The unmistakable lines of the first-generation Corvette are imprinted on the minds and hearts of many. It was a sports car that changed the automotive world as we know it.
The Pick of the Day is a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Lake Forest, California. (Click the link to view the listing)
The C1 Corvette launched in 1953, but only 300 cars were produced that year. The idea of a two-seat sports car caught on, though, and by the end of the 1950s Chevrolet was selling upwards of 10,000 units per year. One of the 9,670 units sold for 1959 was this car.
The seller says, “Very clean paint and interior. Chrome trim and bumpers are in very good condition. Convertible top functions great and is free of any tears.” The Roman Red exterior is a perfect shade for a red-hot classic, and the wide whitewall tires give it period-correct appeal.
To keep things interesting, the Chevrolet design team changed things up each year with regard to equipment and appearance. Model year 1959 was the last year for taillights that were mounted on top of the rear fenders. Chevrolet said, “Here’s the ’59 version of America’s only honest-to-Pete sports car. The changes are not earth-shaking when you read them – but wait until you drive this one.”
Aside from cosmetics, the updates included a new “parallelogram” rear suspension that helped put power to the pavement. The seats were revised to be more form-fitting, the transmission received a reverse lockout, the braking system was updated, the driving position was changed, and the instruments were redesigned to be easier to read. While mostly small, the changes were important.
Power for this car comes from a reportedly numbers-matching 283ci V8, and a three-speed manual transmission puts power to the rear wheels. The seller says, “Vehicle runs and drives great.”
As Chevrolet promoted, “The ’59 has been honed and polished and refined. And we feel free to say now that this is not only a veritable sports car – but it will handle, go, and hang on better than any other production sports car in the world. Bar none!” Chevrolet proclaimed.
Share this story with the Corvette collectors in your network. A C1 this clean surely won’t last long.
The asking price is $69,995 or best offer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, you can see it archived at Pick of the Day.