Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America’s Auburn Fall event, September 1-4, 2016.
Chassis No.
E54S001321
Estimate:
$ 85,000 - $ 95,000 US
Chevrolet introduced the Corvette in 1953. The car was originally designed for the Motorama display at the New York Auto show. The car featured a two-passenger open-cockpit design with a unique lightweight “glass-fiber” body. It was met with such rave reviews Chevrolet decided to put it into production. For the 1953 model year Chevrolet produced 300 examples of the Corvette. This initial run was only offered in Polo White with a Sportsman Red interior.
In 1954, Chevrolet built 3,640 Corvettes. The cars were essentially the same as the 1953 models with minor changes to the window storage bag, air cleaners, starter as well as how the fuel and brake lines were routed. The cars could be ordered in Polo White, Sportsman Red, Black or Pennant Blue. For 1954, the only color option for the top was beige. Polo White was by far the most popular color with 3,230 examples finished in this tone. It was advertised as “The First All-American Sports Car.” With its powerful engine and lightweight body construction the 1954 Corvette could achieve 0- to 60-mph in 11 seconds and 0- to 100-mph in 41 seconds. Production of the first generation Corvette ran through 1962.
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette has benefitted from a cosmetic restoration in 2016. The car has been professionally repainted in the 1954 Chevrolet shade of Polo White. The Corvette features new chrome and a new beige convertible top. The car rides on whitewall tires with factory wheel covers. It’s powered by Chevrolet’s “Blue-Flame” a 235-cid, 150-hp six-cylinder engine with three side-draft carburetors. The engine is paired to a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle has gone through a full mechanical service. The interior is presented in red with bucket seats and features a signal-seeking radio, center-mounted dash instrumentation and a dash-mounted rearview mirror. Generous storage space can be found in the rear trunk. Other exterior features on the car include a back-draft reducing “bubble” windshield, headlight screens, driver’s sideview mirror and a dual exhaust protruding through the rear body work.
The Corvette comes with a reprinted owner’s manual as well as the original side curtains with storage bag. It is reported that this Corvette was sold new from West Chevrolet near Cleveland, Ohio. It was later traded back to the dealership in 1958 where it remained until it was resold in 2015. Sensational styling, agile performance and luxurious comfort all add up to having great fun when driving the respected first generation Corvettes.
