cared for over the last 60 years. It is finished in a classic first-gen color combination: red with white coves over a black interior and a matching convertible top. It is in excellent condition and remains largely original. The numbers-matching 283 cubic-inch V8 engine is fed by a pair of correct four-barrel carburetors and produces 270 horsepower per factory specification. Power is sent through the car's original 4-speed manual transmission to a posi rear end. The vehicle comes from 10 years of ownership and has had recent brake work to ensure that it is turn-key and ready to be enjoyed.
