CORVETTE IN THE ‘50s

ENGINE 3849cc/6-cyl/OHV POWER 155bhp@4200rpm TORQUE 223lb ft@2400rpm MAX SPEED 107mph 0-60MPH 11.0sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 11-17mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, two-speed automatic ENGINE OIL Castrol Classic XL30 5.5 litres GEARBOX OIL Castrol Classic TQF 4.7 litres

It’s easy to assume that this all-American sports car had V8 power from the beginning, but not so – Paul Allen’s Polo White 1954 Corvette makes do with a 3.8-litre ‘six’. It’s an incredibly handsome machine, with its wide grille, panoramic windscreen and dramatic rear styling – those twin tailpipes sprout, not from underneath the car’s glassfibre shell, but through it. There’s a slippery, almost fluid quality to the shape that makes the split front and rear bumpers look as though they’ve sunk into the bodywork.

It’s just as impressive inside. The myriad knobs and gauges make it impossible to resist the ‘jukebox’ cliché when describing the dashboard. The steering wheel is huge, with a recessed arm rest area inside the door and just two pedals underneath to contend with. It all feels like its geared for comfort, which was a problem for many period buyers.

Under all the extravagant jet age styling is GM’s Blue Flame engine, fed by triple sidedraught carburettors. Don’t let the large displacement and evocative name fool you, though – simply put, it lacks the performance to meet the expectations suggested by its strikingly aerodynamic body – especially so when all six-cylinder Corvettes were fitted with Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission.

Driving Paul’s car, it’s immediately clear that is a Boulevard tourer. Selecting Drive and releasing the brake, first gear is purely for moving off from standstill. A large amount of throttle is required before there’s any kind of take-up, but the ‘box changes up to second – and stays there – almost as soon as you are rolling.

There’s a serene quality to how this car delivers what power it does have, but acceleration isn’t particularly strong. Unsurprisingly, the 11-inch hydraulic brake drums aren’t the strongest, either. And yet, you can’t help but smile at how infectiously relaxed this car is to drive.

The floaty ride differs greatly from the Corvettes that followed and suits its driving manners perfectly. A lofty ride height and crossply tyres ensure that the Corvette follows every camber in the road, so there’s plenty of corrections required at the wheel. But even this doesn’t interrupt the feeling of utter relaxation.

Today, these early Corvettes are rightly considered to be collector’s items. Aside from being incredibly rare ( just 300 examples were built in 1953 and 3460 the following year) they lack the sort of usability that characterise later iterations. But in spite of its power deficiencies, it feels special in a way few other cars – never mind sports cars – do.