283ci OHV V8 Engine
Single 4-Barrel Carburetor
230bhp at 4,800rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Fully restored
*Attractive Roman Red over Red interior
*Plenty of V8 grunt
*An American Icon

THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE

When Chevrolet introduced the Corvette in 1953, it had that dream car allure, but what was missing was some moxie – the Blue Flame Six paired to a Powerglide automatic was hardly sports car material. An infusion of V-8 power and three-speed manual for 1955 helped things considerably and helped give the Corvette a stay of execution. With a redesign and fuel injection over the next two years, the Corvette gave America its sports car contender.

A heavy 1958 facelift made for a flashier Corvette, but it was also a more competent Corvette. It grew nine inches in length, and the dashboard was redesigned to put all the instruments in front of the driver. For 1959, the hood louvers and chrome trunklid spears were removed for a cleaner look outside; inside, repositioned armrests and redesigned seats made the Corvette a better driver's car. A new performance upgrade for 1959 was the RPO 686 sintered-metallic brake linings, which smoothed out braking performance and needed less warming up for peak performance.

Performance for 1959 was light-years ahead of the Corvette from a few years before. Road & Track tested the 290-hp fuel injected motor with 4.11 gears and achieved 0-60 in 6.8 second and 14.9 seconds at 96mph in the quarter mile – performance that wasn't common in Detroit's sedans for a few more years.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Bonhams is pleased to offer this wonderful 1959 Chevrolet Corvette. Finished in the classic color of Roman Red with an optional white two-tone scheme, the interior delightfully matches the exterior and creates a cohesive aesthetic package. Beyond the exterior paint options, this Corvette was specified with a 4-speed manual transmission, heater, and a Wonderbar radio that allows to driver to accompany the V8 rumble with best of the airwaves. Recently in 2008, the roadster was subjected to a restoration that has returned the car to splendid condition. From bumper to bumper the car truly shines and any signs of wear will be hard to find. A fine example of this icon, this is surly not one to pass up on.