This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a tidy classic that needs very little before it could be plying our roads once again. It has received some mechanical changes, but the option is there for the new owner to return the car to its original specifications. With low production numbers during that model year, it is an option that many purists will find very attractive. Located in Miami, Florida, the Corvette has attracted plenty of interest since it was listed for sale here on eBay. There have been 61 bids, which has pushed the price along to $34,100 in this No Reserve auction.
The owner claims that the Corvette had a starring role in a Sunkist soda tv commercial from the 1980s. I don’t remember it myself, and a search on the internet has provided no further clues. The car is finished in Sportsman Red, and it generally presents well. The owner says there are a few flaws in the paint, but these don’t show in the supplied photos. He says that it doesn’t need a repaint if the buyer wants to retain it as an original survivor. That does sound tempting and is an option worth considering. He doesn’t mention any problems with rust in the frame, and if the car has spent most of its life in Florida, there are likely no issues. The glass and chrome are in good condition for a survivor, and while the wheels, hubcaps, and wide whitewall tires aren’t original, they do give the Corvette a distinctive appearance.
The Corvette’s interior looks very tidy. There are no significant issues with the upholstery or carpet, apart from some wear on the armrests. This isn’t severe, and I can’t think of one compelling reason to replace them. Probably the most pressing problem is the lens on the speedometer. It has become cloudy and crazed and is one item that I would change. Since reproductions are available for $50, that’s hardly going to break the bank. We’ve touched on the wheels and hubcaps s being aftermarket, and the same is true of the Marantz radio that is fitted into the dash. This is a 1980s-vintage item, and the buyer will probably choose to swap this if they intend to return the car to its original specifications.
We reach that point where we need to discuss the most significant change that this Corvette has undergone. The early C1 Corvettes received some criticism due to the lack of a V8 engine. This one rolled off the line equipped with a 235ci Blue Flame 6-cylinder engine and a 2-speed Powerglide transmission. It still houses a Powerglide, but the six has made way for a 1958-vintage 283ci V8. Even in stock form, this would offer considerably more than the original engine’s 150hp. However, all is not lost for those who would like to return the car to stock form. The numbers-matching engine block is included in the sale, although there is no word on whether the cylinder head or other parts are also present. The car runs and drives, but it has no brakes. That means that even if the buyer chooses to retain the Corvette as-is, there will be some work required before it could be deemed to be roadworthy.
There’s no disputing the fact that this 1954 Corvette is a clean and attractive car, and getting it roadworthy would not be difficult. That V8 would give the car the sort of performance that buyers yearned for in 1954, but I’m not sure if I would leave it there. The Corvette went close to dying at this time, and only 3,640 rolled off the production line in that model year. Many of these remained unsold into 1955, and Chevrolet only stuck by their guns with the badge in the face of sales success for Ford’s Thunderbird. This decision ultimately proved to be wise because the Corvette badge has managed to soldier on to this day. I suspect that the next owner will probably slot the original engine back into this classic, and that would be a wise move from a value perspective. Would you do that, or would you get the car roadworthy and hit the road with a bottle of Sunkist in your hand?
“The owner claims that the Corvette had a starring role in a Sunkist soda tv commercial from the 1980s.”
Some proof is needed when making a claim like that.
I hear you – I get tired of the obvious BS mileage claims when you can see drivers seat wear, for example. And ‘survivors’ with evidence of overspray. When they ‘aren’t sure’ it is a ‘numbers matching motor’ in situations where the original engine is the key to the price they are asking and they can’t be bothered to check the codes (or maybe they did). In this case, even if it was in the ad, I don’t think it would really affect the price significantly.
Seriously, an ad for Sunkist adds about $0 to the value.
Although, does this fact actually change the value of the car? Probably not. More of a trivial piece of info, IMO.
Although it means nothing to you and me, I’m sure there are some people that would be impressed.
Perhaps Anita Bryant might have been interested . .
Notice an alternator on a 1958 engine
Chevy engines got alternators in 1962.
“Chevy engines got alternators in 1962”
I believe it was 63, at least for the Corvette.
1963
These are too rare and beautiful to be so picky about everything. I can tell you, right this second, If today’s lottery ticket is a winner,I’m on my way to Fla.
I’m probably wrong, weren’t the first couple years of vets were only offered in white.
1953 cars were Polo White only, but ’54 and ’55 cars came in other colors too.
I absolutely love the way this car looks with dog dish hubcaps.
In my opinion, ditch the whitewalls. It would give a the car a tougher look, which goes along with the V8.
I think 1963!
i agree with ronald pringle, multi-colors came in 1955 the first 2 years were white only with red interiors.
1954 colors and production numbers: White 3,230, Pennant Blue 300, Sportsman Red 100, Black 4.
all 53’s were Polo white, with the 54 Corvette, Chevy offered, along with Polo white, pennant blue, sportsman red, and black. More colors were offered again in 55. harvest gold, and Corvette copper, were added along with the 54 color options. Apparently black was dropped in 55.
