1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a beautifully restored convertible that is well-sorted and ready for some boulevard cruising! In the early 50s, Chevrolet's parent company...

This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a beautifully restored convertible that is well-sorted and ready for some boulevard cruising! In the early 50s, Chevrolet's parent company General Motors' hosted "Motorama" events in order to show off the ingenuity of GM's designers and engineers, and to generate publicity by giving the public a glimpse at the Big Three automaker's production pipeline. At the 1952 Motorama, most of GM's brands displayed a concept car that ultimately would end up in production, including the Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Fiesta, and, perhaps most famously, the Chevrolet Corvette. Initially named 1952 EX-122 Motorama Show Car, the Corvette was Chevrolet's take on a European-inspired sports car that had begun to grow popular amongst upper class Americans. The Chevy show car also displayed experimentation with new building materials and methods, perhaps most famously, using a fiberglass body which was virtually unheard of in the early 1950s and still remains a key component of Corvette production today. Of course what was perhaps most unusual was the fact that Chevrolet was not yet known as a trendy, performance oriented brand; rather, Chevys were modest family cars to get you to and from your workplace or the grocery store but weren't flashy. Well that began to change in 1953 when the GM marque built its first Corvette on June 30, 1953. The first generation Corvette was largely unchanged from the initial concept car, utilizing the futuristic fiberglass body with gorgeous body lines. At the nose, the grille was comprised of 13 vertical chrome bars surrounded by a chrome frame. Additionally, wraparound chrome bumpers and recessed headlights covered with mesh rock guards capped off the innovative front end look. Down the sides, the curved body lines were reminiscent of the European sports cars of the day and the doors had no visible outside handles, further contributing to the aerodynamic look. In the rear, the taillights were integrated into the rear fenders, a look that finished off the iconic C1 design. In its second year (and first full year) of production, the 1954 Corvettes were largely left unchanged from the debut '53 models, except that Chevrolet integrated several key updates from customer feedback into its latest design. 1954's updates included the addition of removable side windows, changes to the air cleaner and exhaust setup, and the addition of several new optional colors including Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black, in addition to the standard Polo White. Chevrolet also changed the softtop color from 1953's black to a beige soft top in 1954. In total, Chevrolet produced a mere 3,640 Corvettes in 1954, which makes this particular example quite a rare piece of automobile history. Under the hood on this '54 Corvette is a 235 Cubic Inch "Blue Flame" Inline 6 cylinder engine fed by a trifecta of Single Barrel Carter Carburetors that together were said to have created 150 horsepower when new. The 235 Blue Flame 6 is mated to a Powerglide automatic transmission that makes this 1954 Corvette an easy car for just about anybody to drive. Exhaust exits the 235 Inline 6 via a pair of through body exhaust ports that generate a nice throaty sound out the rear. The electrical system on this 1954 Chevy has been upgraded to a 12 volt system from the original 6 volt, which provides for a more reliable startup and overall electrical performance. The beige cloth convertible top is manually operated and appears to be in great shape! The interior cabin can further be sealed up since this Corvette comes equipped with removable side windows that can be stowed inside the included bag when they are not being used. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires, this 1954 Corvette has a great look whether parked at a car show or cruising down the open road. The fiberglass body has been refinished in a beautiful Polo White color scheme that completes the exterior look of the car. The interior on this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is absolutely gorgeous! The bucket seats have been reupholstered in red vinyl that provides a nice contrast the exterior color scheme. The red carpeting, red vinyl upholstered door panels, padded dash, and steering wheel are all in wonderful condition and appear to remain in their stock configuration. Instrumentation includes a 140 MPH speedometer, 5,000 RPM tachometer, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, temperature gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash is finished with a signal seeking AM radio with speaker tucked beneath a chrome rearview mirror. Whether you're buying your first classic car or you're adding to an existing Corvette collection, this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette would make an excellent addition. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!