Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Auburn Fall event,
August 31-3, 2017.
Chassis No.
E53F001127
Estimate:
$225,000 - $275,000 US
In the early 1950s, a team of GM engineers, headed up by Harley
Earl, went to work trying to create a fiberglass-bodied car that
had the appeal to compete with European sports cars. Harley Earl
had excelled at swooping designs since the 1920s and designed
aircraft-looking features into the car, including round dials
blended into a curved dash, all of which were sheltered under a
roofline that stood just under 47 inches tall. The six-cylinder
engine was positioned farther toward the rear, which gave the flat
hood a long, sleek appearance. By the time it was ready to be
unveiled, it is reported that GM had spent over $1.5 million on the
project.
This car, dubbed the Corvette "Dream Car," debuted at the GM
Motorama show, which was held at the stylish Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
in New York City, and it achieved astounding results. Following the
first weekend of the Motorama event in New York, over 300,000
people had seen the car and spent $800,000 on GM products. At the
conclusion of Motorama's U.S. tour, GM stated that over four
million people had seen the car.
Production of the two-seat roadster started in June 1953, and by
year's end, a total of only 300 Corvettes rolled off the assembly
line. This first year of Corvette production signified an important
technical milestone: GM was the first major American car
manufacturer to successfully mass-produce a vehicle whose underpan
and body shell were made entirely of fiberglass.
The Corvette featured GM's "Blue Flame" 235-cubic inch inline
six-cylinder engine, which had triple Carter carburetors and a dual
exhaust. The respectable 150 horsepower was transmitted to the road
via a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. All 300 cars
that were built in 1953 were visually identical, as they were
finished in Polo White with a Sportsman Red interior. The car was
fitted with subtle pieces of chrome trim, which ran along either
side, as well as wire meshing covering the headlights.
When compared to the Jaguar XK 120 and the MGA of the time, the
Corvette was proportionally smaller, yet it was more responsive and
superior in handling. Unable to resist its magnetism, virtually
every auto enthusiast felt compelled to get behind the wheel of the
new Corvette. Even though its initial success was impressive, it is
doubtful that even those at GM could have thought the Corvette
would achieve the success it has over the six decades it has been
in production.
This particular 1953 Corvette, the 127th of the 300 built in the
inaugural year, has been the recipient of a concours-quality
restoration. It is a Bloomington Gold winner and beautifully
presented as would be expected from such an august honor.
The development work behind the car and an admiring public would
assure the Corvette would eventually become America's premier
sports car, and it continues to be the leader 64 years later. This
car represents the beginnings of an American sports car tradition
that will last far into the future and continue to earn prominence
and respect.