If it’s actually a res car for real it’s pretty rare. Would be 1 of 100 or so 1st red corvettes.
53 were white. In 54 there wad red, white and blue. I think even a few black ones.
I say again, I have always believed that all Corvettes were beautifully designed cars.
Yet, I have just really noticed that aerodynamic shape of the front windscreen.
That shape screen is what the Austin Healey and MGs needed in the 50s.
Fix the brakes, ditch the odd looking wheel and tire combination and replace with slightly narrower white walls and the stock hubcaps and it gets my vote. Dickie F’s got it right. As I mentioned with the previous white ’54, there was art put on these cars and the windshield is the center piece. And, as usual, no problem with me on the engine swap. Use the original to hold up a glass table top and put it in your living room.
I agree with bob less, keep them he 283 ,fix Brakes and make a nice modified driver car, the coffee table idea would be a nice touch. Commercial, who cares?
I wonder if the hobby still respects a car’s place in a period in time enough to celebrate it as such.
Few cars are destined to be show cars at the Concours de’Elegance and other of the “prestigious” shows around the country and world. If not an investor or a flipper as is mentioned many times on Barn Finds that brings up the value because of numbers matching why not update the brakes, fix little things when you feel like it and just enjoy driving a nice old Corvette around on a nice day or on a summer evening and show it at some local car shows if you like.
TRUE roadster, no outside door handles and the side windows are in the trunk and to be put on by hand, brakes? big deal 4 brake cylinders and a master cylinder, what’s with the radiator? and no overflow tank?
I wonder if the hobby still respects a car’s place in a period in time enough to celebrate it as such.
If I got that car, I’d fix the brakes and whatever mechanical bugaboos it has and drive it. Who cares what’s ‘correct” and about the commercial?
What is with the radiator. Both hoses on the top tank and one of them does not go to the engine.
I owned a ’54. The interior looks right with the noted exceptions and the steering wheel. The exterior paint does not look right to me, I think, but not sure, it should be more to the orange. In any event, with the V8 it would handle better since there would be less weight on the front, more on the rear, these did not want to go around a corner at speed, let alone on snow. But of course, no one would drive a ’54 in the snow now adays anyway. We do not see the side curtains, mine, when it was only 14 years old, were basically opaque because of scratches and whatever else affects plexiglass. It came with “wheel covers” with fake knockoff spinners, but mine had wide whitewalls, not original to the car. The exhaust tips are also too long, and, they probably are straight through, but by ’54 Chevy had figured out that they just pushed the exhaust up over the trunk into the passenger compartment, and were fake, with outlets just inside the body to divert the exhaust to the pavement. But this would be fun to own and drive.
I often wonder if those ribbed, flexible radiator hoses, allow the water to flow as well as in a stock hose?
I have often wondered the same thing.
I would believe these would be less efficient and slow down the flow, but it is easier to find a hose that fits.
I could be mistaken but I thought all ‘54 Corvette’s were white?
53s were white. 54s and 55s could be had in other colors.
first Corvettes were all a creamy white due to the fact that Chevrolet didn’t know how to paint fiberglass. They came with a blue flame straight six. Chevrolet didn’t begin putting V8’s in any of their cars until 1955..
I’m probably missing a few things… like an engine fan, and maybe the spark plug wires for the two forward left-side cylinders (unless they’re unplugged from the distributor for some reason, and that’s them draped among the odd wiring over the steering column tube).
Forget the restoration, there are enough of these like that around already and at least a dozen restored ones are for sale at any given time. If I owned it, I’d make it a hot rod, like if I owned it in 1958 and didn’t want to drive a dog with a boat anchor Blue Flame 6 and a slushbox Powerglide. The Corvette would have deserved to die a miserable death if it would have stayed that way. If it wasn’t for Zora Arkus Duntov there would be no Corvette today.
I love to have it, but it would have to have a 1958 vintage 283 HP Rochester fuel injected 283 and a four speed, with the big drum brake package and a general freshening up. A few handling aids would help too. Keep the paint and the wheel/tire/dog dish hubcaps and start driving this thing! Old cars are supposed to be fun to drive instead of static museum pieces!
Looks like it sold for $45,300.00, that’s a pretty good deal for this car!
I am the buyer. Couldn’t pass it up at that price. I always liked the Jetson styling of the first ‘vettes. It should make a good driver with real brakes. Thanks Barnfinds for bringing my attention to the car!
Congrats! Looks like you will have a nice cruiser this summer.
did you get your 54 on the road?, im looking for one, if you ever want to sell, let me know,
did you get your 54 on the road?, im looking for one, if you ever want to sell, let me know, thanks
Hi Stephen. It’s parked in the garage waiting for its turn in the shop. Feel free to text me at seven one 4 three 5 zero 86 zero five. Thanks Dave