Last year of the C1
The Chevrolet Corvette entered the world in 1953, and the world would never be the same. Corvette is the oldest sports car still in production for a reason, and that reason is iconic styling and impressive performance. Now in its eighth generation, the body styling and performance parts have changed as technology and tastes evolved, but it all started here in the C1. This particular example was purchased by the seller last year and had undergone refurbishment work prior to that. One of the big changes was the installation of a 1970s-era Corvette engine and a re-coat of iconic red paint.
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A last hurrah for the one that started it all
We do not know what the original factory hue of this Corvette was, but it has been redone in a bright and shiny red, and because this is a 1962, it’s a full-bodied red, as Corvettes no longer offered two-tone body-cove options that final year. A black soft top, likely a replacement, tucks away out of sight, and while there is also a body-matched hardtop, the seller reports that it is missing the mounting hardware.
Corvette’s iconic quad headlights sit above polished chrome bumperettes, which hook into the wide oval grille like a fish’s mouth. The crossed checkered flags that make up the Corvette roundel sit above, just over the lettering that spells out the name. The coves are still present, just not chromatically highlighted, and sit behind front fender vents. Two pairs of taillights sit over the rear chrome bumperettes, under which two exhaust pipes poke out ever so slightly. Rubber meets the road with 15″ five-spoke American Racing Torq Thrust wheels that were shod in 215/70 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires this autumn.
Red outside, red inside
Continuing the color theming are a pair of bucket seats done in red vinyl, with matching door paneling, a metal dash, carpeting that extends over the center console, and a white-knob floor shifter. Even the tonneau cover is body-matching red. There are plenty of bright silver accents to prevent a fully monochrome disaster, but it is about as red a Corvette as one can find.
A rearview mirror has been mounted on the dashboard and sits in the center between the alcove on the passenger’s side and the gauges on the driver’s side. Manual window cranks are also polished silver, matching the windshield columns. A heater is included, but no air conditioning; there are also lap belts, a centrally mounted analogue clock, and an aftermarket stereo with cassette integration. A tri-spoke wheel is clad in red, unsurprisingly, with circular punch-outs on the spokes. Behind the wheel sits an oversized swept speedometer that swings from 0-160 mph, as well as a tachometer that redlines at 5,300 rpm. Auxiliary gauges for coolant, amperage, oil, and fuel are also present.
A C3 heart in a C1 body
The original engine in this C1 is lost to time, but fear not! A replacement C3 engine has been installed as part of the previously mentioned refurbishment. Flaunting a 350ci (5.7L) V8 whose CKD suffix matches the coding for 1970s Corvette C3 engines, this C1 has had quite the glow-up compared to its siblings, especially with upgraded dual four-barrel carburetors, an Edelbrock intake manifold, and a Griffin aluminum radiator.
The seller reports that the exhaust system was repaired last year, and that a new battery, tires, tie rods, tachometer cable, and switches for the headlights, heater, and blower fan were installed in preparation for sale. All of that power is pushed through the rear wheels by way of a four-speed manual transmission. Braking is handled at all four corners by drum brakes, and while the true mileage is unknown, the odometer currently reads 9,000 miles.
Final thoughts: All in all a neat find with some fun upgrades
With a fully redone paint-scheme, completely re-trimmed interior, and a new engine that incorporates more advanced performance parts than any available in her heyday, this C1 blends performance and classic styling in a way that few of its siblings do. There are a couple of rough-around-the-edges fixes, like a bit of paint chipping in the undercarriage and a hard top missing hardware, but all in all, she’s still a C1 and has some extra little goodies to improve performance. It’s definitely worth checking out the full listing here, if you’re interested in placing a bid.
