Earning the nickname “America’s (fill-in-the-blank)” is quite an honor, being singled out as a whole country’s representative in the fields of sweethearts, hosts, and yes, sports cars. While the Corvette has had some competition here and there (Viper…uh, AMX?), its endurance and ability to adapt with the times has made it undoubtedly America’s sports car, one that all of us can be proud of even if we don’t necessarily aspire to own one. I’ll cheer on the home team when those yellow Corvettes are racing at LeMans and Sebring, and I enjoyed driving my late neighbor’s ’65 and ’89 models when he’d let me (RIP Tom, I miss you buddy!). This Tuxedo Black ’59 is surely a sharp-dressed sports car and worthy of our admiration. It’s being sold on eBay in Pittsburgh, and although the advertisement is short on specific details of the build, let’s see what we can piece together. The current high bid is $65,000 with a “Buy It Now” option of $75,000.
What we do know is that the Corvette was treated to a frame-off restoration in 1996 and a recent refreshening, including a pretty nice paint job, a new clutch, and a new exhaust system. The engine itself is not original; it is a 327 (not available until 1962) with the original dual-carb intake manifold and modern Edelbrock carburetors. The dual-quad 283 that would have come in this car originally was available in two states of tune: a hydraulic-lifter 245-horsepower version and a 270-horsepower solid-lifter version. Based on the car’s tachometer (with its 6500-rpm redline), it probably was a solid-lifter car, but those tachometers are reproduced, so it’s hard to be sure. Unfortunately, no information is forthcoming about the 327 aside from that it was installed when the car was restored back in the ’90s.
The white interior complements the menacing all-black exterior nicely, and the seller says that this is a two-top car, so you can change the car’s appearance based on your mood (and your propensity to want the wind messing up your hair). The interior looks nice but not new, so I’d imagine it was reconditioned 30 years ago. As you might have guessed based on the engine, this Corvette has a four speed, which was a close-ratio unit in 1959. The standard rear axle ratio was 3.70:1 for four-speed cars, so acceleration will be brisk; this has to be a fun ride.
The undercarriage isn’t quite “eat off it” clean, but it’s the next best thing and certainly far nicer than anything I’d want to worry about when I’m driving.
It’s easy to make a C1 Corvette look like an artifact of the 1950s (after all, it is). The owner (it’s apparently been in the same family since 1976) has avoided the wide-whites and the white cove paint and created a sinister Corvette. Blackwall tires, black rims, black paint…America’s sports car has an edge, folks. If you aspire to a Corvette, and why wouldn’t you, this one seems to be a sports car that we can all be proud of.
Good writeup Aaron, this one is sweet and the black with white interior is perfect. The painted rims and original caps give off a “don’t mess with me” look. She’s not a trailer queen but a real nice driver. It would be perfect to take and enjoy your golden years with, which mine are fast approaching. Drive it often but take care of it so someone else can enjoy it later in time.
I don’t get a sinister vibe from the car at all. I love the flamboyant ’59 Corvettes, but this car is really elegant and dignified. I like it a lot.
Black beauty đ Enjoyed the article Toth đ
Very nice and clean older restored Corvette!!
Something tells me this beauty is worth every penny. Love the dual quad mill, too.
I am not any sort of expert on Corvettes, I was a sophomore in High School in 1959 and I would have killed for this car and probably still would. I like it, but I am not getting all the positive vibes that others feel. Big thing for me not stock interior. I also know sometimes these straight axle cars are not as fun to drive as you think they would be. I do like it but I think the price is near the top of what it’s worth.
I never thought of myself as a fan of Corvettes but the first generation C1 really appeals to me. And this one in black, very cool. Out of my price range unfortunately but Pittsburgh is a short drive for me . OMG do I have to subscribe to get rid of these ads? They screw up my typing.
Yes.
Not a big Corvette fan, but this one is sweet! Black with a white interior, and the goods to back up the look. Next to a ’67 427 Stingray? I’d take this one.
A very nice car. I would probably redo the interior in original style black to include the door panels with the proper inserts. Also add the garbage bin at the grab handle just cuz it’s cool.
The non-original motor is not a big issue at $75k.
As Joe said above the cars are not a ball to drive any distance. Pretty flat, straight up seating with a ships wheel in your belly. They ride like a passenger car on stiff springs because, well, that’s what they are.
It’s a good looker, tho…
Wow. Absolutely beautiful. I typically like them two tone with the coves painted a contrasting color, but this one all in black including the steel rims, just looks classy. Like Cooter Rex and Stan all said above. And the white interior just sets it off nicely. As nice as an original 283 dual quad motor would be nice this 327 I’m sure has more snot to it than the 283. This one looks like you can just drive it and enjoy every minute of it.
Make it a 56 or 57 and it would be perfect
Not normally a fan of black vehicles, but got to admit, this one sure looks sharp. I’ve said many times, never saw a black car as a kid. Black was for funeral homes, and since a/c wasn’t standard like today, you were a fool to buy a black car. Especially a Corvette. As a kid, we would have noticed that as we watched the few that went by. Color, the 50s/60s were all about color. Color TVs, color pictures, THE WONDERFUL FREAKIN’ WORLD OF COLOR,,,for heavens sake. Color was for happy times, and people that went for a Corvette, wanted to be noticed in a flashy red, white or blue Corvette. Black was for depressing times, to me, still is.
The car itself? I believe it was this car that finally showed the Europeans, “in your face”,,,I can’t find any times for this particular car as is, but a 283/2-4barrel, 4 speed, did 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.3/90mph( just getting into 4th) and a top speed of 132. I’d imagine this could best all those times, and a wild ride is guaranteed. At $3176, it wasn’t cheap, options well over $4grand. The radio was $199 bucks alone, but it was the most coveted American car, ever.
They showed the Europeans up until the first corner. The brakes were the weak spot on these and many would DNF because of the brakes.
Iâm one of those weirdos whose only thought is how much does this car want to be driven? This one looks set to go.
1. Not the original engine, so it wonât ever be original and priceless.
2. Not original interior, so we donât have to baby it, and it wonât burn our buns when we get in on a hot day.
In short, this is just about perfect to get in and drive daily. Yeah, the suspension is pretty crude, but thereâs plenty of chassis tweaks and setup variations to explore while enjoying the heck outta this beastie. Too bad im poor cuz I think this car mightâve been built for me
Nice ride, I have had several,59,62, and a 74. Non original engine and nice mods are a bit for this price. I’m in NE Ohio, may have to go take a ride…
SOLD for 75K.