1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
Add to SetSummary
Corvettes became the iconic American sports car -- but not right away. Sports cars are automobiles reduced to their essence -- a motor, two seats, a simple body, and a powerful emotional appeal. The first Corvettes, with six-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions, promised more than they delivered. But when a 195-horsepower V-8 arrived in 1955, the Corvette's go finally matched its show.
Corvettes became the iconic American sports car -- but not right away. Sports cars are automobiles reduced to their essence -- a motor, two seats, a simple body, and a powerful emotional appeal. The first Corvettes, with six-cylinder engines and automatic transmissions, promised more than they delivered. But when a 195-horsepower V-8 arrived in 1955, the Corvette's go finally matched its show.
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1955
Creators
General Motors Corporation. Chevrolet Motor Division
Place of Creation
United States, Missouri, Saint Louis
Creator Notes
Produced by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors in Saint Louis, Missouri; engineered by Zora Arkus-Duntov.
On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America
Object ID
72.108.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Nils L. Muench.
Material
Metal
Fiberglass
Chromium
Glass (Material)
Cloth
Rubber (Material)
Color
Yellow (Color)
Greenish yellow
Green
Dimensions
Height: 48 in
Width: 72 in
Length: 167 in
Inscriptions
Sides: Chevrolet Front: CHEVROLET / Corvette On hubcaps: Chevrolet logo
Specifications
Make & Model: 1955 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
Maker: General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Michigan
Engine: V-8, overhead valves, 265 cubic inches
Transmission: 2-speed automatic
Height: 48 inches
Wheelbase: 102 inches
Width: 72 inches
Overall length: 167 inches
Weight: 2705 pounds
Horsepower: 195 at 5000 revolutions per minute
Pounds per horsepower: 13.9
Price: $2,934
Average 1955 wage: $4,128 per year
Time you'd work to buy this car: about 8-1/2 months
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
