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. There were very few initial design changes between the 1953 and 1954 model Corvettes, although refinements would be made throughout the 1954 production year.
One of the best selling points of the 1954 Corvette was its reliability. It wasn’t prone to breaking down and it did not demand constant tuning and attention to keep running reliably. But despite the positive response, only 3,640 Corvettes were sold that year – less than a third of the projected total – and at year’s end the division found itself with a surplus of 1500 cars still sitting, unsold, in dealerships across the country.
Live now on PCarMarket is reportedly one of the 3,640 produced for the model year. This C1 Corvette is finished in Polo White over a Sportsman’s Red interior and has received a couple of upgrades over the years such as a new Al Knoch interior, and a freshly painted removable hardtop.
This 1954 Corvette gets its power from a swapped 235ci “Blue Flame” inline six-cylinder engine that was rated to produce 150 HP and 225 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is paired to a 3-speed Borg-Warner manual transmission which drives the rear wheels.
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a well-presented example of the America’s first-generation sports car. It received some cosmetic attention over the years to bring it up to an impressive standard. Offered in good cosmetic order, particularly inside, this C1 Corvette would make for a great addition to any classic vehicle collection or as an ideal weekend cruiser.
See this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette in full detail on PCarMarket.
Note: All photos are courtesy of PCarMarket
