Used Car of the Day: 1955 Chevrolet Corvette

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

There's a Brit in California selling a classic first-gen 1955 Chevrolet Corvette.


The forum is aimed at UK-based buyers, but the car is in California and I am including it in this feature because I assume our seller is open to an American buyer. There'd certainly be no need to ship, if that's the case, though the seller says the car can be shipped overseas via Oakland.

The car itself is in rough shape and in need of restoration, though it does apparently start and run.

The numbers match and both original tops come with it, and it has the original side screens. The color combo is yellow and green.

If you have the time and money to get knee-deep into a major restoration, click here to get started with this C1.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Dukeisduke Dukeisduke on Jul 31, 2023

    A low option car (the dog dish caps were available), and a no radio car. I see a blower motor under the hood, so at least it has a heater/defroster.

  • Olddavid Olddavid on Jul 31, 2023

    I was born along with the Corvette at around this time. In those days, the new models were announced like some Barnum and Bailey show - with giant search lights, huge curtains on showroom windows and every minor celebrity each of the dealers could cajole into taking part. When the Corvettes first came out even the dealership employees - save the dealer principle - were banned during setup. It was always about the same time we went back to school so seeing the crates with promo material was always a kind of downer for us kids. My memory of these early cars is that the mechanics in the shop didn't think much of it. I would guess about this time the accountants, who would eventually prevail, were screaming due to losses on the model. Roger Smith, the head numbers man, became CEO and things began to change. And we know what a rousing success his tenure became? Oh yeah, this has value only in it is matching numbers. What ever happened to Corvette Vickie? You know from the ads in AW? She may need wheels in retirement.

  • Rover Sig 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, like my previous JGC's cheap to keep (essentially just oil, tires) until recent episode of clunking in front suspension at 50K miles led to $3000 of parts replaced over fives visits to two Jeep dealers which finally bought a quiet front end. Most expensive repair on any vehicle I've owned in the last 56 years.
  • Bob Hey Tassos, have you seen it with top down. It's a permanent roll bar so if it flips no problem. It's the only car with one permanently there. So shoots down your issue. I had a 1998 for 10 years it was perfect, but yes slow. Hardly ever see any of them anymore.
  • 3-On-The-Tree 2007 Toyota Sienna bedsides new plugs, flat tire on I-10 in van Horn Tx on the way to Fort Huachuca.2021 Tundra Crewmax no issues2021 Rav 4 no issues2010 Corolla I put in a alternator in Mar1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 280,000mi I put in a new radiator back in 08 before I deployed, did a valve job, new fuel and oil pump. Leaky rear main seal, transmission, transfer case. Rebuild carb twice, had a recall on the gas tank surprisingly in 2010 at 25 years later.2014 Ford F159 Ecoboost 3.5L by 80,000mi went through both turbos, driver side leaking, passenger side completely replaced. Rear min seal leak once at 50,000 second at 80,000. And last was a timing chain cover leak.2009 C6 Corvette LS3 Base, I put in a new radiator in 2021.
  • ChristianWimmer 2018 Mercedes A250 AMG Line (W177) - no issues or unscheduled dealer visits. Regular maintenance at the dealer once a year costs between 400,- Euros (standard service) to 1200,- Euros (major service, new spark plugs, brake pads + TÜV). Had one recall where they had to fix an A/C hose which might become loose. Great car and fun to drive and very economical but also fast. Recently gave it an “Italian tune up” on the Autobahn.
  • Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
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