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1954 Corvette

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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 06:39 PM
  #1  
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Default 1954 Corvette

I have owned this car since February 1999.
Has anyone on this Forum ever seen it before?
Does anyone on this Forum know with 100% certainty who built it?
Thanks for looking.



Mike
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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 07:33 PM
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First off, to answer your question - No, I have no idea for certain who built it . . . but the outside door handles and the removeable hardtop - neither of which were offered from the factory for 1954 - make it resemble the 1954 GM Motorama show car. That car does still exist, although last I heard it was in Canada. How about a VIN #?
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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 07:51 PM
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It is interesting
The 56 hardtop and 56/57 doors are doable if you know what your doing.
57 front emblem
Smooth trunk lid
57 Front bumpers
Someone spent alot of time

I dont know who built it
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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 10:42 PM
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How about a picture of the inside of the trunk. Is it a smoothed 53-55 or a 56+?
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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 10:44 PM
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What's under the hood?
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Old Sep 23, 2020 | 11:16 PM
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I’m not sure who built it, but damn it looks pretty cool. I would polish it up, fix what needed fixing and drive it.
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 08:40 AM
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Default GREEN 1954 Corvette

Originally Posted by fyreline
First off, to answer your question - No, I have no idea for certain who built it . . . but the outside door handles and the removeable hardtop - neither of which were offered from the factory for 1954 - make it resemble the 1954 GM Motorama show car. That car does still exist, although last I heard it was in Canada. How about a VIN #?
I saw this '54 at Carlisle back in the '90's (can't remember when), and I believe it previously came from the Toronto Ontario area.
Quite the unique Vette.... I would clean it up, and DRIVE it... Enjoy it Now....
Sam
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 08:52 AM
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What town or city did it come from? Find if they have a group on Facebook and join that group-post pics of the car n start asking. U will have to keep posting every few months for best results.
Good luck it worked for me.
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 12:10 PM
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I like it. Let's see more pics in and out!
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 01:04 PM
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I also remember seeing the car at Carlisle. It attracted a lot of attention.
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Sam Kalmuk
I saw this '54 at Carlisle back in the '90's (can't remember when), and I believe it previously came from the Toronto Ontario area.
Quite the unique Vette.... I would clean it up, and DRIVE it... Enjoy it Now....
Sam
This! Don't change a thing other than the minimal amount necessary to make it reliable and safe to drive! That car deserves to be preserved exactly as it is.
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 03:49 PM
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Its the OP's vette and he is doing exactly what he wants with it.
Probably in someone elses hands it would be taken care of and
enjoyed.
To each his own.
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Old Sep 24, 2020 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Sam Kalmuk
I saw this '54 at Carlisle back in the '90's (can't remember when), and I believe it previously came from the Toronto Ontario area.
Quite the unique Vette.... I would clean it up, and DRIVE it... Enjoy it Now....
Sam
Originally Posted by 1963GrayGray
I also remember seeing the car at Carlisle. It attracted a lot of attention.
I also recall seeing that car on several occasions at Corvettes At Carlisle, and possible Spring/Fall Carlisle back in the 90's. I used to go to those events religiously when I lived in Maryland. Had vendor spaces at Corvettes At Carlisle for years. I too remember it being from Canada, and I also remember it being touted as a "Motorama Car".

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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 12:14 PM
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I have the same memories as Chuck.
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by mgsabrsula
I have owned this car since February 1999.
Has anyone on this Forum ever seen it before?
Does anyone on this Forum know with 100% certainty who built it?
Thanks for looking.



Mike
Just curious, why did you let the car sit for 0ver 50 years?
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 05:12 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by fyreline
First off, to answer your question - No, I have no idea for certain who built it . . . but the outside door handles and the removeable hardtop - neither of which were offered from the factory for 1954 - make it resemble the 1954 GM Motorama show car. That car does still exist, although last I heard it was in Canada. How about a VIN #?
The car everyone has seen does still exist in Canada. I know where it is located.

