1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a great example of a C1 Corvette that seemingly everyone can enjoy! Back in the 1950s, and long before car companies announced their latest products on social media, General Motors hosted events they called the Motorama to display their latest innovations and generate media buzz around their latest and upcoming vehicles. At the 1952 Motorama, most of GMs brands displayed a concept car unique to each marque including the Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and, perhaps most famously, the Chevrolet Corvette. What made each of the aforementioned concept cars special was the fact that each one was actually placed into production the following year with minimal changes. Chevrolets 52 Motorama concept car that would later be called the Corvette was initially named the 1952 EX-122 Motorama Show Car and it was Chevys rendition of a European-inspired sports car. See, in the early 50s two-seat European sports cars began to grow in popularity in the United States, especially amongst upper class Americans, and the American automakers werent yet offering sporty two-seaters. For example, Chevrolet was known for its affordable, modest family cars and was not really considered a trendy or even performance oriented brand at the time. Moreover, Chevrolets engineers had begun experimenting with utilizing different building materials in their cars construction and for the Corvette that meant using a fiberglass body which was virtually unheard of in the early 1950s and still remains a significant component of Corvette production today. On June 30, 1953, Chevrolet began production on the very first Corvettes employing the futuristic fiberglass body seen on the Motorama concept car with gorgeous body lines. Up front, a chrome frame surrounded a gorgeous grille composed of 13 vertical chrome bars. Sitting on either side of the grille were wraparound chrome bumpers and recessed headlights tucked behind mesh rock guards. The side profile of the first generation Corvette was equally stunning sporting European-inspired curved body lines and no visible outside door handles that gave the car a streamlined look. Capping off the iconic look of the first Corvette were through-body exhaust ports along with a pair of taillights that were integrated into the rear fenders. In 1954 during the Corvettes first full year of production, the second iteration of Corvette was left largely unchanged from the debut 53 models except for a few updates that were taken from early customer feedback. Both the air cleaner and exhaust ports were updated for improved safety and reliability. Additionally, the Corvette became even more stylish with a change from black to beige convertible tops and the Corvette was now being offered in four (as opposed to one) colors including Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black, in addition to the standard Polo White. In total, Chevrolet produced a mere 3,640 Corvettes in 1954, which makes this particular southern sourced example quite a rare piece of automobile history. Under the rear-opening hood on this 54 Corvette is 235 Cubic Inch Blue Flame Inline 6 cylinder engine fed by a trifecta of Carter single barrel carburetors that together were said to have created 150 horsepower when new. Exhaust exits through a pair of through-body chrome-tipped tailpipes that generate a nice throaty sound out the rear. The Blue Flame 235 Straight 6 is backed by a Powerglide Automatic Transmission that makes this C1 Corvette an easy car for just about anybody to operate. This 1954 Vette is equipped with a manually operated beige cloth convertible top that when in the down position hides away and is tucked underneath a compartment behind the drivers and passenger bucket seats. A chrome drivers side mirror is a wonderful addition to any classic car from the 1950s since it greatly improves visibility when squeezing into a tight parking space. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires mounted on steel wheels and accented with a set of Spinner-style wheelcovers, this 54 Corvette has a gorgeous stance whether cruising down the road or parked at the local car show. The fiberglass body of this 1954 Chevy Covette has been refinished in beautiful Polo White paint that completes the exterior appearance of the car. The interior of this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible has a classic sporty look! The drivers and passengers bucket seats have been reupholstered in red vinyl that contrasts beautifully with the exterior of this iconic 1954 American sports car. The red carpeting, red padded dash, red upholstered door panels and two-tone steering wheel all appear to retain a nice stock appearance and all show very well. A rear-view mirror sits atop the dash as well allowing the driver to see what is behind them while driving. This 1954 Corvette comes equipped with full instrumentation including a 140 MPH speedometer, 5,000 RPM tachometer, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash is finished off with a climate control knob, push-button AM radio, speaker, and clock. Whether youre adding to an existing collection of classic Corvettes or youre buying your very first classic car, this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingsons a call today at 763-428-7337!