Vehicle Description
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a great example of a C1 Corvette
that seemingly everyone can enjoy! Back in the 1950s, and long
before car companies announced their latest products on social
media, General Motors hosted events they called the "Motorama" to
display their latest innovations and generate media buzz around
their latest and upcoming vehicles. At the 1952 Motorama, most of
GM's brands displayed a concept car unique to each marque including
the Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and,
perhaps most famously, the Chevrolet Corvette. What made each of
the aforementioned concept cars special was the fact that each one
was actually placed into production the following year with minimal
changes. Chevrolet's '52 Motorama concept car that would later be
called the Corvette was initially named the 1952 EX-122 Motorama
Show Car and it was Chevy's rendition of a European-inspired sports
car. See, in the early '50s two-seat European sports cars began to
grow in popularity in the United States, especially amongst upper
class Americans, and the American automakers weren't yet offering
sporty two-seaters. For example, Chevrolet was known for its
affordable, modest family cars and was not really considered a
trendy or even performance oriented brand at the time. Moreover,
Chevrolet's engineers had begun experimenting with utilizing
different building materials in their cars' construction and for
the Corvette that meant using a fiberglass body which was virtually
unheard of in the early 1950s and still remains a significant
component of Corvette production today. On June 30, 1953, Chevrolet
began production on the very first Corvettes employing the
futuristic fiberglass body seen on the Motorama concept car with
gorgeous body lines. Up front, a chrome frame surrounded a gorgeous
grille composed of 13 vertical chrome bars. Sitting on either side
of the grille were wraparound chrome bumpers and recessed
headlights tucked behind mesh rock guards. The side profile of the
first generation Corvette was equally stunning sporting
European-inspired curved body lines and no visible outside door
handles that gave the car a streamlined look. Capping off the
iconic look of the first Corvette were through-body exhaust ports
along with a pair of taillights that were integrated into the rear
fenders. In 1954 during the Corvette's first full year of
production, the second iteration of Corvette was left largely
unchanged from the debut '53 models except for a few updates that
were taken from early customer feedback. Both the air cleaner and
exhaust ports were updated for improved safety and reliability.
Additionally, the Corvette became even more stylish with a change
from black to beige convertible tops and the Corvette was now being
offered in four (as opposed to one) colors including Pennant Blue,
Sportsman Red, and Black, in addition to the standard Polo White.
In total, Chevrolet produced a mere 3,640 Corvettes in 1954, which
makes this particular southern sourced example quite a rare piece
of automobile history. Under the rear-opening hood on this '54
Corvette is 235 Cubic Inch "Blue Flame" Inline 6 cylinder engine
fed by a trifecta of Carter single barrel carburetors that together
were said to have created 150 horsepower when new. Exhaust exits
through a pair of through-body chrome-tipped tailpipes that
generate a nice throaty sound out the rear. The Blue Flame 235
Straight 6 is backed by a Powerglide Automatic Transmission that
makes this C1 Corvette an easy car for just about anybody to
operate. This 1954 'Vette is equipped with a manually operated
beige cloth convertible top that when in the down position hides
away and is tucked underneath a compartment behind the driver's and
passenger bucket seats. A chrome driver's side mirror is a
wonderful addition to any classic car from the 1950s since it
greatly improves visibility when squeezing into a tight parking
space. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires mounted on
steel wheels and accented with a set of Spinner-style wheelcovers,
this '54 Corvette has a gorgeous stance whether cruising down the
road or parked at the local car show. The fiberglass body of this
1954 Chevy Covette has been refinished in beautiful Polo White
paint that completes the exterior appearance of the car. The
interior of this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible has a classic
sporty look! The driver's and passenger's bucket seats have been
reupholstered in red vinyl that contrasts beautifully with the
exterior of this iconic 1954 American sports car. The red
carpeting, red padded dash, red upholstered door panels and
two-tone steering wheel all appear to retain a nice stock
appearance and all show very well. A rear-view mirror sits atop the
dash as well allowing the driver to see what is behind them while
driving. This 1954 Corvette comes equipped with full
instrumentation including a 140 MPH speedometer, 5,000 RPM
tachometer, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, temperature gauge,
and fuel gauge. The dash is finished off with a climate control
knob, push-button AM radio, speaker, and clock. Whether you're
adding to an existing collection of classic Corvettes or you're
buying your very first classic car, this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
would make an excellent choice. 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/ Spinner Wheelcovers
*1 of 3,640 Produced
*Polo White Exterior
*Red Vinyl Bucket Seats
*Beige Cloth Convertible Top
*Push-Button AM Radio
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 76,000 Miles
