Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, September 1-4, 2016.
Chassis No.
E54S002849
Estimate:
$ 55,000 - $ 65,000 US
From the very beginning the Chevrolet Corvette was special in every respect. In design and construction it differed from all other models and did not even bear the traditional Chevrolet bow tie. The GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) body was molded into a shape more akin to a European styling house than an American automaker and is still appreciated today for its sensuous form. The Corvette was first unveiled to the public and press at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York in early 1953. Harley Earl was the moving force behind the sensational new Corvette with the assistance of Bob McLean, Maurice Olley and Ed Cole. Shortly before production began the great Zora Arkus-Duntov, who would guide Chevrolet’s new sports car to legendary status, joined the team. The new white sports car rolled off the assembly line a scant five months after its debut.
Corvettes were also assembled in a very different manner. They were built by small groups of technicians, rather than on an assembly line. The fiberglass bodies were virtually handmade and did not carry Fisher Body Style numbers like all the other GM models. Although conceived to be assembled from production GM parts and refitted with a steel body, the Corvette continued to evolve in its original form in 1954. Minor changes that year included a different window storage bag, air cleaners, starter and rerouting of the fuel and brake lines. Additionally, a wider array of colors was available to buyers. The 1954 Corvette was built at a newly renovated facility located in St. Louis, Missouri. This model year was crucial in the survival of the car and its ongoing development. Today these cars are firmly defined as true collectibles.
By far, one of the most iconic American Sports Cars ever made, this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette was purchased from an auto museum after they displayed it for many years. The Corvette has been active in that the past year has seen this car win two best of show awards and take several multi-day tours.
These cars were built in very limited production during its early years with a total of 3,634 Corvettes built in 1954. Of these the most plentiful of the colors received were those in Polo White with 3,230 built; there were 300 built in Pennant Blue (such as this example); 100 built in Sportsman Red, and a mere four built in Black.
This beautifully presented car is originally one of the very uncommon Pennant Blue cars. The 1954 Pennant Blue Corvettes were only available with Beige interiors, which gave the car a sophisticated and very classy look. One major iconic aspect of this car, is that it does come with the original Blue Flame Six, 235-cid, 150-hp inline six-cylinder engine, which was used in many cars of this era. Although not the most popular engine Chevrolet ever built, when you install this engine into a lightweight fiberglass body with an astounding center of gravity, a car like this could outrun any other American built car during the 1950s.
The trunk is quite large on this C1 model as well, with special pockets sewn in to hold the side windows up when you want to go journeying with the top down. True to the Corvette standard of many eras, this car has an easy to use manual convertible top, which folds under a special fiberglass tonneau cover behind the driver’s seat. This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a truly rare car, with only 300 made in this tone, it is indeterminate as to how many are actually left, creating a wonderful opportunity to own the American platform in a rare shade car that helped begin the American sports car fascination.
Options on this car includes four-wheel disc brakes, upgraded AM/FM radio with a digital tuner, radial tires, alloy wheels, automatic transmission and the original Blue Flame Six engine. Many original parts replaced in this car are available. The brakes being disc required rim changes, and the originals are available.
