1959 Chevrolet Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors

1959 C1 Corvette Price & Options

CODE	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY	RETAIL PRICE
867	Base Corvette Convertible	9,670	$3,875.00
101	Heater	8,909	$102.25
102	AM Radio, signal seeking	7,001	$149.80
107	Parking Brake Alarm	3,601	$5.40
108	Courtesy Lights	3,601	$6.50
109	Windshield Washers	7,929	$16.15
121	Radiator Fan Clutch	67	$21.55
261	Sunshades	3,722	$10.80
276	Wheels, 15 x 5.5 (5)	$214.00	$0.00
290	Whitewall Tires, 6.70 x 15	8,173	$31.55
313	Powerglide Automatic Transmission	1,878	$199.10
419	Auxillary Hardtop	5,481	$236.75
426	Power Windows	587	$59.20
440	Two-Tone Paint Combination	2,931	$16.15
469	283ci, 245HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors)	1,417	$150.65
469C	283ci, 270HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors)	1,846	$182.95
473	Power Operated Folding Top	661	$139.90
579	283ci, 250HP Engine (Fuel Injection)	175	$484.20
579D	283ci, 290HP Engine (Fuel Injection)	745	$484.20
675	Positraction Rear Axle	4,170	$48.45
684	Heavy Duty Brakes and Suspension	142	$425.05
685	4-Speed Manual Transmission	4,175	$188.30
686	Metallic Brakes	333	$26.90
1408	Blackwall Tires, 6.70 x 15 Nylon	–	–
1625	24 Gallon Fuel Tank	–	–

Base Corvette Roadster (867)

The base price of the 1959 Chevrolet Corvette without any optional equipment.
This base option price included a 283 cubic inch, 230 horsepower V8 engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft top.
The 1959 Corvette’s exterior appearance is very similar to the 1958 except that it does not have the simulated hood louvers or the twin chrome trunk “suspenders”.

Heater (101) – An interior space/cockpit heater

The 1959 Corvette heater has an “outside” fresh air type heater.

AM Radio, signal seeking (102)

A standard Delco, signal seeking AM radio with conventional volume and selector bars.
The AM Radios for the 1959 Corvette are transistorized.
Most 1959 selector bars for the signal-seeking feature included the word “Wonderbar”.
Models not equipped with this option received a painted block-out cover plate.

Parking Brake Alarm (107)

A warning light that illuminates/ indicates when the parking brake is applied.

Courtesy Lights (108)

Interior lights mounted on the interior of the car to aid in visibility when outside lighting is unavailable.

Windshield Washers (109)

A washer pump and dispensing nozzle mechanism that dispenses cleaner onto the windshield.
The optional 1959 washer reservoir is mounted on the left side for all carbureted engines and on the right side for all fuel injected engines. Right side mounted reservoirs are protected by a heat shield.

Radiator Fan Clutch (121)

A thermostatically controlled clutch that disengages the radiator fan during engine operation.
New to the 1959 Corvette, this feature allowed for increased horsepower and better fuel efficiency by disengaging the fan during “cool” engine operation.

Sunshades (261)

Also known as a sun visor, this fold down shade blocks sunlight during vehicle operation.
The 1959 Corvette was the first model to feature sunshades.
Included both driver and passenger sunshades.

Wheels, 15×5.5 (276)

Optional wheels that were one-half inch wider than stock.
Featured small, passenger car hubcaps instead of standard, full wheel disc covers.

Whitewall Tires (290)

Original tires were either U.S. Royal Air Ride, B.G. Goodrich Silvertown or Firestone Deluxe Champion.
All tires were wide-whitewall type, with whitewall widths varying from 2.5 to 3 inches.

Powerglide Automatic Transmission (313)

An “optional” two-speed automatic transmission developed by GM.

Auxiliary Hardtop (419)

An optional hard-top that replaced the standard convertible top.
Although the Auxiliary Hardtop is shown as an option, customers could swap the convertible top for the auxiliary hard top at no additional cost. Of the 5,481 Corvettes sold with this option, 1,695 of them were the result of this substitution.