The VIN for my '54 is E54S004042

Originally Posted by csherman
It is interesting
The 56 hardtop and 56/57 doors are doable if you know what your doing.
57 front emblem
Smooth trunk lid
57 Front bumpers
Someone spent alot of time

I dont know who built it
Chris,
The doors door have '53-'55 outer skins but the inner structures are not any varity of C1 door. They are most like the '56-'57 door but are definately not an exact match.
The front emblem has been verified as a GM prototype emblem. It is more similar to a '58 front emblem but the background is not painted. GM decided the emblem did not look good on top of all colors.
The GM engineer that verified it for me knew that many production issues would follow if the backse were painted the color of the car. The decision was made to paint the back a common color.
The rear deck lid has been filled and smoothed.
The front bumpers almost match a '57 front bunper when one is laid on top of the ones on the '54.

Originally Posted by njfl
How about a picture of the inside of the trunk. Is it a smoothed 53-55 or a 56+?
The trunk has been filled and smoothed.

Originally Posted by njfl
What's under the hood?
The car has a 265 V8 engine with a block cast on September 12, 1954.

Originally Posted by bluestreak63
I’m not sure who built it, but damn it looks pretty cool. I would polish it up, fix what needed fixing and drive it.
THANKS! That could be the plan.

Originally Posted by Sam Kalmuk
I saw this '54 at Carlisle back in the '90's (can't remember when), and I believe it previously came from the Toronto Ontario area.
Quite the unique Vette.... I would clean it up, and DRIVE it... Enjoy it Now....
Sam
Originally Posted by morly1963
What town or city did it come from? Find if they have a group on Facebook and join that group-post pics of the car n start asking. U will have to keep posting every few months for best results.
Good luck it worked for me.
I have a signed statement that the car was in Toronto, Ontario in 1956 or 1957.

Originally Posted by 1963GrayGray
I also remember seeing the car at Carlisle. It attracted a lot of attention.
Originally Posted by jim lockwood
This! Don't change a thing other than the minimal amount necessary to make it reliable and safe to drive! That car deserves to be preserved exactly as it is.
That is exactly my plan.

Originally Posted by road pilot
Its the OP's vette and he is doing exactly what he wants with it.
Probably in someone elses hands it would be taken care of and
enjoyed.
To each his own.
????? The car lives in an 3200 sq, ft, air conditioned, humidity controled shop behind my home. ?????

Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
I also recall seeing that car on several occasions at Corvettes At Carlisle, and possible Spring/Fall Carlisle back in the 90's. I used to go to those events religiously when I lived in Maryland. Had vendor spaces at Corvettes At Carlisle for years. I too remember it being from Canada, and I also remember it being touted as a "Motorama Car".
Originally Posted by Rumblegutz
I have the same memories as Chuck.
Sam, 1963GrayGray, Chuck, and Rumblegutz,
If you have any photos of the car from the past or any more information you can share with me I would appreciate it.
Thanks to everone for your comments.
Keep them up.
Mike
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 05:15 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by gowenfast
Just curious, why did you let the car sit for 0ver 50 years?
I have only owned it since Feb. 1999.
I had to earn a living along the way. I'm retired now and starting on it again.
Thanks,
Mike
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mgsabrsula
I have only owned it since Feb. 1999.
I had to earn a living along the way. I'm retired now and starting on it again.
Thanks,
Mike
Oops, I read since '69...Don't know what was on my mind...I bought my 'Harvest Gold 55 in early 2001.
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 05:36 PM
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It would be nice to see pictures of some of the odd features of the car.... the interior of the door skins, emblems, almost '57 front bumpers and anything else which is just slightly off.

The wheel covers have center caps which appear similar to the Nader caps released in about 1967. Maybe some pictures of those, too.

What a neat car!
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Old Sep 25, 2020 | 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by jim lockwood
It would be nice to see pictures of some of the odd features of the car.... the interior of the door skins, emblems, almost '57 front bumpers and anything else which is just slightly off.

The wheel covers have center caps which appear similar to the Nader caps released in about 1967. Maybe some pictures of those, too.

What a neat car!
The center caps are definately not the Nader re-issues. The backs of these caps are not like the backs of the Nader caps and the Nader caps are much taller.
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