Custom Candidate? 1954 Chevrolet Corvette

Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.

In the past, I’ve referred to project cars as being a blank canvas, but there is no more apt description than that for this 1954 Chevrolet Corvette. This is a project car that is reduced to its most basic form, and it will be the choice of the next owner as to what path they choose to follow with it. The Corvette is located in Austin, Texas, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $4,250, but the reserve hasn’t been met. The owner does say that the reserve has been set low, so it will be interesting to see just how low it is.

The Corvette started its life painted in Sportsman Red, but it seems that this has been stripped as part of a stalled restoration. The owner says that the frame appears to be solid, but that he hasn’t put the car on a lift to give it a thorough check. The fiberglass panels are looking quite distressed in a number of places, and I suspect that it is going to take a person who is competent in fiberglass repairs and preparation to get these back into shape. The windshield and frame are present, but the windshield itself has a crack in it. All of the body panels are present, but this really is a case of “what you see is what you get.” There is no chrome trim, no lights, no bumpers, no grille, and even the panel hinges are not included.

The theme continues inside the Corvette where you get nada, zero, zilch, and nothing. This is where the next owner is going to need to start making real decisions, because everything will need to be sourced for the interior, right down to the last nut, bolt, and washer. This is not going to be a cheap proposition, so it is going to come down to weighing project costs against potential vehicle value as part of the decision making process.

If you were hoping to find something lurking under the hood, then you will no doubt be disappointed by this sight. There is no engine or transmission, the rear end is still present, and there are enough steering and suspension components included to be able to move the Corvette around for loading onto a trailer. When you couple this with the lack of interior trim, it is probably hard to justify doing a faithful restoration on this car. The simple fact will be that no matter how meticulously such a restoration was performed, you would be left with a nice Corvette, but it would lose out in ultimate value due to the fact that it is not numbers-matching. The alternative would be to follow the custom route, and I have seen a nice example kicking around for sale that has been fitted with a modern V8 and automatic transmission, along with a custom interior. It looks really nice and offers the sort of performance and “turn-key” reliability that might be otherwise missing from a faithfully restored car. This might be an option worth serious consideration.

For me, the path to follow with this 1954 Corvette would be to pursue a custom build. Sure, Chevrolet only produced 3,640 examples of the Corvette in 1954, but this one can never be returned to 100% original status. That means that a custom build could be completed without the heartache and criticism that can come from destroying a numbers-matching classic. Of course, your opinion might be different to mine, and I have no problem with that. That is one of the things that makes the classic car scene so interesting. If you do disagree with me, I will be interested to hear what you would do.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. bobhess bobhessMember

    I like the custom build route. You get to save the essence of a classic and put a car on the road you can have some fun with. Merry Christmas and a great 2020!

    Like 7
    • Brakeservo

      Looks like this one was completely canablized for a better project. There’s gotta be a reason they chose to kill this one. For a custom, which is better – this or a freshly made reproduction body and frame?

      Like 1
  2. Ken Cwrney

    EV all the way! Since you’d only be driving
    It around town anyway, it makes perfect
    sense to me. Besides, it reminds me of
    a battery operated toy car just like this
    one. It was 1/8th scale and used 2 D
    batteries to work the motor and lights
    and it even had reverse too! I got it from
    my Mom for Christmas when I was very
    young. My sister got Barbie dolls that
    same year and you can only guess what
    happened to my car after that. She used it to drive her new dolls around the living
    room! Now would be my chance to drive
    and own the real thing! Thanks for reminding me of that very special Christmas so long ago. Merry Christmas
    Folks!

    Like 8
  3. 86_Vette_Convertible

    One of our club members took a 54 and replaced the frame and drive train. It now has a 350 ci engine, automatic (don’t know which one) along with a newer axel. The car is very good looking and the hood even closes without the need for a scoop etc. on it. The biggest issue he’s had is issues with cooling, it has/had a tendency to overheat which I haven’t heard if he ever got it resolved.

    Merry Christmas everyone!

    Like 5
    • BlondeUXBMember

      Add 1956-57 fender scoops. Reverse orientation for hot air scuppers…

      Like 0
    • Wr HALL

      Everyone keeps talking V 8, what is wrong with a Chev 6? Such as a 230,250 or even a 292 truck motor they can be adapted to any GM Trans. If you want to get more horses out of a Chev 6 loads of performance parts are available with no sweat. It would neat so see something like with a Chev 6 and turbo 350 trans.

      Like 0
  4. Andrew Franks

    Adam, this is absurd. It’s a $500.00 car as it stands. That’s if you take the emotions out of the transaction. Which will never happen. I would buy this at the lowest possible number, and then because I really like the design of the car I would completely build the car underneath while leaving its outer appearance stock. So I would have a modern car under a beautiful body. I would do that if I swore to keep the car forever which at my age isn’t very long, and certainly change the color to early Corvette Blue (I can’t remember the color’s name; everybody knows it) and to hell with market values. A nice fantasy.

    Like 4
    • Clay Bryant

      Pennant Blue, Andrew. Don’t hold your breath at 500 let alone 5.000. If it’s Sportsman Red that’s the way to go. Restore the outside and collect mechanicals over the coming years. I’ve had a 68 L-88 and a 54 Pennant Blue 6 and I’d rather listen to the 6 all day long.

