The first-generation Chevrolet Corvette had a good and long run, having lasted ten model years from 1953 through 1962. Chevrolet changed the body up a bit for the ’56 model, making some modifications to the front and taking away the tail-lamp fins on the back. The 1956 Corvette being offered here has spent its last 33 years in storage, and if you’re like me you’re always appreciative when a seller includes a photo of what their car looked like before it was removed from the garage, barn, or wherever it had been hibernating for all that time. If you are in the market for a nice C1, this 1956 Chevrolet Corvette may be a good car for you. Located in Turner, Maine, it can be found here on eBay with a present bid of $43,100. There’s a little less than a day and a half left on the auction at the time of this writing and no reserve, so the high bidder will be taking this one home.
Thankfully, those 33 years of storage were spent in California, and the ‘Vette cleaned up rather nicely. The car is being sold to settle an estate and was moved to Maine for repairs, and also to be near to where the family offering it for sale resides. It is uncertain when this took place, but restoration has been performed at some point in the past. The paint is said to look good, although the seller mentions that it does have some flaws and that a new VIN tag was crafted because the old one was damaged when it was removed for the paint job.
Inside, the gauges and radio appear to be original and everything appears to be in overall well-preserved condition. The seller says that at some time in the past the interior was changed to black and that the original inside color is unknown. The seller also mentions that some of the options and accessories are going to need attention. The convertible top is stated to be like new, and the car also comes with a hardtop but it will need a new rear window.
This Corvette was originally equipped with a 265 cubic inch motor, but it now has a year-correct 283 cubic inch GM replacement motor. The original transmission has also been replaced with a GM 4-Speed, and outback there is a positraction rear end. The car has also recently had a new fuel cell, a carburetor rebuild, and a complete tune-up and now runs beautifully and goes down the road great. There’s also a new set of tires, new master cylinder, exhaust system, plus it comes with lots of extra new GM parts.
I’m always thankful when a seller includes one or more photos of the underside of their car, and the south side of this Corvette does not disappoint. There is said to be zero rust on this car and the undercarriage of this Corvette is stated to be “perfect”. The mileage is listed to be 33,926 and the car comes with a clean title. What are your thoughts on this 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible?
Not completely original? I don’t care.
Absolutely beautiful and just waiting to be driven? You bet.
The picture in the garage has some wide tires on the back and front, The 283 came out in 1957 so I’m not sure how it’s correct in a 1956. The transmission has been changed. The VIN tag that has been replace is green. Sweet looking Vette, BUT lots of questions about it’s past. Only one thing to do DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT AND HOPE IT’S NOT.
I agree, there were no 283’s in 56, so it’s obviously not a “year correct GM replacement motor”.
It doen’t look like a bad car, but that riveted on “replacement” VIN tag, will cause any potential buyer a lot of trouble in many states. If I was selling the car (or buying it), I’d be losing that new VIN tag and putting the original one back on with Phillip head screws, the same way the factory installed it. A damaged tag may still cause problems with the DMV, but a damaged original one isn’t going to set of the kinds of red flags that an improperly attached, obvious replacement one will.
Man this one is love and hate for me. Love the car but…a 283 is not period correct, know idea what transmission is in it and always nervous about a replaced VIN tag. I do love these cars though.
Here in California, all you have to do is take it to a CHP inspection station and have the VIN verified and your good to go. I took a couple of old dirt bikes in and got it done. Basically all you have to prove it was not stolen at some point.
I love ’56 for it’s low production and it’s super clean design .
There are very accurate looking serial number plate replacements available. That number should also be painted on the frame under the driver.
To correct the 4 speed, motor , paint, and interior would make the current price borderline.
For a driver the current price is excellent.
The non staggered valve cover bolts of much later heads are too obvious but other under the hood details are less expensive to correct to a presentable likeness. The ignition shields repops are not as expensive as earlier. The interior changes if wanted are cheap and easy.
The color is another whole issue unless you want to keep this non GM one.
It looks like fun the way it is and I want it.
Here in Pennsylvania, you would have a hard time getting a title. You would state police to issue a new VIN. In 1956, there was no four speed option nor a trim tag showing the original color. No window stickers either. They did not appear until about 1959. I was born in 1956 and always wanted a 56. But not this one.
Has anyone ever had anyone from the DMV step outside the office and inspect a trim tag? Just wondering. I have registered cars since 1972 in New York, California, and Ohio and have never had a trim tag inspected. I am obviously ignorant as to why this is a huge deal. I look forward to being informed by Team BF.
No response required from “Deak”, “Juice”, “Slicky Boy”, or “richard”
I’ve never had NJ physically look at a VIN when titling a car, but a couple times I was asked to make a tracing of a VIN tag, and more recently I was asked to provide a photo from my phone. NJ use to look at the VIN tag years ago, as part of the annual vehicle inspection.
I think Florida requires a police or DMV VIN inspection of any car that’s brought into the state. I’m pretty sure there are other states that may inspect VIN tags too, at least on cars sold on a Bill of Sale.
gb, if that is true, then that scenario would be the only time the state of Floriduh inspects a car.
Yes, several that I have had in California and in AZ.
I have registered two out of state/country vehicles in Florida and can confirm that both DMV officers physically inspected the VIN.
RMV in Mass. for a custom motorcycle frame verification out of NH.
Nevada inspects the VIN on any vehicle brought in from another state.
Vin number inspections in Ohio.
