This Custom 1954 Corvette is Ready for the Spotlight at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

It may go against the purist tradition, but we’ve always felt that the ’53-’55 Corvettes look so much sportier without the factory hubcaps.

Case in point: this 1954 custom convertible that will go on the block at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale later this week.

Being offered at no reserve, the sellers created the car as a tribute to the GM Concept Corvette displayed as one of the “Dream Cars” in the 1954 GM Motorama.

We love, love, love the Soul Red paint that contrasts nicely with the Deep Earth leather interior, and those Billet Specialties wheels are definitely the finishing touch.

Like many Corvette enthusiasts, we’ve never had the honor of driving a Corvette from the first couple of years of that first generation, but from what we’ve read, it’s not nearly as satisfying behind the wheel as the cars that have followed.

That’s why we appreciate the vision of the guys who produced this Corvette known as “Transitions,” meant to combine the stylish looks of the 1954 Motorama prototype with modern-day technology, handling, and performance. “Ow, what a winning hand,” as the Commodores might put it!

One look at this beautiful machine, and you can see why it took six years to build this car, which was finally unveiled at the 2017 Detroit Autorama.

Can you imagine driving a ’54 with a custom Edelbrock supercharged 5.7-liter V8 LS1 engine hooked to a 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission? What a drastic improvement over the standard Blue Flame motor, huh?

The car also has been heavily modified in other ways, with a Jamison tubular chassis, C4 suspension, front and rear custom anti-sway bars, high performance Baer 14-inch 6-piston disc brakes, custom emblems and a custom LS engine cover.

Inside, you’ll see Classic Instruments gauges, chrome by Advanced Plating, Vintage Air, and NuRelics power windows – much better than those old plastic side curtains that came from the factory, huh?

We love the new look of the body, which was tapered and widened and now has extended rear wheel wells and a modified cowl to accept a 1956 windshield, along with a modified rear hatch to accept a 1956 removable top to stop pesky leaks (not that this car will ever see rain!). In addition, the cowl vent and gas lid have been eliminated.

Meanwhile, the car is much safer today with a hidden steel structure that was fabricated to surround the passenger compartment. The list of improvements goes on and on, with all fuel and brake lines hidden, custom CNC machined fender trim modeled after the original 1953 Corvette prototype, custom hood scoop, doors split and widened to accommodate the power roll-up windows, remote control door latches, and polished aluminum and stainless, custom CNC machine work at Lokar.

Can you imagine the uproar this version of the second-year Corvette would have caused at the 1954 Motorama?

Source:
Barrett-Jackson

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