Power Windows (426)

Electronically controlled windows which could be raised or lowered during vehicle operation.

Two-Tone Paint Combination (440)

A second, optional paint color that was used to highlight the bodyside coves.
A total of 2,931 Corvettes featured the two-tone paint scheme in 1959. Of these, 805 were painted Roman Red/White, 535 were painted Snowcrest White/Silver, 496 were painted Tuxedo Black/Silver, 420 were painted Crown Sapphire/White, 361 were painted Frost Blue/White, 220 were painted Inca Silver/White, and 89 were painted Classic Cream/White.

283 CI, 245 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469)

A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
1,417 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 270 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469C)

A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
1,846 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Power Operated Folding Top (473)

Electronically controlled convertible top that could be automatically raised/lowered.
Unlike the 1953-1955 Corvette Roadsters, which had an optional top that could be attached to the car, this convertible top was an integral part of the design, allowing the 1959 Corvette to be classified as a true convertible.

283 CI, 250 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579)

A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
175 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 290 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579D)

A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
745 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Positraction Rear Axle (675)

A “limited slip” rear axle that engages both rear wheels as drive wheels.
For 1959, this option required that the Corvette have a manual transmission.
Of the total 4,170 Corvettes built with this option, 1,362 had a 3.70:1 ratio, 2,523 had a 4.11:1 ratio, and 285 had a 4.56:1 ratio.

Heavy Duty Racing Suspension (684)

Modified suspension system featuring a number of performance/handling upgrades.
Included special front and rear springs and shock absorbers, a heavier front stabilizer bar, quick steering adapter, metallic brakes, finned brake drums, fresh air ducting to rear brakes (early models only), and front brake air deflectors.
Positraction rear axle, manual transmission and either the 290 Horsepower, 283 Cubic Inch Fuel Injected V-8 Engine OR the 270
Horsepower, 283 Cubic Inch Carbureted (2×4 Carbs) V-8 engine was required.

4-Speed Manual Transmission (685)

An optional four-speed, close-ratio, synchromesh manual transmission.
This option included a “T” handle with positive reverse lockout – an option featured for the first time on the 1959 Corvette.

Metallic Brakes (686)

Optional sintered-metallic brake linings increase braking effectiveness.
They comprised three pairs of lining segments that were riveted to the primary brake shoes and five pairs of slightly thicker segments for the secondary shoes.
Drums were finless with this option but were flared at their open ends to enhance cooling.
The sintered linings made braking less harsh than the Cerametallic material and needed far less warming up to provide maximum braking effectiveness.
They were developed by GM’s Delco-Moraine Division.

Blackwall Tires, 6.70×15 Nylon (1408)

Optional black sidewall tires to replace the standard white sidewall.
It is uncertain how many Corvettes were ordered with this option.

24 Gallon Fuel Tank (1625)

A special fiberglass fuel tank that allowed for greater fuel mileage.
Replaced standard tank
Available only with the removable hardtop (due to spacing limitations created because of the increased storage space

1959 Corvette Exterior/Interior Colors

EXTERIOR	TOTAL	BODY COVE	COVE TOTAL	SOFT TOP	WHEELS	INTERIOR
Tuxedo Black	1,594	Silver	$496.00	Black, White	Black	Blue,Black,Red
Classic Cream	223	White	$89.00	Black, White	Black	Black
Frost Blue	1,024	White	$361.00	Blue, Black, White	Black	Blue,Red
Crown Sapphire	888	White	$420.00	Black, Turquoise, White	Black	Turquoise
Roman Red	1,542	White	$805.00	Black, White	Black	Black,Red
Snowcrest White	3,354	Silver	$535.00	Blue, Black, Tq, White	Black	Blue,Black,Red,Tq
Inca Silver	957	White	$220.00	Black, White	Black	Black,Red