“For out-of-state titles only, an out-of-state vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection; inspections can be obtained at any (current fees) or any licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealership (call ahead for fee)”
https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx
I should know. I bought a 77 Vette from a guy in Montana. I paid off his loan, but when I got the title it didn’t match the VIN. There was an S instead of a 5. Fortunately the courthouse in Montana was accommodating and sent me a corrected title.
Indiana requires a police inspection of the title and vin tag on any vehicle being registered in Indiana from another state. I have done countless inspections. The BMV will also do it but it’s more difficult.
Frank Sumatra, I have had the DMV check the VIN every time at title transfer here in Ohio. I have read stories of Corvette being confiscated when numbers go awry. I would put the VIN remains back on with correct screws and add the fake plate just below it for clarification. Also a pic of the frame number in the “glove box” for good measure.
@DRV- My question is about somebody looking at the actual physical tag, versus checking documents. What states require a in-person inspection? How can an in-person inspection be possible in all cases? If I am going to register a $6,000,000 Bugatti Veyron in Chagrin Falls in February are you saying the Ohio DMV expects me to chug on over so they can come out to the parking lot to peek at the tags?
I’ve always had the title transfers in the Ravenna Ohio bureau and they’ve always went out to check the VIN.
Moved from Pennsylvania to Florida a few years ago and when I went to the DMV to transfer the plates the DMV person walked out to the car to check the VIN.
“Hey Elmer, let’s take her out for a spin after we finish all the Lite beer!”
The beer cases look as dusty as the car. Do not consume.
Frank Sumatra, in Ohio everytime you get a car from out of state it gets a out of state vin number inspection form filled out. If it doesn’t match the title that you have you will have problems. I know several people who have bought collector cars and spent time in county jail until things were straighted out. One was a 67 Chevelle with a 427 4 speed. Beautiful car made out of five stolen ones. He bought it not knowing it was stolen but took it in the ass on the deal. Everyone of the owners of the stolen cars that made it up declined to retrieve it, I suppose it was to much hassle for them. The OSP would not release it to the guy I knew so it sat in the tow companies lot for 15 or so years. When they cleaned the lot out the car pretty much fell apart, the oil pan had even rotted off the motor. Damn shame.
Frank Sumatra: In Oregon, every time I’ve registered a car with an out of state title, the DMV employee goes out to the car and personally inspects the VIN.
Beauty. Wish I could afford it.Too many toys!
Sold $45,150 I’m surprised it didn’t bring more some luck person gets a fun toy
In CA the first time you register a car, new from a CA dealer, or used, or, your own from out of state, a DMV human comes out and looks at the VIN tag or if suspicious, more than one to see if they match. (This is sometimes after an hour or more wait even though you had an “appointment”.) There are great problems with certain new foreign motorcyles where the # on the engine does not match the # on the frame. Registering a vehicle with a replaced block where the number stamped will not match the VIN can be a long process. For smog control it depends on the year and make, my 2002 Audi, for example, they just looked for the check engine light, it was not on, so it was OK. My 93 Allante they put a hose on the exhaust and I had to replace the catalyic converter (which had passed in NH a year before but was the one that came with the car and so had 150,000 miles and 24 years on it) so you never know. And a winter project is to get a title, NH does not issue titles for used cars more than 19 years old, so I did not get one, CA requires them, I could register it but not resell it. A winter project on the phone to NH and sitting around at the CA DMV waiting to be served.
Last bought a new car in CA in 2019 – no DMV human saw the car – just the reg in the mail … sold cars in CA for eighteen years – never hear of or seen any DMV human inspect a new car for for matching VINs … I’ve bought numerous used cars and trucks for personal use – never met a DMV human for any inspection … brought in three cars from Louisiana – never saw a DMV rep … it takes hours to even see a DMV rep, yes, even with an appointment – think they’re gonna cart their asses out in the lot to look under a hood … not gonna happen …
I hope area surrounding the “reproduced” VIN tag doesn’t represent the quality of the prior restoration.
VIN number on the chassis better match the one on the title. If not, it’s bad news. In NC, the DMV inspector goes by the chassis VIN if the body tag is lost or altered. Then you buy a bond, and wait three years, After that, if no one comes forward, the NC sends you a clear title. Ask me how I know.
She’s been hit in the front. Anytime you see the Corvette emblem out of position like this one, you are looking at a replacement panel where someone didn’t take the time to locate the emblem properly.
Also, that ebay-type replacement VIN plate sure would cause a LOT of registration problems in a lot of states. Not only that, but it’s not located in the proper position just like that front emblem!!
Larry D: I thought that the Corvette emblem looked too high!
Yeah and it’s goofy looking being up that high.
this is the 1st yr of the 3 or 4 yrs vetts I really like – still got the nice Itialian-esque rear, pre duck’s a$$. Not w/the double cove (both sides) dash yet, tho. And as a ‘not cheb guy” I’d use the ’56/60 w/a blue Flame i6. Take a different grill too…
Thnx for da wrk Mike~
Out of state inspections are not uncommon. VIN inspection and VIN searches go hand in hand with the Out of State. Coming across a replaced VIN tag is not a BIG deal in most states if the car has a good paper trail.
A car sitting in a tow lot for 15 years seams like a damn poor business practice.
Deaks are Deaks no matter how they spell their name, and there are a few that are just special.
Ok, i’m gonna throw a fly in the ointment.
Did the good people at BF ever determine/decide/notify prospective writers?
I’m about to retire and need a side gig 😉