When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
my dad had both a 59 and a 60 corvette that he purchase brand new.
Mom says they were both Red, but doesn’t know what other differences, and can’t remember why he traded in one for the other…
The first appears to be a 59 by the grill (Mom knows it wasn’t a 58 with the washboard hood and rear trunk chrome)…
the second looks like a 60, and I have an owners manual for the 60, as well as a “Corvette Owners” card with the VIN and Dads name.
not sure where the 57 manual came from…
is the cove paint correct on the 60? Because I have only seen all or nothing, but dad’s has a white cove on the door, but red on the fender forward portion…
Externally, the 59-60 are completely the same.
The differences are extremely minimal. As mentioned, the 60 had added, painted rectangles above/below the Corvette in the grab bar area. Seat patterns were different.
The most significant difference/upgrade for 60, was UNnoticeable and quite subtle. There were suspension upgrades to the 60 which carried over to the 62 models. Mainly, the upgrades were a larger front sway bar and an added rear sway bar. Otherwise, visually, for those who are not familiar with these minimal differences (and a few misc others), it is nearly impossible to spot a 59 from a 60.
Actually, there is one subtle external visual difference between the 59 and the 60 models. ALL 59 wheels are painted black regardless of body color. 1960 wheels are painted body color. Ergo, unless you have a black 60, it is possible to spot the difference between a 59 and 60.
Bob
59 245 hp, Snowcrest White; red interior & Black wheels
waving in San Diego
59 and 60 grills were the same. Stitching in seat pattern went the opposite direction. And there was a red white and blue symbol (small) in the grab bar hole cove on a 60. After December 1959 (60 model) vin tag moved to the steering column and the Vin stamped on the engine pad, other than that they’re the same. No visible exterior differences
Externally, the 59-60 are completely the same.
The differences are extremely minimal. As mentioned, the 60 had added, painted rectangles above/below the Corvette in the grab bar area. Seat patterns were different.
The most significant difference/upgrade for 60, was UNnoticeable and quite subtle. There were suspension upgrades to the 60 which carried over to the 62 models. Mainly, the upgrades were a larger front sway bar and an added rear sway bar. Otherwise, visually, for those who are not familiar with these minimal differences (and a few misc others), it is nearly impossible to spot a 59 from a 60.
Though I am certainly NOT an expert on the 1960 (nor any other model year) Corvette, it is my considered opinion that all painted cove area from the factory on the '60 model would have included the forward area. Certainly many coves were painted after leaving the factory, including at the dealers, so different patterns will be seen. However, from the "factory" (St. Louis) the cove area, when optioned as contrasting color, should be all inclusive to the wheel well.
The entire cove was either body color or if owner ordered painted cove, the entire cove was painted one color.
The VIN tag moved to the steering column in early Dec. 1959. My 1960 is VIN 1651, built first to second week in Dec 1959, and tag is spot welded to steering column.
Externally, the 59-60 are completely the same.
The differences are extremely minimal. As mentioned, the 60 had added, painted rectangles above/below the Corvette in the grab bar area. Seat patterns were different.
The most significant difference/upgrade for 60, was UNnoticeable and quite subtle. There were suspension upgrades to the 60 which carried over to the 62 models. Mainly, the upgrades were a larger front sway bar and an added rear sway bar. Otherwise, visually, for those who are not familiar with these minimal differences (and a few misc others), it is nearly impossible to spot a 59 from a 60.
Actually, there is one subtle external visual difference between the 59 and the 60 models. ALL 59 wheels are painted black regardless of body color. 1960 wheels are painted body color. Ergo, unless you have a black 60, it is possible to spot the difference between a 59 and 60.
Bob
59 245 hp, Snowcrest White; red interior & Black wheels
waving in San Diego
Thanks everyone…. All I have are these two pictures.
it’s possible my dad did some mods (looks like the grill teeth are missing on the 60).
I know in later years he did some subtle paint mods on some other cars, so perhaps he painted the coves.
During this period, he only kept the cars for a year, trading in for the next hot model. He also usually bought the most powerful, carbureted cars…
Mom was dating him, and he taught her to drive on the 59 (4-speed), but she doesn’t recall why he traded the 59 for the 60.
was teaching his sister to drive on the 60, and she almost crashed into the hedge in the driveway…. My aunt found that picture of the 60 a few months ago
The gauge needles are a different shape and the 60's had traction bars on the rear suspension. I'm not an originality expert, but I had a '59 ex FI 290hp car and a good friend a'60 FI (which he still has after some 50 years). We were schooled by a late friend who was ahead of his time as far as originality, options, etc., so we were "into" odd details and such way back when.
The gauge needles are a different shape and the 60's had traction bars on the rear suspension. I'm not an originality expert, but I had a '59 ex FI 290hp car and a good friend a'60 FI (which he still has after some 50 years). We were schooled by a late friend who was ahead of his time as far as originality, options, etc., so we were "into" odd details and such way back when.
The gauges are the same part number, do you have any pictures of the differences you mentioned?
'59 and earlier gauge needles constant width with a rounded tip while '60 and later needles are tapered, almost to a point.
That must be another of those little changes they made during the production of the 60 (like the vin tag placement). I have a very early 60 (#202) and its original gauges have the more rounded tip like your picture shows in the 59.
That must be another of those little changes they made during the production of the 60 (like the vin tag placement). I have a very early 60 (#202) and its original gauges have the more rounded tip like your picture shows in the 59.
Well, that's new news! I didn't know that was a running change. I thought it was a MY change.
My April '60 car has the tapered gauge needles.
Thanks!
Edit: Given that yours is an early '60, I totally believe that your gauges are original to the car. However, it's interesting to note that the most recent NCRS judging manual shows no awareness of '59 gauges being carried over into early '60 production.
Last edited by jim lockwood; Oct 19, 2022 at 11:59 AM.
The front and rear CHEVROLET CORVETTE large, circular emblems...
I believe the lettering is Gold for '60, and Silver in '59.
Also heard somewhere over the years that the Silver lettered discs were used as '60 dealer parts after an accident, I've seen a few mis-matched cars over time leading me to believe it was replaced due to an accident, and prior to reproductions being available.
Thoughts?
Love my 60
Original rear emblem on my '61 was gold lettered from the factory. I believe '58/60 's were gold originally also. Someone will correct me if i'm wrong. After many years the gold fades badly and I chose to replace it somewhere around mid seventies. Got the part from the local Chevy dealer stock and the lettering was silver. That was all that was available at the time from the General. Sometime later the reproduction of the emblem became available (I forget when) and the gold lettering became available again. I thought the silver looked better on my white car so I left it.
Wib, your understanding matches my own regarding the gold vs silver matter. It's a can't win situation, though. The repop emblems with the correct gold tint have rounded lettering features while the incorrect, silver GM emblems from the '70s retain crisp, sharp lettering like found on original emblems Pick your poison.
I chose the gold repops for my '60.
Edit: I should probably qualify my comments: What I said about the repop emblems was true when I was in the hunt for some. That was 30+ years ago. Current repops might be better. I haven't seen any. I don't know.
C1 differences
