Introduction
Darren Rungasamy
The original, and among one of the most desirable of Corvettes favoured amongst collectors.
The Corvette's inception was prompted by the post-war demand for a homegrown moderate-priced sports car, recognising that the returning GIs were importing British and Italian cars. General Motors unveiled a concept for the car in 1953 and, encouraged by the public reception, placed it into production. Using off-the-shelf mechanical components to keep costs down, the Corvette was novel in its use of a fibreglass body shell attached to the chassis by a “birdcage” of metal tubing.
The Corvettes appeal was enhanced by the installation of Chevrolet’s first V8 engine for 4 decades; the new 283 cu in (4.6L) engine gave the car a new lease of life. Ford's answer came in the form of the Thunderbird in late 1954, which gave GM the impetus to invest in the Corvette, with incremental spec, technical and design changes.
Finished with its distinctive taillamps moulded into the rear wings, exposed four-headlamp and two-tone colour scheme, the 1958 C1 Corvette's bold design, chrome accents, and sporty lines made it a symbol of performance and luxury, cementing its status as America's first true sports car and becoming a timeless classic.
This 1959 roadster, finished in white with a contrasting red interior, is offered with a manual transmission. Coming to market from our vendor of almost two years, it presents smartly and benefits from having been in the care of just two US car enthusiasts since its import to the UK in 2019.
The car is fitted with a single Edelbrock carburettor and is accompanied by its current V5, two keys, and the advantage of being MOT and road tax exempt.
This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Phil the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.
