The 11th Ever: A Special Corvette C1

The Build Begins

Corvettes represent America as well as a girl in a bikini eating a hamburger on the hood of a car. Is it necessary? Not even slightly. But dammit, do we love it. Particularly when that girl is one of only 3,467 ever made.

Pete LeClair's Masterpiece

Pete LeClair has a remarkable 1956 Corvette that has been restored to near perfection. When he first met this Arctic Blue beauty, she was in a state of disarray. LeClair explains, “the first time I saw this car it was in a thousand pieces. The color caught me right away and I had to have it.” The paint was in good enough shape that he did not have to even have to repaint outside of a few minor touch-ups that Newstalgia Custom Paint & Design of Fort Collins, Colorado handled with ease.

Indeed the paint is part of what makes this car so special. In 1956, only 390 Corvette’s rolled off the assembly line. This particular example also has the Metallic Silver coves, which reduces the production numbers to a mere 172 examples produced. A rarity indeed. 

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A True Winner

This ‘Vette isn’t your neighbor's side project that has been slapped together with zip ties and JB Weld. This is a world class competitor. Every nook and cranny has been passed over with a fine tooth comb, down to the windshield washer motors. It has seen judgment by the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) twice and has passed with a nearly perfect score of 99 percent. Next up, LeClair will bring his prize to the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award in Las Vegas, competing for the 2018 cycle. 

>>Join the conversation about this 11th C1 right here in Corvette Forum.

A Racing History

The rarity is not the only interesting part of this car. In the late 50’s, motor racing was taking off. With the post-war boom and time and money to spare, the “greatest generation” took to the track in their leisure. GM was investing a great deal of time, money, and resources into being the top dog in this increasingly popular, and lucrative sport. Fast cars brought wins... and wins sold cars. It was an all-out campaign to be the best and the fastest. Racing was huge, and despite major accidents causing countless deaths, it was still a priority of the manufactures. 

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Sebring Prepped

For GM, the Corvette took precedence. Chassis No. 011 was rumored to be prepped for Sebring, a prestigious race in Florida that had a significant amount of media coverage. There were hints of racing pedigree found on the ‘56 while restoring it, including holes drilled for fender scoops that are synonymous with the brake cooling ducts used by Corvette racing teams. Though with no documented proof or paperwork, it is difficult to prove such rumors, hence why when faced with the final decision, LeClair chose to restore the car to factory condition, rather than the Sebring prepped race car it may have been.

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Under the Hood

In 1956, Chevrolet, faced by Ford’s monstrously popular Thunderbird, upped the Corvette engine to the RPO 469, producing 225 horsepower. GM also offered a “for racing purposes only”, RPO 449. This powerplant came fitted with high lift cams, upping power to 240 horses. The latter is what LeClair’s Corvette is boasting. Adding to the possible race history.

>>Join the conversation about this 11th C1 right here in Corvette Forum.

A Lasting Legend

With all the madness that the internet can bring; turning Corvette’s into rally cars and endless rumors of the mid-engine Corvette. It brings joy to the heart to see a car restored back to its original decorum, and done in such a meticulous fashion.

>>Join the conversation about this 11th C1 right here in Corvette Forum.

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