A Bite of History - Mike Thies

1954 Chevrolet Corvette

The 1954 Corvette was only the second year of production for what would become America’s most iconic sports car. Built in a time when European roadsters were dominating U.S. roads, Chevrolet took a bold step by creating a fiberglass-bodied, two-seat convertible that looked like nothing else on the market.

Still powered by the “Blue Flame” inline-six engine (235 cu in, 150 hp) and a 2-speed Powerglide automatic, the ’54 Corvette wasn’t yet the fire-breather it would later become, but it set the stage. Its lightweight fiberglass body was revolutionary, and its styling with a wraparound windshield, mesh grille, and tailfins, it screamed Jet Age cool.

Only 3,640 Corvettes were built in 1954, most in Polo White with a red interior. Sales were sluggish at the time, but the car's distinctive looks and rarity now make it a prized collectible. It’s the car that proved Chevrolet had the guts to dream big; and eventually take on the world.