Description
In 1953 General Motors unveiled at the Motorama motor show, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, its new sports car: the Corvette.
The name, of French origin, was chosen by a Chevrolet executive assistant, the marque wanting a surname starting with “C”.
The logo for this new model was initially intended to recall the Swiss origins of the founder, Louis Chevrolet, as well as sporty credentials and motor racing: it was therefore a red banner with a white fleur-de-lis crossed by a checkered flag making up the Corvette logo, almost unchanged since.
The success was immediate and the first model was therefore dubbed “C1” or “solid axle” for the connoisseurs.
The first unit, built on 30 June 1953, characterised by its two-headlamp grille, was fitted with a 3. 9 L inline-six developing 160 horsepower and a two-speed automatic gearbox. This comparatively underperforming powerplant is the model’s Achilles’ heel against the competition.
The year 1955 marked for the Corvette the option to order it with the six-cylinder or the 4. 3 L “small block V8” producing 195 hp, which would evolve to 5. 4 L for 360 hp. A three-speed manual gearbox was offered late in 1955, for the V8-equipped models which were produced in only 700 examples.
From 1956 the inline-six was abandoned and only the V8 powertrain was offered, with a 283 cubic inch displacement.
In 1958 the C1 was completely restyled with two dual headlights at the front and prominent grilles, a hood with faux louvres and chrome trunk spears. This version, fitted with a four-speed manual, is regarded by informed Corvette enthusiasts as the most desirable model.
This is indeed the version we are offering today: its charcoal/ silver coordinated finish (dark metallic grey/ blue and silver) enhances its original lines. The interior and coral-red upholstery lift and illuminate the whole vehicle. As you can see in the photos, the car is presented in concours-like condition, close to new. It underwent a complete restoration in 2006 by one of the finest American specialists of the model, which can hardly be exaggeratedly described as a reconstruction. We possess the album illustrating the steps of this process up to the stunning final result.
The Chevrolet has covered only 3, 900 miles since (about 6, 300 km). One could almost say it is a 2006 car still in break-in… Its last owner had it professionally appraised upon its arrival in France in 2012, and the conclusion neatly sums up its condition:
“the vehicle examined has undergone a total refurbishment. Every element has been treated in detail with care, respecting the strict spirit of the original. From this restoration, evidently conducted without compromise, emerges a vehicle in a configuration and condition similar to its first delivery.”
There is little to add to the expert’s conclusion: it is truly rare to find a 1958 Corvette so close to perfection and in such a desirable specification.
