Older Restoration: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet got into the sports car game in 1953 with the Corvette. But it was not the barn burner it would become in later years. Early Corvettes had a 235 cubic-inch “Blue Flame” inline-6 and automatic transmission, so buyers of European roadsters weren’t initially impressed. Chevy only built 4,640 Corvettes between 1953-55, so the car almost didn’t continue past then. But faith persevered and the marque is still with us today. This ’54 ‘Vette has had just two owners and is being sold out of an estate. It’s available here on craigslist from Phoenix, Arizona. The seller is looking for offers north of $70,000. Another great tip from Larry D!
Two things about this ’54 Corvette seem out of place, but perhaps a fan of early C1 ‘Vettes can shed some light. First off, I’m not aware any of these cars were offered with silver paint. While the ‘53s were only available in white, the ‘54s could be had in Polo white, Pennant Blue, and Sportsman Red. Maybe the silver was a special order, or the color has been changed.
The seller says this Corvette is an older restoration and the paint has issues throughout, but you have to look hard to find them in the limited photos provided. We also told the frame is solid and that can be confirmed upon personal inspection by putting the car up on the seller’s shop lift. Records and paperwork on this Chevy date back to 1956 so the ownership history of the car can be proven.
The other thing that stands out is the use of a 3-speed manual transmission. I thought all those came with the Powerglide until the 265 V8 came along, opening the door to a manual. While the head of the engine has matching numbers, the block does not, so there has been a change sometime in the last 44,000 miles, the claimed mileage on the sports car. Also, some brake work is needed as the ‘Vette pulls to the right when braking hard. Perhaps you could sum this car up as a project that doesn’t look like one.
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Comments
A price of “north” of 70K is way north of what I would give for this car but when with no real power and frumpy looks there is something about these cars that makes me want to have one. I do know how to put more power into the engines without it being noticed and would certainly park the slush box for a good 4 speed transmission.
Agree with most of your assessment but….”Frumpy”? I think it still looks Futuristic!
Good call, bobhess. An early Vette in this condition is a good candidate for some discreet / reversable hotrodding.
bobhess,
I briefly owned a 1954 Vette in the early 80s, but it never had a tachometer.
Can you shed light on the tachometer in this car? One of the photos in the previous auction shows a page from the owners manual showing the same tach that’s in the car, so it would appear to be a correct GM accessory for the ‘Vette. Both the photo in the owner’s manual and the tach on the car shows what appears to be a second odometer. Is that second one used as a trip odometer?
They had tachs, center of the dash below the radio.
Looks to be a dent in the top of the tach and the plexiglass window for the speedometer appears to be shattered. Recently sold at auction for $36K, that would seem to be fair price for this old custom 54.
This car sold at an estate auction the beginning of the year, 36k plus buyer premium. Not all original but I really like the setup with I6 and manual trans. etc. Wish I had the money for this, but like was said 70k is too much. Additional pictures here if interested:
https://www.estatesales.net/AZ/Glendale/85310/3129402
Owned one back in the late ’60’s. Silver paint is a later mod. Steering wheel also, as is tach, and whatever is where the radio was, as is transmission. The engine was slightly beefed up ordinary Chevy 6, heavier valve springs so they would not float at high rpms, 3 carbs, dual exhaust, was fast by the standards of 1954, front heavy, did not like to go around corners, if you were taller than 5’8″ top was too low, was not comfortable, exhaust flowed up over the trunk from the pipes going through the bumpers, GM make them fake later in the model year. Putting the V8 in the same body in ’55 made it a much better car.
Good call, bobhess. An early Vette in this condition is a good candidate for some discreet / reversable hotrodding.
The 54 was the car that started my love for Corvettes. When I saw them I fell in love with the car. Never had one but that’s another story.
No matter what you do with it , it is 30k over it’s value .
Hey DRV —What you mean is that its $30K —OVER—-Your value
Hi Russ,
You are right. There were no silver ’54 Corvettes. There were four colors offered in ’54. They were:
Polo White
Sportsman Red
Pennant Blue
Black
In fact, the silver looks odd on one of them.
And as far as transmissions go, all of the 3640 Corvettes made in ’54 had Powerglide automatic transmissions. There was no manual until 1955 with the 265 V8.
Std trans was standard according to this gm chart
_1954 Corvette Options_
RPO Description Production Price
100 Directional Signal 3,640 (100.00%) $16.75
101A Heater 3,640 (100.00%) $91.40
102A AM Radio, Signal Seeking 3,640 (100.00%) $145.15
290B Whitewall Tires, 6.70×15 3,640 (100.00%) $26.90
313M Powerglide Automatic Transmission 3,640 (100.00%) $178.35
420A Parking Brake Alarm 3,640 (100.00%) $5.65
421A Courtesy Lights 3,640 (100.00%) $4.05
422A Windshield Washer 3,640 (100.00%) $11.85
Total Production: 3,640
Convertible: 3,640 (100.00%)
Where does it say that? All I see is that all 3640 of the Corvettes made in 1954 were equipped with Powerglide automatic transmissions.
