The Corvette was introduced at the 1953 Motorama show held in New York's Waldorf Astoria. The brainchild of Chevrolet's design chief Harley Earl (after Earl realized that Chevrolet had not made a roadster since 1935), the Corvette was to have a lasting impact on American automotive design.

The first production model rolled off the line on June 30, 1953. There would be 300 units in all produced that year - and today they are true collector classics. With its smooth curves and fiberglass body, the Corvette was like nothing American manufacturers had produced before. In fact, it was introduced to give Americans a sports car comparable to the European models. Indeed, the first Corvette had the exact same wheelbase length (102") and common weight and width as the jaguar roadster of the day. With the inline 6-cylinder 235.5 cubic inch engine and the standard Powerglide two-speed transmission, the zippy Corvette was perfectly suited to its sporty design, especially its low-hung styling, twin-pod rear fenders, rocketship taillights and recessed headlights. The first Corvette had no door handles, 13 heavy chrome vertical bars on its toothy grille and it was available in only one colour scheme: dazzling white with red interior. Although only 300 units were produced and sold in 1953, the '53 Corvette gave birth to a grand tradition that even the most optimistic of Chevrolet's management could never have imagined ... the remarkable legacy that is Corvette!

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: In line-six, overhead valves
Displacement: 235.5 cubic inch
Carburetion: Three Carter-type YH side-draft carburetors
Horsepower: 150 bhp @ 4200 rpm Bore X Stroke: 3.56 x 3.94
Production Number: 300 units
Base Price: $2,799 - 3,513
Today's value: $25,000 - 30,000

(1997)

Scale: 1:43