1953 CORVETTE
Each 1953 Corvette was virtually hand-built and a lot of minor changes were made during the production run.
The new 1953 Corvette had
- a fiberglass body
- chrome-framed grille with 13 heavy vertical chrome bars
- rounded front fenders with recessed headlights with wire screen covers
- no side windows or outside door handles
- a wraparound windshield
- protruding, fender-integrated taillights.
The interior featured
- a floor-mounted shifter for the Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission
- oil pressure gauge
- battery gauge
- water temperature gauge
- fuel gauge
- tachometer
- clock
All of the first-year cars were Polo White with Sportsman Red interiors.
All had black canvas convertible tops which manually folded into a storage space behind the seats.
Other 1953-only features included
- special valve covers
- a one-piece carburetor linkage
- a small trunk mat
Short exhaust extensions were used on all '53s (and early '54s) because they were prone to drawing exhaust fumes into the car through the vent windows.
A black oilcloth window storage bag was provided to protect the 1953 Corvette's removable plastic side windows when stowed in the trunk.
V.I.N. NUMBERS
- Corvette used the standard 10 symbol Chevrolet Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) coding system.
- The I.D. tag was located on the left-hand front door hinge pillar.
- E = Corvette model
- 53 = 1953
- F = Flint, Michigan assembly plant
- the last six numbers were the sequential production number
- They numbered from E53F001001 to E53F001300.
- The engine number was found on the right-hand side of the crankcase behind the distributor.
- The engine numbers for 1953 used the prefix "LAY".
- Since the Corvette bodies were virtually handmade, they did not carry standard Fisher Body Style Numbers as did other GM cars.
- The Corvette model number consisted of the four digits 2934, which also served as the body style number for the early production years.
IDENTIFICATION
| Series No. | Body/Style No. | Body Type | Factory Price | Shipping Weight | Production Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2934 | 2934 |
2-dr. Roadster |
$2774 | 2705 lb | 300 |
ENGINE
| Engine type | six-cylinder, inline, overhead valve unit |
|---|---|
| Block | cast iron block. |
| Displacement | 235.5 cid (3.9 liters) |
| Bore & Stroke | 3.56 in. (90mm) x 3.93 in. (100mm) |
| Compression | 8.0:1. |
| Power | 150 brake hp @ 4200 rpm. |
| Ignition | single breaker point. |
| Carburetor | Three Carter Type YH one-barrel Model 2066S on the early models and Model 2055S on later models. |
CHASSIS
| Wheelbase | 102 inches (2.591 m) |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 167 inches (4.242 m) |
| Front tread | 57 inches (1.448 m) |
| Rear tread | 58.8 inches (1.494 m) |
| Wheels | steel disk |
| Tires | 6.70x15 |
| Front suspension | coil springs with tubular shock absorbers and stabilizer bar |
| Rear suspension | Leaf springs, tube shocks and solid rear axle |
| Brakes | Drum on all four wheels |
| Axle ratio | 3.55:1 |
OPTIONS
- Signal-seeking AM radio ($145.15)
- Heater ($91.40)
- White sidewall tires
