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1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Roadster

  • Chassis Number: VE55S001234
General Motors introduced four show-car-inspired, limited-production 'dream cars' in 1953 in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Those four models were the Buick Skylark, Cadillac Eldorado, Chevrolet Corvette, and Oldsmobile Fiesta. During the first two years of the Corvette's production, it was powered by a six-cylinder engine known as the 'Blue Flame Six.' While its styling was sporty its mechanical components were lackluster and left much to be desired. When sales slowed considerably in late 1954, Detroit executives considered shelving the Corvette project. A Belgian immigrant of Russian descent named Zora Arkus-Duntov intervened, swapping the Blue Flame six for a new 265 cubic-inch, overhead valve, V8 engine delivering nearly 200 horsepower. It not only rescued the project from cancellation but gave the sporty roadster genuine performance.

The straight-six was still offered in 1955 even though most Corvettes received the V-8, a $135 upgrade that required the addition of a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission.

This particular Corvette was originally finished in Sportsman Red over a Red interior but is currently finished in Pinnacle Blue with blue upholstery. It is accompanied by a black vinyl soft top, tonneau cover, and side curtains.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2022

2022 RM Sothebys : The Hershey Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $40,000-USD $50,000 
Sale Price :
USD $59,400

1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Chevrolet Corvette C1

(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: mm91k0006
Sold for USD$41,800
  2024 Mecum : Dallas
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
Chassis#: VE55S001055
Sold for USD$137,200
  2024 Broad Arrow : Monterey
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: ve55s001221
Sold for USD$66,000
  2024 Mecum : Indy
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: ve55s001480
Sold for USD$181,500
  2024 Mecum : Glendale
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$103,600
  2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: ve55s001602
Sold for USD$79,200
  2023 Mecum : Houston
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Custom
Chassis#: v0611sna
Sold for USD$187,000
  2023 Mecum : Houston
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$80,300
  2023 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$66,000
  2023 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: VE55S001134
Sold for USD$77,000
  2022 Barrett-Jackson : Houston
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
Chassis#: VE55S001234
Sold for USD$59,400
  2022 RM Sothebys : The Hershey Auction
1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 image  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
Chassis#: VE55S001564
Sold for USD$118,250
  2022 RM Sothebys : Gene Ponder Collection
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Pilot Car
Chassis#: E55S001007
Sold for USD$190,400
  2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: VE55S001214
Sold for USD$143,000
  2022 Mecum : Monterey
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$59,400
  2022 Mecum : Houston
 
1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: VE55S001372
Sold for USD$93,500
  2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$88,000
  2021 Mecum : Chicago
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Chassis#: VE55S001214
Sold for USD$143,000
  2021 Mecum : Monterey
 
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Sold for USD$88,000
  2021 Mecum : Indy 2021
 
1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE
Chassis#: VE55S001372
Sold for USD$84,700
  2021 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale
 

Chevrolet Corvette C1s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Serial #8 RoadsterVE55S0010082024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction   
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadsterve55s0016382024 Mecum : Indy$180,000$200,000$225,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadsterve55s0010432023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023$100,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadsterve55s0010432023 Mecum : Indy$120,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2023 Mecum : Glendale$90,000$120,000$140,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee$135,000$170,000$190,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2022 Mecum : Dallas$90,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2022 Mecum : Dallas$70,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2022 Mecum Indy$155,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2022 Mecum : Glendale$90,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2021 Mecum : Kansas City$80,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021$85,000$150,000$170,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021$85,000  
1955 Chevrolet CorvetteVE55S0011062021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads February   
1955 Chevrolet CorvetteVE55S0016382020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey $150,000$200,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2020 Mecum : Indy$100,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2020 Mecum : Indy$90,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2020 Mecum : Indy$500,000$750,000$1,000,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette RoadsterVE55S0011042019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction   
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2019 Mecum : Indianpolis$82,000$100,000$120,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 2019 Russo & Steele : Scottsdale   
1955 Chevrolet Corvette 2017 Carlisle Auctions : Fall Carlisle   
1955 Chevrolet Corvette 2017 Russo & Steele : Newport Beach   
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2016 Auctions America : Santa Monica$117,500  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2015 Auctions America Auburn Fall$72,500  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2015 Mecum : Kissimmee$225,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 2015 Mecum : Kissimmee$130,000  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette RoadsterVE55S0015002014 Mecum : Anaheim$87,500  
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 265/195 HP, Automatic 2013 Mecum Dan Mecum's 26th Spring Classic$80,000$90,000$110,000
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 265/195 HP, Automatic 2013 Mecum Dan Mecum's 26th Spring Classic$80,000$90,000$110,000

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $118,624 range.
2012 MCLAREN MP4-12C
Chassis#:SBM11AAA0CW000801
Sold for $118,800
2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall
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1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL
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1958 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 'Fuelie'
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Sold for $117,600
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1980 Aston Martin V8 Volante
Chassis#:V8C0L15193
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1981/1973 Porsche 911 3.0 RSR 'R7' Re-Creation
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1929 Duesenberg Model J Replica Phaeton
Chassis#:sw112996pa
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1992 Porsche 928 GTS
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1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster
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1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Coupe
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1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 vehicle thumbnail image  1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 vehicle thumbnail image  
1938 CITROEN 11B TRACTION AVANT COUPE
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1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 vehicle thumbnail image  1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 vehicle thumbnail image  

1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1

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1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Vehicle Profiles

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