Vehicle Description
Beautiful restoration with just 4711 miles since it was finished.
Loaded with almost every option including two tops and dual quads.
Long-term ownership with known history back to 1960s. Runs and
drives like it should. A beautiful Corvette!This very pretty 1956
Corvette is loaded with options and the original owner checked
almost every item on the list:HeaterAM radioParking brake
alarmCourtesy lightsWindshield washers6.70-15 whitewall
tiresAuxiliary hardtopTwo-tone exterior paint225 horsepower 265
cubic inch V8 with two 4-barrel carbsPower convertible topThe only
options he didn't select? PowerGlide automatic transmission, the
high lift racing camshaft, and power windows for some reason. He
specified Venetian Red with a beige cove insert (it is not and
never has been white) with a red interior, which was by far the
most popular combination in 1956. The car was treated to a
comprehensive 18-year body-off restoration that was completed in
1999 and another body-on freshening in 2014 to prep it for show
duty. The bodywork was completely stripped to bare fiberglass and
refinished in its original Venetian Red, which looks incredibly
deep and shiny. It's a bit orange, of course, but the contrast with
the beige side cove is just gorgeous-it's a very sophisticated
look. Fit and finish are like the factory did it (not perfect, but
appropriate) because the guys doing the work knew that perfection
is not a good idea if you're going to compete at the highest
levels. Think of it as 'Corvette correct.' The doors open and close
easily, the trunk latches down without a big slam, and you can
close the hood with a gentle push. The chrome was all refinished to
show standards and all new emblems and lenses were installed.
Inside, the textured vinyl seats, low-nap carpet, and ornate door
panels are just as they were in 1956, and you can see most of the
options here: heater/defroster, an AM radio (not working, sadly),
and courtesy lights. The dashboard is largely the same as 1955,
painted in the same beige as the side coves, and all the gauges
work including the unique total revolutions counter on the tach. A
3-speed manual was standard equipment (there were no 4-speeds in
1956) and it's reasonably crisp with light clutch action. The
driving position is very much old-school performance, with a big
wheel right in your chest so you can do the maneuvering with your
shoulders rather than your arms. The radio pulls in stations loud
and clear and broadcasts through the single speaker in front of the
passenger. Tan canvas was optional for the convertible top, which
is technically power actuated, although the system does need the
driver to release the latches and the deck lid to allow it to stow
itself underneath. There's also a fully restored matching hardtop,
complete with textured headliner that is the same as the seat
upholstery. The surprisingly spacious trunk has a correct rubber
mat and there's a full-sized spare stowed underneath.RPO 469 was a
265 cubic inch V8 with two 4-barrel carburetors making 225
horsepower-a fairly robust figure for 1956. The engine is a correct
3720991 casting with a GR suffix code, denoting the dual quad
version for a manual transmission. To that, the restoration added
the Special High Lift Camshaft (affectionately known as the 'Duntov
Cam'), bringing horsepower to 240. The engine was rebuilt and
detailed during the restoration and still looks fantastic today.
Correct ignition shielding, a generator with built-in tachometer
drive, new wiring, correct hoses and clamps, and all the other
little things that make it look right are there. It starts easily
and idles well, and on the road there's plenty of punch at any
speed which is what owning a Corvette is all about, right? The
3-speed manual transmission shifts crisply, and with 3.70 gears,
this roadster is entertainingly quick even in today's world of 700+
horsepower Corvettes. Everything underneath was rebuilt, including
brakes, suspension, and steering, and it's nicely detailed,
including a reproduction A/C oil filter and a stainless exhaust
system. Spiral shocks are in place out back along with proper
canvas check straps on the axle, and steel wheels carry attractive
spinner hubcaps and correctly sized 6.70-15 wide whitewall
tires.This Corvette gets everything right. It's correct, it's
beautiful, it's fun, and it's ready to display at almost any level.
The investment in the restoration was considerably more than the
asking price, and the 1956 Corvettes are among the rarest of
Chevrolet's plastic fantastic. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
