1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1 £74,995
A sweet driver with a deep history file and a pleasingly original spec make this C1 and good one, says Dale Vinten
This 1958 C1 is fitted with a 4.6-litre, fuel-injected V8 and four-speed manual gearbox. The paint finish is excellent with no orange peel or rippling. There are no stone chips, scratches or swirling and there is no sign of rust anywhere on the chassis, which remains clean in a coat of smooth black paint.
We couldn’t find any evidence of damage or repairs to the chassis or bodywork. Everything lines up straight and the panel gaps and shut lines on the doors, bonnet and boot are even. The myriad chrome pieces attached to the car are in fantastic overall condition and polish up well – there are no dents, scratches or pitting. The car is fitted with the correct period wheels and Chevrolet hub caps and all four corners have avoided scuffs and kerbs. Tyres are Millennium EXP 70s and all have good tread and uniform wear with the white walls complementing the body.
The matching red interior is equally well presented and well assembled. The seats, carpets and door cards are not overly worn and the dash is not faded, peeling or otherwise damaged. For the most part the switchgear works as intended, however there is a problem with the steering column mounted indicator arrangement. The mechanism itself appears functional but the structure of the unit where it fits to the steering wheel has become compromised and is no longer attached, so none of the indicators work. The tachometer is also non-functional but all of the other gauges behave, including the speedometer.
The engine bay is clean and tidy, typified by the polished chrome air cleaner that sits on the cylinder heads and there are no visible aftermarket modifications. The red-painted rocker covers are starting to show some minor signs of age but there are no leaks or any build up of grime and the motor looks to be healthy, starting first time and settling quickly to a strong idle. The HT leads, radiator hoses and other ancillaries are in good shape and there are no visible cracks on the exhaust manifolds.
Out on the road the car drives exactly as it should. Steering is precise and direct and the handling is positive and predictable. The brakes do an adequate job of stopping the car and they do so in a straight line with no judder or squeal. Changing gear is an absolute joy because of its satisfyingly positive action – there’s no need for delicacy here and it feels like you’re in control. Power delivery from the V8 is raw but consistent; the temperature gauge sits at a steady 200°F and the oil pressure needle hovers around the 40psi mark under load, dropping to 30psi at idle.
The car comes with a large folder of receipts, mainly from Corvette specialists in the US before it was imported in 1991 but also from garages here in the UK. The cooling system was overhauled in 2015, as was the gearbox in 2013.
With less than 73,000 miles and only a few interior niggles to address, this Corvette makes all the right noises. With a strong, healthy motor and a body in top condition it’s an appealing example.