Thank you for taking your time to view another one of the Basil family's beautiful classic cars. Our most recent endeavor, Basil Classics, represents our continued quest to provide our fellow car enthusiasts with the finest quality vehicles, now including a full line of classic automobiles. We consider this to be a journey of continued excellence our family has strived to faithfully provide since 1951.
General Motors has been producing quality cars and trucks for the purchasing public beginning in 1908 with the merger of Buick and Oldsmobile. After a short stint on his own, Louis Chevrolet joined General Motors in 1918 and the Chevrolet name and automobile line was retained.
In 1927, Harley Earl was hired as General Motors design engineer and with Earl at the helm, production design concepts began to noticeably change and many one-off concepts came about. Within his first year as design engineer, Earl released the Cadillac LaSalle which was intended to fill a gap in the GM automotive line. With the success of the LaSalle, additional concept ideas began to emerge under Earl's direction. By the 1950s, Harley Earl was well trusted and established with his design advances and had turned his attention to the smaller two passenger roadsters now being produced by European companies such as Porsche and Jaguar. 1951 brought about a secretive Earl design dubbed the Opel project, a two passenger roadster meant to compete with the European companies.
Three concept cars sprang from the Opel project but only one went into production, and in 1953, the Corvette was born. Only 300 units were sold in 1953, all being assembled with hand laid fiberglass bodies, a full steel frame and powered by a six cylinder engine using three side draft carburetors with a two speed automatic transmission. All 1953 Corvettes had six volt electrical systems, its body color was available only in white with red interior. Corvette number 003 was sent to the "cold room" at Harrison radiator in Lockport New York where it was put through and passed a series of grueling tests.
The 1953 model Corvette was produced in Flint Michigan but by December 1953, General Motors moved the Corvette production to St. Louis Missouri. With increasing public interest in the new fiberglass Corvette design, production was dramatically increased in 1954 to 3,460 units and made available in four colors, Polo white, Pennant blue, Sportsman red and black. Several engine upgrades were made in 1954 to increase horsepower and reliability, also improved were the wiring harness and top frame.
Though the new Corvette had excellent appeal, it was not a performance vehicle, so changes in that direction were soon to begin. In 1955, a Belgian born race car driver by the name of Zora Arkus Duntov was hired by General Motors to move the Corvette into the performance arena. Duntov submitted a hasty redesign that fitted a 265ci V8 engine into the original C1 chassis boosting the horsepower rating from 155 to 195 @5000rpms, an increase of 40 horsepower.
Only 700 Corvettes were produced in 1955 causing General Motors executives to call for the discontinuation of the Corvette production. Duntov however was successful in convincing GM that the Corvette would sell very well as a two passenger performance vehicle, something not yet available in the American car market and Corvette production was allowed to continue.
Zora Arkus Duntov is credited for the inclusion of many performance upgrades in the Corvette over the following years to include fuel injection, performance suspensions, multiple four barrel carburetion and four wheel disc brakes to name a few. His many successful performance contributions to the Corvette changed its image dramatically and caused it to become a world-renowned sports car. Duntov's years of dedication to the Corvette earned him the accepted title of father of the Corvette.
The Basil family proudly presents this 1955 Corvette to you which is in correct original condition. Of the 700 units produced in 1955, it is estimated that little more than 100 remain in roadworthy condition. Though this car is cosmetically restored, the engine and transmissions are the correct original units to the car. The 265 V8 has been mechanically rebuilt and performs as intended. It retains its stamped vin, identifying it as being a matching numbers engine. The correct chrome distributor cover and wires are present as are the chrome air cleaner and mechanical tach drive generator. The paint and chrome on this Corvette are in excellent restored condition though the underside of the body shows minor repairs on its four corners common to these cars due to the flush mounted bumpers. The factory wire grid antenna which is integrated into the underside of the trunk lid is intact and operational. Also in near new condition are the side window curtains and storage bag a last year accessory on the 1955 model. A review of the foldaway convertible top finds it to be in near new condition as well. The interior is correct, all gauges work as they should and the speedometer shows 59,661 miles. The tube radio and mechanical tachometer are also in correct working condition, and appearing only slightly dated, the overall appearance of the interior is exceptional.
For more than 25 years, this 1955 Corvette was loved and driven by its senior adult owner up until its purchase by the Basil family. It represents the last year of the Harley Earl body design and the first year of the 12 volt electrical system as well as the Duntov inspired V8. A complete documented history of ownership has been retained and will be included in the resale of this fine automobile. Stop and see this stunning example of rare Corvette history, you may never see another in such well kept condition