Lot 292: Chevrolet Corvette

245bhp, 283 cu. in V8 engine with dual four-barrel carburetors, four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 102" Although the first series cars built from 1953 to 1955 introduced the Corvette to America, it was the second series, which made its debut in 1956, that truly earned the title America's Sports Car. The clean good looks of Harley Earl's new body design struck a chord with the American public, and it quickly outsold the older style by a margin of three to one. In addition, Zora Arkus-Duntov and Chevrolet Engineering had dramatically altered the personality of Chevrolet's sports car with a new focus on performance, a growing range of powerful small block V8 engines, and improved handling. For 1958, the Corvette featured greater comfort and its appearance was slightly revised by Harley Earl with 1958-only touches including a louvered washboard hood treatment and twin chrome deck lid strips, consistent with the styling trends of the era. Performance continued to be emphasized of course, and the high-revving dual-quad 283 cubic inch engine ensured that the Corvette was highly competitive on both the street and the racetrack, with quarter-mile times in the 15-second range. Not surprisingly, Corvettes from this year are among the most collectible models to this day. Chevrolet produced 9,168 Corvettes in 1958 but only 190 were originally finished in Panama Yellow with white cove panels. In fact, 1958 was the only model year between 1956 and 1964 that a yellow exterior finish was available on the Corvette. The example presented here is one of those 190 cars. Displaying a full professional restoration that was completed in 2008 by RadAir Inc., this very fine Corvette received a 97.9% score for its originality and quality, earning the coveted Bloomington Gold Award in the process. As expected of a show quality automobile, the Corvette's fit and finish are outstanding, complemented by an abundance of gleaming brightwork and a set of period-style whitewall tires with full bright wheel covers. The car is also well-equipped with a 245 horsepower, dual quad 283 V8 engine with such original options as a four-speed manual transmission, Posi-Traction rear axle, AM radio, courtesy lights and charcoal upholstery. Award-winning and remarkably rare, this Corvette is an excellent example indeed, made all the more attractive with its striking Panama Yellow finish.