1954 Corvette Red

Chevrolet Corvette 1954 Description

For sale: 1954 Red Corvette. OK, here’s the story. I purchased this corvette about 30 years ago with great hopes of someday restoring it to original. The car was from New Jersey and had been modified to make it competitive for drag racing events. I found an Englishtown Raceway Park official time ticket in the car indicating 103.21 mph for the quarter mile…not quite rocket time by today’s standards but pretty fast for a 1954 car with marginal braking. The original engine had been replaced with a blueprinted 327 Chevy V8 mated to a Hurst shift manual 4-speed transmission along with the installation of traction bars at the rear. Some of the gauges were changed out to more modern ones and a later Corvette steering wheel was added. I only drove it a couple of times when purchased and I assure you, it scared the hell out of me…fast by early 70’s standards…with lazy drum brakes…not a great combination. The car was put in protected storage for over 20 years while I completed my military service. I finally got it transported out to my home in Washington State a few years ago and started the restoration project. I got all the chrome re-plated and replaced most missing parts. Installed front disk brakes and new M/C to address the most obvious safety issue and just recently had the entire front end entirely refurbished with new shocks, bushings, springs and other parts (see photos). Also purchased new carpet set, muffler system, replacement gauges and a lot of other parts over the past decades, including an original tri-carb setup for possible 235 6 cyl. engine swap to make it more original. The restoration got interrupted by more immediate life issues and other car and home projects. So, now it sits in my crowded garage as pictured with all chrome parts wrapped in protective storage. The first photo was taken before I removed the chrome for re-plating.

The body is in decent shape without any major flaws (the photos make the paint look better than it actually is). I’m pretty certain that the original color of the car was red with an additional DIY red re-paint as needed during its racing days. Since these cars were basically hand laid fiberglass it is difficult to say whether any significant repairs were made aside from some fiberglass work done inside rear passenger side taillight assembly. Frame looks straight with minimal surface rust and overall body appears sound and looks good. The interior is serviceable but a bit ragged (most door panels are there but faded and worn with age with tear in drivers seat back cushion…probably from dreaded screwdriver left in back pocket). The fabric top is there intact but has seen better days. I know the car was running well when put into long-term storage and was started occasionally, engine turns but has been sitting inside for a lot of years now. Odometer says 38,629 but may not be accurate. While I am confident that the engine will start, the car is currently awaiting installation of rebuilt front end and completion of disc brakeand muffler upgrade.

I was about to pull body from frame and send it off to a boatyard (they know fiberglass) to have body prepped for painting while I tinkered with engine and frame (weighing option of swapping engine back to more docile 6 cylinder…the current V8 as I recall is pretty spirited and definitely says, race car). Listing includes all re-plated chrome, exhaust system, original manifold/carbs for 235, parts shown in photos, gauges and a lot of other smaller parts I've collected.

One of my car club buddies mentioned that before I invest a lot more in this restoration that perhaps there is someone out there who would like to take on a very doable project, keep it red (I would change to white) or might just want to keep it in it’s early modified condition and enjoy it. While I had always envisioned getting the Vette back on the road and enjoying it, it may be time to pass it onto someone who is a bit more skilled and ambitious. This would free up garage space and give me time to work on other more pressing retirement projects. Please, look through the photos and contact me if you have any questions…Thank you for looking.

Now for the shipping and payment details: Shipping is at buyers expense…I can help load but all costs and scheduling responsibility of buyer. A $2000 payment through PayPal within 24 hours of end of auction…balance through legitimate wire transfer or by certified check or other means as agreed to by buyer and seller to be paid within 7 days of end of auction, unless extended by mutual agreement between buyer and seller. All funds to clear before pickup. Again, thank you for your interest.

On Jan-03-17 at 16:15:02 PST, seller added the following information:

All my email responses aregetting bounced back so here are some answers:There is a period wonderbar radio in car now but not sure if this is original or if it works. I do have the side curtains that are in pretty good shape (I think one of the attachment tabs is broken). The top and frame are there. Frame looks good but top is pretty tired looking...usable but its been folded for past 35 years. Don't have original hubcaps...the ones on it now look good but not original. The 6 cyl intake manifold looks complete and I have about 6 carburetors along with some rebuild kits...no air cleaners. The replacement exhaust system is stainless and would need to be tweaked a bit to fit either V8 or 6. The only pieces not re-plated are the exhaust tips.And finally to answer most: I don't really know the value ofthe car as presented so don't have a sale price and would like to let the auction run for a while. Thank you for your interestand I apologize for email problems...whatever they are...