Description
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Stunning color combination
Comes with a value appraisal
Naturally aspirated V8 power with iconic design
The Corvette is an extravagant beast with supreme American personality. It has been in continuous production since 1953 as a Chevrolet and General Motors subsidiary. Eight generations have been built, the lovely song 'Corvette', derived from a small warship 'the Corvette', is far from a lullaby, it simply keeps moving forward. In 2020, the eighth generation of the Corvette, the C8, was launched and it is extraordinary. It could only be described using superlatives. The ninth Corvette, the C9, has already been unveiled and will go on sale in 2028.
After World War II, General Motors staged mobile auto shows, called 'GM Motorama'. They travelled across the United States to the biggest American cities, displaying their latest designs as prototypes. Based on the public reaction, they decided whether to continue production of the cars on display. In 1952, the same happened with an indomitable Corvette prototype, ‘indomitable' being a euphemism, the American car market had a dearth of sports cars, as sports car concepts had previously only come from Europe and were produced by renowned European automakers. The Corvette seemed to aim at venturing into unknown territory and building a reputation there. Americans were immensely hooked, and production began in the summer of 1953. Only 300 Corvettes were made in the first year of production, yet Chevrolet did not abandon the Corvette concept; production has continued uninterrupted ever since.
The Corvette is Chevrolet and General Motors' flagship model, and it is always equipped with the most modern and innovative technology. Exploring unknown territories, as mentioned, clearly does not bore the Corvette; on the contrary, it is its goal.
C1
The Corvette was rushed to market by Chevrolet in response to the overwhelming enthusiasm sparked by GM Motorama. ‘Think before you act’, that’s what General Motors learned at the time, because the Corvette did not meet people’s expectations and was also too expensive. When Ford's Thunderbird was unveiled, things escalated further. Nevertheless, the Corvette held its own, and after a few trials and errors, the C1 managed to become an icon.
In 1953, only about three hundred C1s were built. Despite the innovative use of fibreglass, which formed the bodywork material of the C1, the expected success did not materialise. The inline six engine, driven by a two-speed manual transmission, failed to captivate Americans. Consequently, in 1955 the decision was made to equip the C1 with a V8 engine, which took over completely in 1956 when the six-cylinder engine production was halted. Mechanical and styling changes were made every year. In 1958, the car’s exterior underwent major changes to follow the trends of the time: the rear was redesigned and the headlights were doubled, the C1 now sports four headlights instead of two. The C1 was succeeded by the C2 in 1962, which bore strong resemblance to later C1 models.
What initially looked to be a financial loss for General Motors ultimately turned into an icon in the automotive world, as it is regarded as the first post-war American sports car to eclipse the European sports cars that had conquered the American roads.
Technical information:
Body
Length (cm): 450
Width (cm): 185
Height (cm): 130
Wheelbase (cm): 259
Weight (kg): 1397
Mechanical
Engine: 4638 cc V8, front-mounted
Valves: 16
Carburation: 1 Carter carburettor
Gearbox: four-speed manual
Transmission: RWD
Left-hand drive
Peak power: 232 bhp (171 kW) at 4800 rpm
Maximum torque: 407 Nm at 3000 rpm
Top speed: 182 km/ h
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Reference ch5335
Make Corvette
Model C1 '58
Body type Convertible
Year of manufacture 1958
Mileage 85, 000 miles
Displacement 4638
Manual transmission
Left-hand drive
Chassis number Jthe details below
Price €69, 950
