1953 Corvette
HIGHLIGHTS
- First year of the iconic Chevrolet Corvette
- Designed and created by Harley Earl, head of GM Styling
- Polo white exterior, red interior and black convertible top
- One of only 300 first year Corvettes, lowest production of any year
- Highly collectible
SPECIFICATIONS
- Blue Flame 235 cubic inch inline 6-cylinder engine, 150 HP
- Triple Carter side draft carburetor
- Two speed Powerglide automatic transmission
- Hand-laid Fiberglass body
- Includes original side curtains
THE FIRST YEAR CORVETTE
The Chevrolet introduced the Corvette in 1953 as “America’s sports car. The first Corvette (serial number E53F001001) reached the end of the assembly line on June 30, 1953. This was the first mass-produced fiberglass-bodied car, and all of the 300 cars built were assembled by hand in the back of a customer delivery garage in Flint, Michigan. All of the 1953 Corvettes were identical, with convertible bodies in polo white with sportsman red interior and black canvas top. The engine was the “Blue Flame” straight-six cylinder producing 150 horsepower, with triple Carter carburetors and 2-speed automatic transmissions.
With total production of only 300 cars, the 1953 is the lowest production of any year corvette, making it one of the rarest and most sought after & collectible Corvettes of all time. It is estimated that only about half of the cars produced are still in existence today.
THIS CAR
This is a rare opportunity to own one of the very first Corvettes. This is a very late production car, #290 of 300 produced. The car runs and drives well and still looks great. It is rare to find an original-looking 1953 Corvette; most have been over-restored to have perfect gaps and panel fit, which is NOT how they were built. This car has the charm and authentic-feel of the original and you can see the hand-laid fiberglass through the polo white paint. The engine has the correct codes and dates on the original engine and the car comes complete with the original side curtains and spare tire.
It was previously owned by NASCAR’s Mark Martin and displayed at the Mark Martin Klassix Auto Museum in Daytona Beach, Florida until the museum closed on 2003. The car has been part of a private collection in Southern California since 2008. It was restored in the late 1990’s and has only been driven about 800 miles since the restoration was completed. Recent work in 2018 includes new brake cylinders on all four wheels, a new battery, a valve job, brand new Al Knoch seat covers, and professional rebuilt of the carburetors.
SOLD