This Corvette is not near original as presented., paint, seats tach, etc. etc. Way overpriced but could be nice driver. With new paint (needs it) and other changes listed, anything above $30K is close to breakeven.
My Dad had a 53, he sold it and regretted it.
They had tachs, center of the dash below the radio.
I owned a ’55 Corvette many moons ago. They are great looking cars and draw a lot of attention. BUT they drive terribly. They basically have 1949 Chevrolet king-pin front suspension. If not for the lower center of gravity, they would handle like one too.
Of course, no power steering or power brakes were available on any Corvette until 1963. And all Corvettes had 4-wheel drum brakes until 1965 so they didn’t stop very well either.
All I can say is the things I mentioned above are a big part of the reason the Resto Mods are so popular now.
However, I hate to see so many good original Corvettes being chopped up and changed from original. But that’s the world we live in now.
“Let’s see if I can double my money by placing a lame ad in Craig’s List with 7 mostly crappy pictures.”
“Yeah, that’s the ticket.”
https://corvettestory.com/specs/1954-Corvette-specs-options.php
This link is for Larry D
@Paul S
The following is a direct quote from the Corvette Black Book which is an authority on Corvettes. In the section on 1954 Corvettes, it says;
“By listing the Powerglide automatic transmission as an option, it was implied that a manual transmission was standard equipment. Not true. All 1954 Corvettes had ‘optional’ Powerglide automatic transmissions.”
“DID YOU KNOW: In an attempt to make the purchase price more palatable to consumers, GM introduced the 1954 Corvette to the public as a base model that could be tailored to the needs and personal wants of consumers worldwide. One such option was the transmission: Although the two speed Powerglide transmission was listed as a $178 option, no other transmissions were available for the 1954 Corvette, making the “optional” transmission a necessity if you wanted an operational car.”
https://www.corvsport.com/1954-c1-corvette/
Exactly right.
@Paul S
The following is a copy and paste from another Corvette authority, http://www.corvsport.com
Home Corvette Generation C1 Corvette 1954 – C1 Corvette
Last updated:February 25, 2021
Table of Contents [hide]
Chevrolet Introduced the Corvette in 1953
1954 Corvette Specifications
1954 Corvette Wheels, Suspension & Tires
1954 Corvette Performance
Chevrolet Introduced the Corvette in 1953
The 1954 Corvette began production in December 1953. Although the first fourteen or fifteen ‘54 Corvettes were built in Flint, Michigan (like all of the 1953 Corvettes) GM shifted Corvette’s production to a newly renovated assembly plant in St Louis, Missouri. This plant was designed to produce more than 10,000 Corvettes a year. For more information on the 1954 Corvette see the 1954 Corvette research center.
1954 Corvette Specifications
1954 Corvette Main Specs
MODEL: 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
BODY STYLE: Two-door convertible, front engine, rear wheel drive
MANUFACTURING LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri
CONSTRUCTION: Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, steel frame with steel and chrome structural & chassis components.
VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN): E54S001001 thru E54S004640
VIN PREFIX: LAY: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HORSEPOWER
ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER: 3835911: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HORSEPOWER
HEAD NUMBER: 3836241: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HORSEPOWER
CARBURETOR NUMBERS: CARTER 2066SA #3706989: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HORSEPOWER
DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER: 1112314: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HORSEPOWER
GENERATOR NUMBER: 1102793: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER
STARTER NUMBER: 1107109: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER. 1108035: 235 CUBIC INCH, 150 HORSEPOWER, 155 HP (LATER, FOUR-COIL DESIGN)
PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE: DECEMBER, 1953: 001014
1954 C1 Corvette Engine
1954 Corvette Engine & Transmission
ENGINE: 3.8 OHV I-6 “Blue Flame”, Normally Aspirated, Water Cooled
BLOCK MATERIAL: Cast Iron
VALVE TRAIN: OHV, 2 valves per cyl.
TORQUE: 223 lb-ft @ 2.400 rpm
MAX. ENGINE RPM: N/A
DISPLACEMENT: 3.85 Litre/235.5 Cubic Inches
CYLINDER HEAD MATERIAL: Cast Iron
FUEL DELIVERY: Three Carter Sidedraft Carbs.
RECOMMENDED FUEL: N/A
BORE: 3.56 x 3.95 inches
COMPRESSION RATIO: 8.00:1
HORSEPOWER: 150/155 HP @ 4200 RPM
EST. MPG: N/A
TRANSMISSION: 2-SPEED POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC
STANDARD AXLE RATIO: 3.55:1