1954 Chevrolet Corvette Sports Car

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The original Corvette body style of the 1953 Corvette and 1954 Corvette was the closest Chevrolet ever came to creating an American sports car. The 1954 Corvette body lines were sleek and flowing. In true roadster form the Corvette had no exterior door handles or roll up side windows.

The excitement surrounding the Corvette was largely due to its sleek, futuristic appearance and unique fiberglass body.

However the American motoring public wanted roll up windows, a big V-8 and choices of hardtop or convertible. Plus they wanted a manual transmission.

Despite it's early popularity, the Corvette was intriguing to look at but less so to drive. By late 1954, the Corvette's freshness was fading. The 300 units built in 1953 had sold quickly but by the end of 1954, 1,077 or 30% of the 1954 Corvettes were unsold. The 1954 Corvette did not offer good value for the money. You could buy just about any Cadillac for the price of a 1954 Corvette.

1954 Corvette Advertising "The First American Sports Car"

Chevrolet nearly canceled the Corvette for 1955 and most Corvette fans are happy they didn't. The reason Chevrolet did not cancel the corvette was that Ford introduced the Thunderbird in the fall of 1954 and it had a V-8, roll up windows and a removable hardtop. The 1955 Corvette addressed the engine problem with a 265 cubic inch V-8 and by 1956 had a removable hardtop.

1954 Chevy Corvette Advertising Brochure

No other car in American history has a legacy as rich as the Chevrolet Corvette and it all started with a Polo White 1953 Corvette concept car at the 1953 motorama. For 1954, you could not only choose a Polo White Corvette but also a 3 other body colors, Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red and basic black.

1954 Corvette 150 Horsepower Blue Flame Six Cylinder

The 1953 and 1954 Corvettes were powered by a moderately tweaked OHV Blue Flame six cylinder from the passenger car line. This engine had a mere 150 horsepower coupled to a powerglide transmission.

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