Chevrolet Corvette (C1)
Car-ID: XT0139
Vehicle Description
Sometimes it takes a little time to find the right one: This C1 Corvette spent the first two years of its life waiting at the dealership, unwanted. Then a young man from Connecticut fell in love with the car, bought it and kept it for over 30 years, before selling it to a neighbour’s friend due to financial problems. The same reason led to another sale in 2009. By then the Corvette was in need of a thorough restoration, and that’s just what it got: Charlie Speck from California started a full body-off restoration in 2010 and completed it 18 months later. The frame was sanded and repainted. Engine, gearbox and the entire drivetrain were overhauled, including suspension, pipes and ball joints, using only original spare parts. All auxiliaries such as alternator, starter or water pump were attended the same way. The body was sanded, primed and painted, using only original hues from 1957. The soft-top fabric was replaced, the rodding repaired, and even the hardtop brought back in top shape. Needless to say, the interior was restored with the same meticulous care and emphasis on originality. The fully restored car was bought by a Californian Corvette specialist, scoring judge of the National Corvette Restorers Society. In 2012, the car was imported to Germany, where the current owner bought it with a mileage of 4 mls since restoration. It is a matching numbers car with complete history, which runs beautifully and is an absolute eye-catcher.
In navy terms, a corvette is a small, easily maneuverable warship. GM borrowed the name in 1953 when they presented the very first concept vehicle of what was to become the best known American sports car of all times. Right until today, the “Vette”, now in its 7th generation, is in high esteem with motoring enthusiasts around the world.
The first generation Corvette was Chevrolet’s reply to Porsche and Jaguar: a compact roadster which was lightweight and sporty. The low kerb weight was achieved by using a fibreglass body on a steel frame, a revolutionary concept at its time. The sportiness of course was due to powerful engines, especially with the introduction of the “Small-block” V8 in 1956.
In the first model year, no more than 300 Corvettes were produced, mostly hand-built, and indeed it took a while until the car had reached a certain level of popularity. For the 1956 model year, the Corvette was given a new body with an improved convertible top. Glass windows were introduced and a hardtop became available. Production numbers first crossed the 10,000 mark in 1960. Over the course of one decade, a total of 69,015 first generation Corvettes were built. In 1963, the 1st generation was replaced by C2, the forever popular “Sting Ray”.
Vehicle Overview
Interior Features
- Leatherette
- Red
Exterior Features
- Orange
