50th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette

Fresh nut and bolt rotisserie restoration. The 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster, 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and the official GM licensed 1953 Corvette Pedal Car offered in this remarkable lot all share the distinction of being the 39th car produced in the respective series. Not only a matched trio, the 1953 and 2003 Corvettes are the lowest known production number matched pair in the world. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster Specifications: 150bhp, 235 cu. in. inline six-cylinder engine, three-sidedraft carburetors, Powerglide automatic transmission, independent A-arm suspension, coil springs, semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 102" Chassis no. E53F001039 In the early 1950s, a team of GM engineers headed up by Harley Earl went to work trying to create a fiberglass-bodied car that had the appeal to compete with European sports cars. Harley Earl had excelled at swooping design since the 1920s and designed aircraft-looking features into the car, including round dials blended into a curved dash, all of which was sheltered under a roofline that stood just under 47 inches tall. The six-cylinder engine was positioned farther toward the rear, which gave the flat hood a long, sleek appearance. By the time it was ready to be unveiled, it is reported that GM had spent over $1.5 million dollars on the project. Dubbed the Corvette 'Dream Car,' it debuted at the GM Motorama show held at the stylish Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City with astounding results. Following the first weekend of the Motorama event in New York, over 300,000 people had seen the car and spent $800,000 on GM products. Concluding Motorama's US tour, GM stated that over four million people had seen the car. From the time General Motors announced the Chevrolet Corvette concept car in January 1953 till it was finally made available to the public, it continued to capture the hearts and imaginations of a public ravenous for fast, sporty two-seaters. Most of America's young men had just returned from the war in Europe and sports cars were one indelible automotive impression they brought home with them. Production of the two-seat roadster started in June 1953, and by year's end, a total of only 300 Corvettes rolled off the assembly line. This first year of Corvette production signified an important technical milestone; GM was the first American car manufacturer to successfully mass-produce a vehicle whose underpan and bodyshell was made entirely of fiberglass. The Corvette featured GM's 'Blue Flame' inline six 235 cubic inch engine, with triple carburetors and dual exhaust. The engine's respectable 150hp was transmitted to the road via a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. All 300 cars built in 1953 were visually identical, finished in Polo White with a Sportsman Red interior. The car was fitted with subtle pieces of chrome trim, which ran along either side, as well as wire meshing covering the headlights. Compared to the Jaguar XK 120 and the MGA of the time, the Corvette was proportionally smaller, yet more responsive and superior in handling. Unable to resist its magnetism, virtually every auto enthusiast felt compelled to get behind the wheel of the new Corvette. Even though its initial success was impressive, it is doubtful that even those at GM could have thought the Corvette would achieve the success it has over the six decades it has been in production. The stunning example presented here is finished in traditional 1953 Corvette colors and is number 39 of the 300 cars originally produced. It was acquired by Mr. Wiseman 5 years ago, and since that time the car has been subjected to a complete concours quality restoration which was completed just prior to the auction. Given the freshness of the restoration and the exacting standards to which it was completed, this is undoubtedly one of the greatest 1953 Corvettes in existence today. 2003 Chevrolet 50th Anniversary Corvette Convertible Specifications: 350hp, 5.7 liter, LS1 V8 engine, six-speed manual transmission, front and rear independent suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 104.5" Chassis no. 1G1YY32G035100039 The fifth generation Corvette's introduction in 1997 simultaneously brought both a new and significantly different Corvette chassis and a milestone evolution of the Chevy Small Block. Engines have defined Corvettes since the fifties, but perhaps no engine has so comprehensively defined Corvette's evolution as the 1997 LS1. Its similarity with the original Small Block Chevrolet begins and ends with its description as a 4.4 inch bore spacing 90º V8 with pushrod operated overhead valves. The LS1's cylinder block was aluminum, extending below the 4-bolt main bearing caps for rigidity. The cast aluminum oil pan was part of the engine's structural design. The intake manifold was a structural composite material. Ignition was by individual coils for each plug. The camshaft was a hollow casting. Exhaust manifolds were double layer stainless steel for quicker catalytic converter warm-up. Even the cylinders' firing order was changed. In its first year the LS1 delivered 345 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, as close to one horsepower per cubic inch as could be desired, and in the era of "net" horsepower, a rip-roaring Corvette V8. The C5's chassis also broke new ground with a dramatically increased wheelbase and hydroformed chassis side rails that improved chassis rigidity, reduced weight and shrank the doors' step-over width by more than three inches. Chassis track grew by 4.4 inches at the front and 2.9 inches at the rear. Corvette engineers worked with Hydra-Matic and Borg-Warner to create transaxles with four-speeds in the electronically-managed automatic and six-speeds in the manual gearbox. The standard limited slip differential was supplied by Germany's Getrag. The C5 Corvette designers, led by Dave Hill and John Cafaro, systematically addressed every perceived and actual shortcoming of the fourth generation Corvette and improved, if not eliminated, them in the C5. Introduced in 1998, the fifth generation Corvette convertible featured a smoothly-functioning top which integrated its operation with the hard tonneau cover and side windows. There were no rear top latches, making the top's operation a smoothly orchestrated process initiated and completed from the driver's seat. The convertible also featured, for the first time since 1962, a separate trunk lid with outside access and 13.9 cubic feet of storage. In keeping with the rest of Corvette's comprehensive options, the convertible's soft top had a glass, electrically-defrosted, rear window. In 2003, the Corvette celebrated its golden anniversary with a special edition coupe and convertible model. These limited edition cars were finished in Anniversary Red, they rode on five spoke Champaign painted alloy wheels and wore special 50th anniversary badging on the seats, floormats, and armrests. The convertible also featured a Shale colored soft-top. Finishing off the golden anniversary was Magnetic Selective Ride Control, a system that changes the viscosity of the fluid in the dampers by introducing a current. The result is a continuously variable damping system that operates in real time independently on each wheel to provide more precise and responsive handling, a greater sense of driver security and a flatter ride. The 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 50th Anniversary Edition Convertible presented here remains in showroom new condition, having been put into storage immediately after delivery. It was the 39th 2003 Corvette to roll off the assembly line, which makes it not only the 50th Anniversary Edition of the 1953 Corvette also being offered in this lot, but the two are a matched pair as they were both the 39th car in their respective production. 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Pedal Car: Chassis no. 39 In 2003, to help commemorate the Corvette's Golden Anniversary, Pedal Cars USA and General Motors teamed up to produce a limited edition 1953 Corvette Pedal Car. Although children were in mind in the creation of this pedal car, careful consideration went into ensuring that the car had what big kids want, too. For instance, every pedal car carries a serial number on a dash-mounted plaque. This example was the 39th pedal car produced in the series, a distinction which it shares with the two other Corvettes being offered in this lot. The cars were built in the USA and are fully licensed by General Motors. Also, attention to detail and quality production was foremost with the pedal car and the list of features includes: Hand operated Coaster Lever, Neutral and Drive Positions Right-Hand Brake Lever Heavy tubular steel frame Durable A.B.S. Plastic Solid Color Body with a High Gloss Finish Official Emblems Chrome Detailing Throughout Large Pneumatic Tubeless Tires Ball Bearing Hubs on Heavy Spindles and Axle Heavy Forged Crank with Ball Bearings, Bicycle Pedals and Sprocket Full One-Piece A.B.S. Plastic Floor Pan with Chain Guard and Wheel Wells Positive One-Piece Friction Brake Authentic Detailed Wheel Covers Chrome Bumpers Fully Adjustable Five-Position Molded Seat