1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Convertible

This 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook. It is powered by a V8 engine with dual-four barrel carburetors that displaces 265 cubic inches and produces 225 horsepower. The car is equipped with a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel drum brakes. It is one of 3,467 examples produced in 1956. It is finished in Robin's Egg Blue with white coves and a light-tan interior. It has a removable hard top in addition to its soft top. It was treated to a frame-off restoration, though it was many years ago. The condition is still very good considering its age and the odometer reads just 5,238 miles.

The Corvette was unveiled to the public in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York in 1953. Five months later, the first production car rolled off the assembly line. The person responsible for this design was the legendary Harley Earl, the Vice-President of General Motors. There were many individuals that helped with this vehicle, including Bob Mclean, Maurice Olley, Ed Cole, and Zora Arkus Duntov.

There were few changes for the first three years of Corvette production with 1956 marking the first year major changes appeared on the convertible roadster. The grille remained the same but the front end was modified significantly with new fenders that accepted chrome-rimmed headlights sitting higher than its siblings and no longer covered by mesh. This was the first year that the iconic side-covers and sloping rear fenders with integrated taillights appeared on the Corvette.

At the auction, the estimate was nearly satisfied with the high bid of $68,750. The car was sold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2007