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9 - CHEVROLET CORVETTE - V8 283ci Convertible - Year 1959
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Estimate €40,000 - €60,000
Sale commission
Description
CHEVROLET CORVETTE - V8 283ci Convertible - Year 1959 In good condition, will need to be run in "As the first mass-produced American sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette made a striking debut, and its exceptional performance soon followed. The ‘C1’, the first generation produced from 1953 to 1962, is the car that laid the foundations for the Corvette. The foundations of the American sports car, now an institution spanning eight generations!” Make: Chevrolet Model: Corvette C1 Chassis number: J595107536 Engine: 283ci (4.6L) V8, 245CH Gearbox: 2-speed Powerglide automatic. Date of first registration: 15/09/1959 Taxable power: 27CV Registration: FB - 645 - QK Colour: Red with white front wing accents / black interior Mileage (not guaranteed): 22,821 miles Equipment: White hardtop in good condition. Production: 1959 model year, 9,670 units (out of 70,000 C1 models produced between 1953 and 1962) Part of the same collection since 2018, the vehicle comes with a French collector’s registration certificate dated 7 November 2018. It is in good overall condition, though it will need to be brought back into running order. After the Second World War, American sports car enthusiasts had to look to Europe to satisfy their passion. This did not seem to trouble the ‘Big Three’ (MOPAR-GM-FORD), who continued to produce sedate, spacious and comfortable saloons. GM (General Motors) did, however, unveil a few ‘dream cars’, such as the Buick Le Sabre and XP300, which combined the elements of a sports car, but Harley Earl, GM’s head of design, had a new idea. Alongside these futuristic creations, he recognised the impatience of young consumers and foresaw a market for a new type of car: he wanted to create a small roadster that could be mass-produced. [1953–1955, first series] It was in January 1953, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, that the Corvette was unveiled. Nearly 4 million visitors saw the car, and the unanimous enthusiasm quickly prompted the decision-makers to give the green light. Six months later, the first Corvette rolled off the production line. Very similar to the EX-122 concept car, the Corvette C1 was one of the few cars from the ‘Motorama’ to go into production almost unchanged. But getting the project off the ground proved difficult; assembling the body panels from fibreglass – a material that was still new at the time – presented numerous challenges. Chosen for its lightness and, above all, to avoid the costly manufacture of stamping tools (for a small production run compared to the millions of saloons sold), the Detroit giant hoped to save both time and money. But faced with these difficulties, the first Corvettes were almost entirely hand-assembled. Although the Corvette is now inextricably linked with V8 engines, to reduce the manufacturing costs of the future car, the engine was borrowed from saloon cars. The original 1953 model was fitted with a Blue Flame straight-six engine – smooth and powerful, it still managed to deliver a few extra horsepower (from 106 to 150 ch) – and was paired with a two-speed Power-Glide automatic transmission. Not really built for drag racing despite its striking looks, this first Corvette left enthusiasts wanting more, with a retail price that was too high. The early days were difficult: the lack of side windows or external door handles on the first models from 1953 to 1955, along with the implementation of its innovative bodywork, meant that sales targets were not met. On the contrary, by 1954 Chevrolet had 1,500 unsold units, and the fate of the first American mass-produced roadster was uncertain. Whilst assembly problems were resolved, it was not until 1955 that the new V8 engine made its debut in the Chevrolet range. This V8, offered as an option on the first C1 models, helped pave the way for a formula for success that would define an entire generation. The arrival of the Ford ‘T-bird’ was pivotal, as Chevrolet refused to leave the field open to its main rival. [1956–1962, second series] The 1956–1957 Corvette C1 underwent a few cosmetic tweaks and finally abandoned the good old Blue Flame six-cylinder engine. Finally fitted with windows and door handles, it also adopted the famous contrasting side skirts, a hallmark of the second series. Compared to its predecessor with its flat flanks, the 1956 Corvette was a surprise and a testament to good taste in an era of aesthetic excess. The 1958–1960 version refined the redesign, with twice as many headlamps and further stylistic tweaks to details such as the rear wing with its beautifully contoured tail light and the exhaust pipes integrated into the bumpers. With its comfortable and well-finished interior, the Corvette C1 features a harmonious dashboard with a full range of instruments. The double-curved dashboard, a true aeronautical fantasy, evokes the futuristic era of space exploration. Behind the seats, a hatch swallows up the soft top, which folds away to reveal the car’s pure lines. The optional removable hardtop offers the protection of a saloon. Finally, its boot is particularly spacious for a sports car. The ever-more-sexy Corvette, with its fluid and streamlined bodywork, bears witness to the genius of Harley Earl at his peak, and hides another surprise. Beneath this beauty, the chassis and suspension were thoroughly reworked by engineer Zora Arkus Duntov, improving road holding from the 1956 model year onwards. With new performance options for the V8 – which could be fitted with fuel injection as an option – the Corvette was a game-changer. This was the era when it began to make a name for itself in competition, winning the Sports Club of America championships in 1956 and 1957. That same year saw the Corvette dominate Daytona Speed Week, where it took the top two places ahead of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL. Then came the crowning glory at Sebring: production Corvettes also took first and second places in the GT class. These results reflected a spectacular transformation; the Corvette, once regarded as a plastic toy, became, after Sebring, one of the finest sports cars! It was with this second generation of Corvettes that Chevrolet could finally, and quite rightly, proclaim the Corvette to be the ‘only true American sports car’. The car that had nearly disappeared in 1955 found its path to success and secured the long-term future of a remarkable lineage. Ivoire Troyes is delighted to offer this 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, Type C1. The car, which has been in the same ownership since 2018, is registered under a French classic car registration certificate. This car underwent a complete, period-correct restoration a few years ago. Well-maintained, it now presents a fine overall appearance. The fibreglass bodywork features paintwork in good condition in the ‘Roman Red’ colour with white side accents. The chrome trim and the car’s underbody are also in good condition, showing no signs of impact or corrosion. The steel wheels are fitted with chrome hubcaps and mounted on tyres that are virtually new but vintage. The entire running gear is in fairly good condition. The heart of the car, the famous 283ci (4.6L) Small-block Chevy V8, has been off the road for a few years. The usual precautions should be taken to start it up again and enjoy the purr of the V8, which pairs naturally with the automatic gearbox for cruising along the boulevards. The iconically designed interior is in very good condition, both the dashboard and the seats. The odometer reads 22,881 miles and the optional hardtop is fitted. The soft top is missing, but its frame is present. The 1959 V8 Corvette can be considered one of the first ‘grand cru’ models in the Corvette range. Today, it is an icon of late 1950s automotive design and probably one of designer Harley Earl’s most iconic creations. Expert: Mr ULYSSE James Tel 07 631 631 52 – CNES Classic Car Expert
See original version (French)
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About the sale Classic cars, youngtimers and sports cars at the Troyes 48-hour Motor Race
Auction location
Auction time 09/13/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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