Vehicle Description
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a beautifully restored convertible
that is well-sorted and ready for some boulevard cruising! In the
early 50s, Chevrolet's parent company General Motors' hosted
"Motorama" events in order to show off the ingenuity of GM's
designers and engineers, and to generate publicity by giving the
public a glimpse at the Big Three automaker's production pipeline.
At the 1952 Motorama, most of GM's brands displayed a concept car
that ultimately would end up in production, including the Cadillac
Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and, perhaps most
famously, the Chevrolet Corvette. Initially named 1952 EX-122
Motorama Show Car, the Corvette was Chevrolet's take on a
European-inspired sports car that had begun to grow popular amongst
upper class Americans. The Chevy show car also displayed
experimentation with new building materials and methods, perhaps
most famously, using a fiberglass body which was virtually unheard
of in the early 1950s and still remains a key component of Corvette
production today. Of course what was perhaps most unusual was the
fact that Chevrolet was not yet known as a trendy, performance
oriented brand; rather, Chevys were modest family cars to get you
to and from your workplace or the grocery store but weren't flashy.
Well that began to change in 1953 when the GM marque built its
first Corvette on June 30, 1953. The first generation Corvette was
largely unchanged from the initial concept car, utilizing the
futuristic fiberglass body with gorgeous body lines. At the nose,
the grille was comprised of 13 vertical chrome bars surrounded by a
chrome frame. Additionally, wraparound chrome bumpers and recessed
headlights covered with mesh rock guards capped off the innovative
front end look. Down the sides, the curved body lines were
reminiscent of the European sports cars of the day and the doors
had no visible outside handles, further contributing to the
aerodynamic look. In the rear, the taillights were integrated into
the rear fenders, a look that finished off the iconic C1 design. In
its second year (and first full year) of production, the 1954
Corvettes were largely left unchanged from the debut '53 models,
except that Chevrolet integrated several key updates from customer
feedback into its latest design. 1954's updates included the
addition of removable side windows, changes to the air cleaner and
exhaust setup, and the addition of several new optional colors
including Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black, in addition to
the standard Polo White. Chevrolet also changed the softtop color
from 1953's black to a beige soft top in 1954. In total, Chevrolet
produced a mere 3,640 Corvettes in 1954, which makes this
particular example quite a rare piece of automobile history. Under
the hood on this '54 Corvette is a 235 Cubic Inch "Blue Flame"
Inline 6 cylinder engine fed by a trifecta of Single Barrel Carter
Carburetors that together were said to have created 150 horsepower
when new. The 235 Blue Flame 6 is mated to a Powerglide automatic
transmission that makes this 1954 Corvette an easy car for just
about anybody to drive. Exhaust exits the 235 Inline 6 via a pair
of through body exhaust ports that generate a nice throaty sound
out the rear. The electrical system on this 1954 Chevy has been
upgraded to a 12 volt system from the original 6 volt, which
provides for a more reliable startup and overall electrical
performance. The beige cloth convertible top is manually operated
and appears to be in great shape! The interior cabin can further be
sealed up since this Corvette comes equipped with removable side
windows that can be stowed inside the included bag when they are
not being used. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires,
this 1954 Corvette has a great look whether parked at a car show or
cruising down the open road. The fiberglass body has been
refinished in a beautiful Polo White color scheme that completes
the exterior look of the car. The interior on this 1954 Chevrolet
Corvette is absolutely gorgeous! The bucket seats have been
reupholstered in red vinyl that provides a nice contrast the
exterior color scheme. The red carpeting, red vinyl upholstered
door panels, padded dash, and steering wheel are all in wonderful
condition and appear to remain in their stock configuration.
Instrumentation includes a 140 MPH speedometer, 5,000 RPM
tachometer, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, temperature gauge,
and fuel gauge. The dash is finished with a signal seeking AM radio
with speaker tucked beneath a chrome rearview mirror. Whether
you're buying your first classic car or you're adding to an
existing Corvette collection, this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette would
make an excellent addition. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*235 Cu. In. "Blue Flame" Inline 6
*3 Carter Single Barrel Carburetors
*Powerglide Automatic Transmission
*150 Horsepower
*Wide Whitewall Tires w/ Full Wheelcovers
*1 of 3,640 Produced
*Polo White Exterior
*Red Vinyl Bucket Seats
*Beige Cloth Convertible Top
*Includes Removable Side Windows
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 31,027 Miles
If an inaccurate automobile price is inadvertently listed on this
Website, Seller reserves the right to NOT honor the erroneous
price.
For more information and a current list of vehicles, call
763-428-7337.
