of the Carolinas
C-1 Street by Mark Curtis
A LOOK BACK INTO THE PAST: DID THEY KNOW WHAT THEY HAD BUILT?
Here is a picture of the first production Chevrolet Corvette to roll off the assembly line on June 30, 1953. To the left you can see serial number 002 behind it. Did these gentlemen know what legend they had just created? Probably not, but I am sure many of them did later in life and I know everyone would love to hear the stories they could tell. Judging by the age of a few of them I would be willing to bet some had a hand in the production of my two 1959's when they were built. In 2003 there was a 50th anniversary display of these cars at the plant and ten of these workers were there in person to be reconized and to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Great Amercan Sports Car....The Chevrolet Corvette.
CORVETTE...It's not a PASSION...It's an OBSESSION!!!!!
New restoration update below
Restoration Lane:
The following is information that will be updated as the restoration of my fully documented 1959 Frost Blue Corvette comes along. There will be pictures and information added as time goes by. This should be a neat feature for anyone wanting to follow the restoration of a classic as it comes out of a barn and back to NCRS show condition. You will be able to follow along and see how the process is done.
Here is a brief history of the car. The car was built on Monday July, 13 1959 and purchased in Michigan by a professor at Michigan State. He kept all documents pertaining to the car and it was never wrecked, modified or damaged in any way. I have the build/order sheet, dealer invoice, cancelled checks for the deposit and full payment, hand signed letter of appreciation by Ed Cole, among other items including pictures of him and the car. He dated his wife in it and they went on their honeymoon and it was driven until stored in a barn in 1972 when he purchased a station wagon for the family. The car was ordered with a 283/230 engine, positive traction, 3-speed transmission, sunshades, wonderbar radio, both tops and is solid Frost Blue with blue interior. The convertible top was white. You will be able to see in the photo album below how the restoration is coming along. If all goes well the car should be ready to take to Bloomington in 2009 and the original owner is interested in coming to see it there since it would not be that far for him to travel. It would be something special to have a picture of him taken with the car 50 years after he purchased it and for him to see the car restored back to it's original glory and beauty.
Thanks again and please enjoy.
Mark Curtis
UPDATE:
Well the work is progressing steadily and the car is almost ready to leave the garage and take a short 35 mile ride to Hickory, N.C. for painting. Some of the chrome is back, so the door posts have been reinstalled along with the side glass runners, fuel tank, wiring harness clips and many other bolts, brackets and braces that have been glass beaded, primed and reinstalled. Many other parts are off to the cadmium plating shop and the radiator and heater core are finished and ready to go. To our disbelief the top and bottom radiator tanks did not have a single dent in them. This is amazing for a car that is almost 50 years old and tanks that were made of brass. The engine block has been reassembled and will be painted and set in the frame once it is finished. There are a few new pictures posted and there will be more as time goes by . Thanks for following along and enjoy. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at SunsetC6@bellsouth.net and I will be happy to help in anyway possible.
Sincerely, Mark Curtis
