With the Chevrolet Corvette celebrating its seventieth anniversary, Jay Leno not too long ago checked out one of many earliest manufacturing fashions, courtesy of proprietor and Corvette restorer Mike McCluskey.
This 1954 Corvette is from the ‘Vette’s second mannequin 12 months. Solely 300 vehicles had been made for the preliminary 1953 mannequin 12 months, nonetheless, so Leno considers 1954 to be the Corvette’s first full manufacturing 12 months.
The Corvette wasn’t a giant vendor in its early years, partly due to what was below the hood. The Blue Flame inline-6 was shared with extra humble Chevrolets, and thus did not get sports activities automotive fanatics excited.
1954 Chevrolet Corvette on Jay Leno’s Storage
The Corvette model of the Blue Flame did not less than get three single-barrel side-draft carburetors and a solid-lifter camshaft, bringing output as much as 155 hp. That was pretty aggressive with different small (largely British) sports activities vehicles of the time, although the Corvette weighed extra.
Early Corvettes additionally had just a few quirks. They lacked exterior door handles and aspect glass, that means anybody may attain in and open the door. The trunk lock was additionally positioned beneath the rear license plate. Engineers within the Fifties weren’t too involved with ergonomics.
McCluskey, who additionally restored Leno’s 1957 Corvette and labored on his 1963 Cut up-Window, restored the ’54 to the way in which it left the manufacturing unit—warts and all. For instance, the automotive sits decrease on the again, which was achieved deliberately by Chevy to make it appear to be it was taking off. For his work, the automotive was awarded a near-perfect 99 factors and received the Duntov award, each from the Nationwide Corvette Restorers Society, of which McCluskey is a member.
1954 Chevrolet Corvette on Jay Leno’s Storage
Earlier than he may even take into consideration particulars like that, although, McCluskey needed to counteract many years of decay. The automotive had been sitting in a fellow Corvette fanatic’s yard for 35 years, and required a three-year restoration to get it to its present situation. Not less than the Corvette has a fiberglass physique, which might climate the weather higher than metal.
Talking of fiberglass, the 1954 vehicles used a better grade of the fabric than their predecessors, McCluskey famous. The basically hand-made 1953 fashions used fiberglass material that confirmed by way of the paint, whereas 1954 fashions have a smoother end nearer to standard sheet metallic.
For a lot of the second half of the video Leno takes the automotive for a drive. You’ll be able to actually hear the putter of the engine that would not encourage any sports activities automotive fanatic. Watch the total video for extra cool particulars of this meticulously restored Corvette. And should you like what you see, word that it is on the market.
