1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster

Very nice second year Corvette! A summertime classic that is mechanically sound and finished in a striking shade of white over red!

The Corvette is a uniquely American phenomenon. Start talking about Corvettes and someone overhearing the conversation will likely join in with their own stories and information. If you can find a car enthusiast that has not yet owned a Vette, he will tell you he either plans on buying one soon, knows someone who has one for sale, or has a family member restoring a classic. They are as American as apple pie!

In 1951, the initial seed was planted at GM by the legendary Harley Earl, creator of the GM Art and Color department which was the predecessor to automobile styling departments around the world. Although essentially classified as a Harley Earl design, the first Corvette was actually sketched up by a young stylist named Bob McLean for the 1953 Motorama. Over the next several months the Corvette quickly took shape in the form of a clay model in late 1952 and shortly thereafter, a running prototype finished just in time for the show. By the end of 1953 the first production Corvettes rolled off the “line” in Flint, Michigan, essentially hand built cars, the 1953s are the rarest of all Corvettes with only 300 units produced. In 1954, production moved to St. Louis, Missouri to a new facility capable of building hundreds of cars per month. Although people loved the new Corvette, 1954 sales were slow and more than 1,100 units still sat on showroom floors at the end of the model year! Faced with sluggish sales, GM’s top brass panicked and almost ended Corvette before it had a chance to get started. The introduction of the V-8 in 1955 saved the Corvette and breathed new life into the model, sales rocketed and the legendary automotive milestone was assured a bright and prosperous future.

Finished in Polo White with Sportsman Red interior, this early production classic 1954 Chevrolet Corvette features its YG code 235ci Blue Flame 150 6-cylinder with triple Carter carburetion and bullet air cleaners, heater, full instrumentation, parking brake alarm, courtesy light, windshield washer, PowerGlide automatic transmission, 6.70-15 whitewall tires, and correct Signal Seeking radio! Having been restored some time ago, this Corvette looks good from a distance but will show its age as you look closer. Because these first generation Corvettes were essentially hand built at the factory, they were known for cosmetic flaws and body panel alignment imperfections. Today, many of these cars have been “over-restored” which, according to many, is a detraction from the collector value and visceral hand built character that has made these early Vettes so desirable. With only 3,640 produced, and all equipped exactly the same, this 1954 Corvette is among the most rare and sought after of American favorites! And for many represent one of the most collectible and investment worthy cars available to enthusiasts today. For the extremely savvy collector or investor, there will be few such opportunities to acquire such an affordable example of this special car in all the years of appreciation to come! With prices of fresh restored examples exceeding $100,000, acquiring a drivable and exceptionally clean example like this is truly a unique find. The odometer is showing 295 miles; we are not claiming this to be actual mileage. This Corvette is in great cosmetic and mechanical condition and can be driven right off the showroom floor. Recent service records indicate that the car has been used regularly and serviced accordingly. In 2009, the water pump was rebuilt. In June of 2010, all the chrome on the car was replated and the carburetors were all synched and tuned. Today, it runs great and should make for a very stylish ride for the next owner! Please don’t hesitate to ask any additional questions! Thanks for looking!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS:

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Please call 1-800-957-5707 or 314-993-7104 with any questions or to discuss financing or transportation arrangements.

Specifications

Purchase this vehicle for only $725/120 months with $15,980 down!

St. Louis Car Museum works closely with several lenders so we can accurately address the needs of our clients. Let our finance department develop a financing or lease program that helps you achieve your goals and dreams!

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