The Chevrolet Corvette made its debut for the 1953 model year. However, it wasn’t until 1954 that America’s love affair with the domestically produced sports car really got rolling. While just 300 Corvettes were built during the first year, a new production facility came online in St Louis for 1954.
That plant produced 3,640 examples for the year. The 1954 Corvette recently listed on eBay is one of those early St Louis cars.
A Half Century in Storage
The C1 Corvette has been tucked away in a safe spot for a half century.
The ’54 Vette on eBay is a remarkably well preserved and original example that’s fresh out of 51 years of storage. The car is finished in Polo White with a Sportsman Red interior and tan cloth top. And it comes complete with an assortment of hard-to-find and original components. The list includes:
- The correct numbers-matching engine head
- Dual side-draft carburetors with air cleaners
- Side windows
- Optional windshield washer system
- The trunk mat and liner
This time capsule Corvette runs and drives. It’s just about road-ready with redone brakes and rebuilt carbs. A new owner could spend a little time finishing the C1 to enjoy it as a survivor. Or a builder could take it to the next level with a complete restoration. Even the original owner’s manual and spare wheel are included.
For reference, see Eight Generations of the Chevrolet Corvette.
Original Corvette Stock Items and Factory Options
The car is equipped with a long list of options, including courtesy lights, a heater, and a Wonderbar radio. There are new goodies as well: a set of new seats from Al Knoch interiors, along with new carpeting and weatherstripping.
The car comes with maintenance receipts and gas logs going back to 1962.
Original documentation includes:
- A bill of sale and invoice from 1962
- Maintenance receipts
- A log of gas fill-ups going back to the early 1960s
- A license plate from the car’s last registration more than 50 years ago
The powertrain remains completely stock, featuring the original Blue Flame Six and two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. One of the few changes for the second year of production was a five-horsepower increase in the straight six-cylinder engine, bringing the total to 155.
While a modest output by today’s standards, it was sufficient to propel the relatively light Corvette in a respectably quick fashion.
A Salvo in the Horsepower Wars
The 1954 Corvette for sale on eBay is Polar White. But in 1954, Chevrolet offered three new colors: Black, Sportsman Red, and Pennant Blue. Other refinements for the year included longer stainless-steel exhaust tips to reduce the likelihood of staining on the fiberglass bodywork and redesigned door handles.
The following year brought new competition in the form of the two-seat Ford Thunderbird in 1955, powered by a V-8. Chevrolet responded with a V-8 of its own, and the horsepower wars were on.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an outstanding example of the first-generation Corvette, look no further. The well-documented and photographed eBay listing is a living and breathing testament to the beauty of the original American sports car.
