Rare Gypsy Red 1955 Corvette Is an Award Winning Beauty
One of just 700 produced, this 1955 Corvette has all the right qualities that ensure we won’t forget about it again.
It’s hard to imagine now, but in the Corvette’s early days, it didn’t exactly get off to a great start. In its first couple of years, many believed that the sports car wouldn’t make it, mostly due to disappointing sales. The 1955 Corvette rectified one big problem with the model by introducing optional V8 power, but GM wound up selling just 700 units after forecasting sales of 10,000, making it a rather rare sight today. This restored Gypsy Red 1955 Corvette up for grabs at Bring a Trailer is one of those 700, and it’s a mighty fine example to boot.
This C1 was treated to a comprehensive refurbishment some time ago but looks no worse for wear today. At that time, the body panels were removed from the car and everything was repainted. Gypsy Red was one of the more popular colors for the 1955 model year, and it’s easy to see why. Throw in a full complement of shiny chrome, and this classic Corvette demonstrates why these cars are so timeless, and why this car scored an NCRS Top Flight award back in 2007.
The tan soft top provides a nice bit of contrast to the red exterior and beige interior, which was completely refreshed during the car’s restoration as well. Peek at the odometer, and you’ll see 14k miles showing, though it’s unclear how many the car has actually traveled. Pop the hood, and you’ll see that it’s packing the right engine, anyway – GM’s 265 cubic-inch V8, which was originally rated to produce 195 horsepower and is mated to a three-speed manual transmission.
Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of 1955 Corvette buyers opted for the V8, and Gypsy Red was the second most popular exterior color choice behind only Polo White. That makes this particular car a bit more common than the average Corvette of this vintage, but no matter how you slice it, it’s still a rare gem from a disastrous year that almost killed the model off completely. Luckily, that didn’t happen, and the overhauled 1956 Corvette helped right the proverbial ship. Regardless, today, people aren’t making the same mistake by ignoring these rare gems any longer.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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