1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE

Details

Anyone familiar with the 1960's TV series 'Route 66' will recognize just how effectively Chevrolet branded the Corvette. In the mid-50s, its future was in doubt, and it took visionary Russian born designer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, to save the car from extinction. Duntov turned the early 'Vette into America's first serious production sports car, seeing the Corvette through the eyes of a European, with equal enthusiasm for design and marketing. His historic thesis, entitled 'Thoughts pertaining to

youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet,' laid the foundation for Chevy's strategy to create the auto industry's first successful performance parts program. The '58 was the first year General Motors actually turned a profit on the Corvette. A redesigned fiberglass body featured dual headlights, hood louvers and chrome trunk spears. This excellent example is equipped with the venerable 283cid V8 appointed with potent dual 4 barrel carburetors and the Duntov cam that brought the power up to a factory specified 270hp. The Corvette is outfitted with an optional 4-speed close ratio manual transmission, Wonder Bar push-button radio, BFGoodrich whitewall tires with an unused 6.70-15 spare still in the trunk. The car spent most of its life stored in an Ohio garage with less than 30,500 original miles registering on the odometer. The fully documented concours restoration was completed in September '07 with only running-in miles added. Finished in Snowcrest White with Inca Silver coves and re-upholstered with correct Pebble Black interior. The car has a black convertible top and the optional hardtop. From The William Munday Collection.