For Sale at Auction: 1956 Chevrolet Corvette in Palm Beach, Florida

This 1956 Chevrolet Corvette SR-2 re-creation was constructed as a long-term effort to replicate one of the most obscure and historically important Corvette design studies. The project originated in September 1957, when Ralph P. Coons Jr., then 25 years old, encountered the one-off Cobalt Blue Corvette SR-2 created by General Motors Styling for GM Chief Executive Harlow H. Curtice. That experience initiated a decades-long effort to recreate the vehicle with close attention to period accuracy. Over approximately 24 years, Coons sourced original-type, period-correct components consistent with those used on the original SR-2. The build was completed in 1990, after which the car remained in his ownership. From completion through 2024, the vehicle was driven sparingly and maintained with preservation in mind. The original Harlow Curtice SR-2 remains in private ownership. This vehicle is believed to be the only known re-creation constructed with the specific objective of closely reproducing the original SR-2 using correct-type components and historically appropriate design cues. The car incorporates extensive custom bodywork modeled after the original SR-2, including the extended fiberglass front nose, handcrafted rear tailfin and bulging side scoops unique to the design. It is fitted with Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels consistent with high-end Corvette applications of the period. Power is provided by a V-8 engine equipped with a 1957 fuel injection unit, aligning with the advanced engineering associated with the SR-2 program. The custom interior features leather seating, specialized trim elements and a unique instrument layout inspired by mid-1950s GM experimental design practices. The exterior is finished in a custom-mixed Cobalt Blue Metallic, matching the color specified for the original Harlow Curtice SR-2. This SR-2 re-creation reflects General Motors' mid-1950s experimental approach to Corvette development during the Harley Earl era, when styling, aerodynamics and emerging performance technologies were explored outside of production programs.