This 1953 Chevrolet Corvette is the 154th of 300 first-year examples produced, and it was acquired by the current owner as an unfinished project in 2021. Subsequent work included repairing and refinishing the body, re-plating the chrome trim, replcing the wheels and tires, and reupholstering the cabin. The car is powered by a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 and a four-speed automatic transmission, and it rides on C4-style front and rear independent suspension as well as chrome 17″ U.S. Mags wheels, and the exterior is finished in white with a black soft top. The cabin was reupholstered in red vinyl and outfitted with bucket seats and AutoMeter instrumentation. Additional equipment includes Holley Terminator X fuel injection, long-tube headers, Mini-style headlights, and an electrically operated front clip and trunk lid. This C1 Corvette is now offered on dealer consignment with refurbishment records and a clean Louisiana title.
Each of the 300 Corvettes built for the model’s 1953 debut year left the factory finished in Polo White, and this example was stripped and the bodywork was repaired before it was repainted during the refurbishment. The front clip and trunk lid are electrically operated. Additional details include a black soft top, a chrome grille, modern Mini-style headlights, and polished dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear valance. The windshield wipers are removed.
The car rides on C4-style front and rear independent suspension setups, and the chrome U.S. Mags 17″ wheels are mounted with Nitto NT555 G2 tires measuring 245/45 up front and 275/40 out back. The front brakes feature Corvette-branded calipers.
The bucket seats are faired into the rear bodywork and are trimmed in red vinyl, and they are complemented by a color-coordinated dash pad and door panels. Interior appointments consist of a dash-mounted rearview mirror and a retro-look aftermarket stereo. The radio and air conditioning are nonfunctional.
The white leather-wrapped steering wheel fronts a Holley fuel injection module, and AutoMeter instrumentation is mounted in the center of the dashboard. The odometer is blocked by the Holley module. Total mileage is unknown.
The LS1 V8 is equipped with vintage-style fuel rail covers, and ECU tuning is provided by a Holley Terminator X engine management system.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. Long-tube headers flow to a dual exhaust system.
Photos taken during the build are provided in the gallery. Refurbishment invoices are included in the sale.