Vehicle Description
Thank you for taking your time to view another one of the Basil
family's beautiful classic cars. Our most recent endeavor, Basil
Classics, represents our continued quest to provide our fellow car
enthusiasts with the finest quality vehicles, now including a full
line of classic automobiles. We consider this to be a journey of
continued excellence our family has strived to faithfully provide
since 1951.
General Motors has been producing quality cars and trucks for the
purchasing public beginning in 1908 with the merger of Buick and
Oldsmobile. After a short stint on his own, Louis Chevrolet joined
General Motors in 1918 and the Chevrolet name and automobile line
was retained.
In 1927, Harley Earl was hired as General Motors design engineer
and with Earl at the helm, production design concepts began to
noticeably change and many one-off concepts came about. Within his
first year as design engineer, Earl released the Cadillac LaSalle
which was intended to fill a gap in the GM automotive line. With
the success of the LaSalle, additional concept ideas began to
emerge under Earl's direction. By the 1950s, Harley Earl was well
trusted and established with his design advances and had turned his
attention to the smaller two passenger roadsters now being produced
by European companies such as Porsche and Jaguar. 1951 brought
about a secretive Earl design dubbed the Opel project, a two
passenger roadster meant to compete with the European
companies.
Three concept cars sprang from the Opel project but only one went
into production, and in 1953, the Corvette was born. Only 300 units
were sold in 1953, all being assembled with hand laid fiberglass
bodies, a full steel frame and powered by a six cylinder engine
using three side draft carburetors with a two speed automatic
transmission. All 1953 Corvettes had six volt electrical systems,
its body color was available only in white with red interior.
Corvette number 003 was sent to the "cold room" at Harrison
radiator in Lockport New York where it was put through and passed a
series of grueling tests.
The 1953 model Corvette was produced in Flint Michigan but by
December 1953, General Motors moved the Corvette production to St.
Louis Missouri. With increasing public interest in the new
fiberglass Corvette design, production was dramatically increased
in 1954 to 3,460 units and made available in four colors, Polo
white, Pennant blue, Sportsman red and black. Several engine
upgrades were made in 1954 to increase horsepower and reliability,
also improved were the wiring harness and top frame.
Though the new Corvette had excellent appeal, it was not a
performance vehicle, so changes in that direction were soon to
begin. In 1955, a Belgian born race car driver by the name of Zora
Arkus Duntov was hired by General Motors to move the Corvette into
the performance arena. Duntov submitted a hasty redesign that
fitted a 265ci V8 engine into the original C1 chassis boosting the
horsepower rating from 155 to 195 @5000rpms, an increase of 40
horsepower.
Only 700 Corvettes were produced in 1955 causing General Motors
executives to call for the discontinuation of the Corvette
production. Duntov however was successful in convincing GM that the
Corvette would sell very well as a two passenger performance
vehicle, something not yet available in the American car market and
Corvette production was allowed to continue.
Zora Arkus Duntov is credited for the inclusion of many performance
upgrades in the Corvette over the following years to include fuel
injection, performance suspensions, multiple four barrel
carburetion and four wheel disc brakes to name a few. His many
successful performance contributions to the Corvette changed its
image dramatically and caused it to become a world-renowned sports
car. Duntov's years of dedication to the Corvette earned him the
accepted title of father of the Corvette.
The Basil family proudly presents this 1955 Corvette to you which
is in correct original condition. Of the 700 units produced in
1955, it is estimated that little more than 100 remain in
roadworthy condition. Though this car is cosmetically restored, the
engine and transmissions are the correct original units to the car.
The 265 V8 has been mechanically rebuilt and performs as intended.
It retains its stamped vin, identifying it as being a matching
numbers engine. The correct chrome distributor cover and wires are
present as are the chrome air cleaner and mechanical tach drive
generator. The paint and chrome on this Corvette are in excellent
restored condition though the underside of the body shows minor
repairs on its four corners common to these cars due to the flush
mounted bumpers. The factory wire grid antenna which is integrated
into the underside of the trunk lid is intact and operational. Also
in near new condition are the side window curtains and storage bag
a last year accessory on the 1955 model. A review of the foldaway
convertible top finds it to be in near new condition as well. The
interior is correct, all gauges work as they should and the
speedometer shows 59,661 miles. The tube radio and mechanical
tachometer are also in correct working condition, and appearing
only slightly dated, the overall appearance of the interior is
exceptional.
For more than 25 years, this 1955 Corvette was loved and driven by
its senior adult owner up until its purchase by the Basil family.
It represents the last year of the Harley Earl body design and the
first year of the 12 volt electrical system as well as the Duntov
inspired V8. A complete documented history of ownership has been
retained and will be included in the resale of this fine
automobile. Stop and see this stunning example of rare Corvette
history, you may never see another in such well kept condition
We understand that buying on the web can leave room for uncertainty
of the quality or condition. At Basil we are happy to Facetime,
Google Duo, or video anything that you want to see specifically.
Our goal is for you to purchase in confidence. We facilitate
transportation to your front door making it easy for you to
purchase, then get behind the wheel of your dream machine.
For any Inquires please call us direct at (716) 206-5208!
Should a customer choose to purchase one of our vehicles sight
unseen, the customer is then accepting the vehicle AS IS and WHERE
IS. They understand we cannot address any concerns after the time
of sale. For this reason, it is important any and all questions and
concerns are addressed prior to the time of sale. We make every
effort to present accurate and reliable information, however the
use of this information is voluntary and should only be deemed
liable after an independent review of its accuracy. It is the sole
responsibility of the purchaser to verify the existence of options,
accessories, as well as vehicle condition prior to the purchase of
a vehicle.
