Vehicle Description
1954 Corvettes are wonderful cars to own and drive, and if you like
the looks and purity of the '53s but can't afford the six-figure
price tag, this nicely preserved '54 is virtually identical for a
whole lot less cash.
Nicely finished in Polo White with a red vinyl interior and a tan
canvas top, it's a nicely preserved example of what an early
Corvette should look like. The body is well done and fits together
better than they did originally, but not too perfectly, because
that's not how the factory did it. Most '54 Corvettes are Polo
White like this one, and it offers a soft gloss that looks very
vintage and correct. It has been repainted, but for the most part,
this car presents as a nicely preserved car rather than one that
has been fully disassembled and restored from the ground up, and we
like that. There are a few areas showing the usual minor checking,
but overall, if you want one to drive, you probably won't do better
than this. The chrome and other brightwork is in good order, from
the beautiful "baskets" over the headlights to the stylish rear
bumpers.
Red vinyl was one of two choices in 1954 (the other being beige
vinyl), but on a white car, it really is the only sensible
selection. Contrasting so vividly with the Polo White paint, this
Corvette's cockpit is as accurate as it is stylish. From fresh foam
under the seat covers, to the beautiful dashboard with matching
instrument humps for driver and passenger, it has been nicely
refinished. The gauges are all fully functional, lined up down low
with neat chrome bezels. The original AM radio is just above the
gauges and there's just nothing like the sound of a vintage tube
radio, even though there's not much music to listen to on AM
stations anymore. The matching red and white steering wheel has
been recast and is so pristine that you're almost afraid to touch
it while you drive. To the right of your thigh is the slender,
almost delicate shifter for the 2-speed PowerGlide automatic.
Interestingly, although the PowerGlide transmission was a $178
option, no Corvettes with manual transmissions were built in
1954.
In 1954, power still came from Chevrolet's reliable and
surprisingly lusty 235 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine, which
was renamed the Corvette Special Six in 1954. Equipped with a trio
of side-draft carburetors and exhaling through a true dual exhaust
system, it made a reasonably respectable 150 horsepower. The block
and head are bathed in the correct blue paint, and there's plenty
of evidence of proper service over the years. This car is one of
the 20% or so 1954 Corvettes fitted with a chrome valve cover
(which was installed on serial numbers 1363 through 4381), making
it somewhat of a rarity among its peers. Forget shiny body-colored
floors, everything is original underneath, and the front suspension
is similar to what Chevrolet had been using since the late 1930s.
In back, there's a rigid axle on leaf springs, and a 3.55 gear
spins inside. Brakes are 11-inch drums all around, which provide
better than expected performance given the Corvette's light weight,
and it rolls on 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers and
205/75/15 wide whitewall radials.
Although 1954 production was greater than both 1953 and 1955, at
3634 units, they are still very rare cars. They are also fun cars
to drive and beautiful machines to look at, no matter what the rest
of the hobby has to say about their place in history. That's surely
worth something too. Call now!