1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (RHD)

Description

Chevrolet’s Corvette is a true automotive icon, a car that has always remained faithful to the original concept of providing high performance, stunning looks and luxury features at a reasonable price – the same holds true today, more than 60 years after the first ’Vette rolled off the production line in 1953. By the late 1950s the Corvette’s chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, had successfully transformed it from a boulevard cruiser into a high performance sports car, thanks to a recipe that included the legendary small-block V8, fuel injection, better suspension and bigger brakes. The Corvette underwent a mild facelift for 1959, deleting the fake bonnet louvres and chrome strips on the rear body, while the interior, significantly revamped the previous season, saw new door trims, redesigned seats and a fibreglass parcel shelf set under the dash on the passenger’s side. Seven exterior colours were available, with the scallops in contrasting silver or white, while black was added to the red, blue or turquoise interior colour palette. The instrument binnacle also came in for some revision, with concave gauges and a tacho was now standard, along with an electric clock and an external rear-view mirror. Powering the 1959 Corvette was Chevrolet’s 283-cid V8, developing 230 horsepower in standard tune, with dual carbs and fuel-injection once again optional. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual unit (though buyers could opt for either a four-speed ‘box or Powerglide automatic at extra cost). Although some pundits refused to concede that the Corvette was a genuine sports car, it certainly managed to take the fight up to the Europeans on the racetracks of America in the late 1950s, with many private owners receiving back door support from Chevrolet Engineering. Sales of the Corvette continued to climb in 1959, with 9,670 rolling off the production lines and each is now regarded as a genuine American classic.