The Chevy Corvette debuted in 1953 as the first production U.S. sports car. But the first-year editions were largely hand-built, and the company struggled to get 300 of them out the door. Better assembly facilities arrived in 1954 and output jumped to 3,640 copies, including what’s left of the seller’s car. We assume it was disassembled in a warehouse for a restoration that never took place. Now in pieces, the Corvette is looking for someone with a lot of vision to get it all together again. Located in Farmingdale, New York, this ambitious project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Our thanks to Peter Rettig for this tip!
After a slow start in 1953, Chevy factory workers were able to build up to 50 Corvettes a day the following year. Because economies of scale were beginning to materialize, Chevrolet was able to drop the price of a new ‘Vette by 20% to $2,774 (still a lot of money for a car in those days). The “Blue Flame” 235 cubic inch inline-6 was tweaked a bit and horsepower output was increased to 155 with the 2-speed Powerglide automatic (sorry, no manual tranny yet). And you could now buy a Corvette in three colors besides Polo White (which the seller’s car appears to have been finished in).
The Corvette finally became a serious contender in 1956 with a V8 engine and manual shifter and sales would continue to move in the right direction. That enabled the ‘Vette to compete better with the 2-seat Ford Thunderbird, but they weren’t really the same kind of automobiles (sports car vs. personal luxury). We’re sure there’s an interesting story to go with the seller’s ’54 Corvette, but we don’t know what it is. Why is it in parts and pieces in a warehouse and is it all there somewhere?
We don’t see an engine or transmission in any of the photos. Or suspension components. We’re told the VIN on the frame matches the VIN on the transferrable New York registration. While the frame and “most” body panels have survived, the seller says there are “various other parts” (like an extra rear clip). But what might those be and how much of an uphill climb would this project be? Or would it better serve as a parts source for a more complete car?
Wasn’t that a song by the Dave Clark 5? Bits and pieces? So, what are we looking at here? I’m sorry, not even bottom of the barrel. An “ambitious” restoration should at least resemble the car in question. Folks must be getting desperate.
$50 and the owner delivers it.
I’ve always wanted a ’53 Vette, but that was mostly because I took to the road the same year. Other than that I very much prefer the ’58 to ’60 version. I sure wouldn’t kick one of the latter off my driveway either. I still have a trip down Route 66 in a Corvette on my bucket list. I would probably settle for the trip itself and leave the Corvette at home.
Anyways, for this, bobhess has got the right idea. I’m actually wondering if there is an engine/transmission/front end/rear end in that pile of junk…
geomechs, you NEED to do that Route 66 trip. We did it as a family maybe 7 years ago, and all 4 of us loved it. Going through the small towns, eating local diner food in places that have been there since the 50s, etc was a great experience. Made me feel really good, and a little sad/wistful, simultaneously many times on that drive….
best,
bt
I was driving a rented 2023 Bronco on Route 66 in New Mexico this past Wednesday. A great part of this beautiful country. The Bronco, not so much.
I’m right there with you! We did it back in 2016, Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier. it was awesome. We met people from all over the world. We’re thinking about doing it again in 2026, which will be the 100th anniversary of the Route. Start planning now! 🛣️
Don’t forget staying at the old motels. That was a blast, too!
Ikea makes a Vette??
Good one! And that’s pretty much what it looks like! Hard pass! 🤣
Fifty A DAY?
My eyes could be playing tricks on me but from the pics it looks like I see 4 frames there. Feels like this would be a bit of a Frankenstein project and you’d really never know if you were working with the panels or parts from the car you were buying. Too ambitious of a project for me and of the C1’s the 54 in my opinion is the least valuable (not a 53, and not a 55 where you could get a v8). GLWS
Haha! Frankenvette!
The question is how much would the owner be willing to pay to have that pile of scrap hauled out to the dump?
I think the v8 came out in 1955
Looks like the seats came out shortly after…
Do all the frames come in the package?
Someone that staggered out of the Barrat-Jackson auction will see this and buy it. $200,000 for a classic car was an average sale.
What a shame.
I love how the 2nd rear section is sitting on top of a C3 for storage…smh
I wouldn’t mind tackling a job like this (I’ve done a few in my life) but with no idea of what comes with it besides broken up fiberglass pieces & some sort of chassis, there would be no end to the amount of time involved (not to mention the expense) in pulling this mess all together, the price isn’t bad if the seller would make mention or at least show exactly what it comes with it. I might be willing to take a shot, but without lots more information, I’ll take a hard pass!
I bet RWP…
Ran
When
Parked 🤣
Same here Don I restored a lot of cars for people in 40 +years love the corvettes but I think this one would a money pit
Parts car? Exactly what part do you see in that pile of trash? I don’t see one part.
Sale pending?
But hey… according to the ad, it only has 1,234 miles! How could you lose?
If you could get cheap enough alot rat rod material to make a Fury Road style vette
Maybe if you pay the asking price, the seller will throw in all of the C3 frames stacked underneath it, and the C3 T-Top body that the rear body is piled on top of. Empty that shop right out.
More bits than pieces.
Hmmm, the crap that’s left from grandpa’s chop shop decades back. It would be interesting to check whatever numbers are there to see the origin of some of this stuff?????????
Does it come with a bridge in Brooklyn?
A deed to some oceanfront property in Arizona, maybe.
Lmao… Pile of garbage
If I could only sell these dam Corvettes, I could retire! I should have listed them four years ago when the economy was better.
This WAS a parts car; maybe more than once. What you have left is what no one wanted. Just let it die already.
You could have a nice love seat made out of the trunk. The only one in existence!
“Hey Joe, do you want to sell this pile of junk at the back of the workshop?”
“Sure Pete, what shall we advertise it as?”
“Let’s call it a corvette Joe just for faeces and giggles”.
“(Snicker) Perfect”.
Please pay me big bucks to scrap it for you.