Vehicle Description
This very cool 1954 Corvette is exactly the kind of car you need if
you crave attention. The '54s are kind of stuck between the
ultra-valuable first-year 1953s and the V8-powered '55s, and as a
result, this car enjoyed some well-chosen upgrades that make it
potent as well as stylish. If you want a Corvette that does it all,
well, there aren't many choices better than this frame-off restored
example.
Yep, it's bright, and with the limited color pallet in 1954, yellow
tends to stand out in a big way. It was repainted a few years ago
and the fiberglass underneath is in good order, so you can roll up
and show it off without a second thought. It shines up beautifully
and there's no denying that these first Corvettes are great-looking
cars. They kept all the factory curves and details, including the
wonderful mini fins out back that flank the taillights, making this
the perfect expression of 1950s performance. For an early Corvette,
panel fit is great, especially the trunk which is difficult to fit
on these cars. We love the toothy grille and the European
race-inspired grilles over the headlights, and all the bright trim
was restored before it was bolted back on. Even the Plexiglas
license plate lens in back is crystal clear. It's pretty darn easy
to love this car.
The interior doesn't stray too far from the stock look, but the
more you look, the more you'll see the subtle upgrades that make it
a joy to drive. The seats are stock-style buckets and the
three-spoke steering wheel was designed to look like the original,
but it's a little smaller, a little fatter, and wrapped in tan
leather. A full set of Auto Meter gauges were precisely integrated
into the original gauge slots in the dash, while the factory speedo
is still ahead of the driver. An AM/FM/cassette stereo was neatly
tucked up high so you don't really notice it and feeds speakers
cleverly stashed throughout the interior, and a CD changer is
stowed away nicely in the truck. Black carpets keep it from being
too bright inside and help keep things quiet and cool and there's a
Lokar shifter in the center that looks suitably vintage. Overhead
there's a black canvas convertible top that fits well and the trunk
is fully finished and ready for your next road trip.
Instead of a Blue Flame Six under the hood, this 'Vette offers a
proper V8; 400 cubic inches to be exact. The small block is a neat
fit in the '54's engine bay and has all the modern upgrades that
make it a blast to drive. Chrome dress-up, a mild Performance Cam,
Holley 4-barrel carb, aluminum heads, and things like 12-volt
electrical system with alternator and a big aluminum radiator,
aluminum warer pump and electric fan up front help ensure cool
reliability. It starts easily and in the relatively light weight
Corvette, performance is impressive. A TH350 automatic transmission
snaps through the gears and with 3.50 gears on a limited slip out
back, it's snappy off the line. The suspension is fairly stock but
does a good job of planting that horsepower and keeping the car on
track, and the exhaust note is pure American muscle with
Flowmasters and Hooker long-tube headers. Chrome wheels are the
right choice on a car like this and they're wearing 215/65/15 BFG
radials all around.
This well-built '54 Corvette is all about having fun in a wicked
cool old car. With a pro-built pedigree and a great look, you can
buy with confidence and use it as the original engineers intended.
It would likely take six figures to replicate this build, so why
not enjoy the fruits of someone else hard labor, turn the key and
go? She won't last long, call today!