      Like 0
  5. Rj

    Do the only thing that makes a bit of sense and then enjoy it. I would enjoy it with a hotrod 283 pushed to 292 with a lumpy cam so it made all the right noises. I would restore the dash and add correct seats. Everyone is turning everything into gassers so I would go the road race race route. Just don’t number it 130 or name it Little Bastard.

    MerryChristmas and HappyNewYear

    Like 3
  6. Chris Keinz

    It looks like he has all the parts To put the car back together for sale on his eBay site, What a coincidence🙄

    Like 7
    • J

      Oil pan for 700??? For real?? Good Luck.

      Like 0
  7. Rj

    It’s worth more one piece at a time.

    Like 3
  8. Chris in Pineville

    a hopped-up stovebolt six + a Muncie 4-speed, disc brakes + rack & pinion steering make this work. paint it your choice of colors (none of the ’54 ‘Vette colors are desirable to me) and do the interior however you like.
    not cheap, but fun……

    Like 2
  9. gbvette62

    There are a lot of expensive parts missing from this car, even if your plan is to build a restomod from it.

    I recently came across a complete 54 project car for a customer who has a collection of restored 53-55’s, and wants to build a restomod to go with the restored cars. The one I found is disassembled, but everything is there, and the price was a reasonable $29K. Maybe the buyer of this car will be interested in all of the stock parts (engine, trans, seats, steering column, gauges, etc) that we won’t be using on our restomod project?

    Like 1
  10. Alexco

    I am building one of these right now. 3 years so far and believe me you are looking at one expensive project no matter which way you go, especially if want original 54 Corvette parts in building it. The body will need a complete new layer of glass over it, as it is brittle and weak, no way around it. Have to be really good at glass work to make things fit and this is from the factory. I Restro-mod’ed it, 1990 ZR1 LT5 drive train (ZF trans, Dana 44 rear end) and modified the frame to take C4 suspension. Rolled out the rear fenders to pick up an additional 3.5″ for the 315 rear tires. This car will cost a lot no matter how little you think you can spend to get it going. Think of it as you are manufacturing a new car from scratch.

    Like 5
  11. Robert White

    What’s with the freshly painted red rims & new boots on a roller?

    That’s a little ass backwards isn’t it?

    I despise Vettes.

    Bob

    Like 2
    • Chinga Trailer

      It’s done to make it look superficially better. Much as guys take and spray an old rusted hulk with gray primer – it looks better in the photos and fools someone who has never dealt with something like this firsthand before. Marketing. Not value added, but merely the facade of value.

      Like 0
    • Clay Bryant

      Jealous.…? You sure hurt easy………..

      Like 0
  12. benjy58

    What is with the windshield, it looks like it’s from a boat. I don’t think it’s worth much unless you have a parts car or two.

    Like 0
  13. Kiwi Glen

    If the corvette price does not get too high, I would buy a rusty MGB 1974-79 and use it as a doner for the engine and 4 speed with over drive. I would also use the interior and gauges. Replace anything that is required to make it legal then drive it. My classics only go out once a month and that is to drive about 30 miles so it does not need to have a $10k paint job

    Like 0
  14. Classic Steel

    Basically this car was used to rebuild another car and that’s probably why even the door hinges are stripped out .

    Its title shows Beverly Hills Car club Where they always sell various stages of cars.

    Hmm so if buying one should check frame vin to vin shown on car ..
    Maybe this was a special transplant to another corvette and heres whats left..

    Like 1
  15. chrlsful

    wuz it ’56 – 60 ? the C1 w/the nice I-talian rear 1/4s and the cove in the door (pre – ’64). That’s ‘my’ model. Just saw a Blue Flame motor 4 sale near here too…

    Like 0
  16. Architecture On Wheels

    1954 values have plummeted. A “Good Condition” 1954 will command $60K at best. The unseen caveat here is the trim, chrome, powertrain, and any other recommission part (if you can find it) or labor costs required to place it in the good condition will far exceed its selling value on today’s market. Realistically, a resto mod would be a good and probably only choice to bring this car to an interesting and drivable point. Very careful consideration of this and a comprehensive inventory of whats available and their respective costs are critical in establishing the selling price. Additionally any buyer needs to research the seller on Google before acquisition. It could be interesting what you find in some cases. . Insure you have the original Vin tag, title, and that its number matches the stamped frame in the left rear. If this were a 1953, it would be well worth chasing. The 1954…… Caveat Emptor.

    Like 1
  17. DRV

    I’d sell it to the first person who wanted it.

    Like 1
  18. Dale Watson

    It’s interesting to read all the comments,but it depends on your pocketbook and level of skills and desire to have a 54 , most all basket cases project if you go slow it is amazing what shows up for parts . But this one will be long and expensive. My desire is for a 32 Ford 3 window any condition ,

    Like 0
  19. DRV

    Somehow the windshield looks upside down, but the pillars look right.

    Like 1
  20. Del

    Here…gimme 5 grand for a parted out shell.

    Sure…just wait, I will get my cheque book

    Like 1
  21. v

    wow car number 3621 what a waste . talk about completely gutted. the chrome alone would cost thousands in used condition. id like to see the corvette this one made. the body would need a restomod of dechroming the whole car just so you would not have to buy all the cosmetics on this car. put an oldsmobile 403 or olds diesel in it . this way no one would be peeing on the wheels of this car. this vette is truly an OLD-s- mobile…

    Like 0

Leave A Comment

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Barn Finds