Though the dash and steering...
Though the dash and steering wheel carried over from Corvette's first year, 1954 brought the first choice of interior colors: Beige (as seen on Steve's Vette) or red.
Maybe some of the earlier Corvettes that Steve has owned might be race winners, at least in the Stoplight Grand Prix. "When I was younger, I had a '93 and a '96 Corvette," he says. "This is one of the older Corvettes that are more of my Dad's favorites." Right now, Steve is looking for another of his dad's favorite Corvettes, but-like the restoration of this one - it won't be too quick "I've been in the process of looking for some other first-generation Corvettes," he says.
Whether you're looking for a Corvette to restore, or for one that's ready for weekend cruising, Steve says there are some things that you need to keep in mind. "It seems like a lot of work when you're working on it, and it takes a long time, but when it's done it's sure enjoyable. It's worth the wait to put in the time to have it restored to that level (Top Flight). "It's really enjoyable, and something to share. When my dad comes down, we drive it all the time when he's in town. You can't put a price tag on that."
Data File: '54 Chevrolet Corvette
Owned by: Steve Howard, Scottsdale, Arizona
Body
Original production '54 Corvette
Bodywork: Corvette Restoration AZ, Tempe, Arizona
Paint: DuPont Pennant Blue acrylic lacquer; paint preparation and applied by Corvette Restoration AZ, Tempe, Arizona
Chassis
Frame: Restored production 1954 Chevrolet (Shared with steel-bodied Chevys for the last time in '54)
Suspension: (Front) Upper/lower A-arms with coil springs, anti-roll bar and hydraulic shock absorbers (Rear) Semi-elliptic leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers
Steering: OEM GM-Saginaw, non-power-assisted (shared with "regular" '54 Chevys)
Brakes: OEM GM-Delco Moraine 11-inch drum-and-shoe brakes all around
Wheels: OEM 15-inch stamped steel wheels with OEM chrome full wheel covers
Tires: Reproduction 6.70-15 wide whitewall bias-plies all around
Corvette Restoration AZ in...
Corvette Restoration AZ in Tempe turned this hidden gem from the Pacific Northwest into the jewel you see here.
Chevrolet overhead valve "Blue Flame" six-cylinder
Originally built by: Chevrolet Motor Division's Flint Engine Plant, Flint, Michigan
Rebuilt by: JD Machine, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Displacement: 235.5 cubic inches
Compression ratio: 8.0:1
Cylinder head: Production "Stovebolt," cast iron
Ignition: OEM GM-Delco points-style ignition
Induction: 3 OEM side-draft Carter 2066SA 1-barrel carburetors with OEM cast iron intake
Camshaft: Production '54 "Blue Flame Six" camshaft
Exhaust: OEM cast iron manifold and single-exhaust-into-dual-tailpipes exhaust system
Emission controls: None on car (None were required anywhere in 1954.)
Horsepower: 150 @ 4200 rpm (Advertised)
Torque: 223 ft. /lbs. @ 2400 rpm (Advertised)
Transmission
OEM Chevrolet Powerglide two-speed automatic with cast iron case (RPO 313M)
Rebuilt by: Tri-City Transmission, Tempe, Arizona
Shifter: Original '54 floor-mounted "Go forward/go backward" switch
Rear end: Production '54 Chevrolet/Corvette
Interior
Restored production 1954 Corvette
Restored by: Corvette Restoration AZ, Tempe, Arizona
Seats: Production '54 buckets with original beige vinyl seat covers
Carpets: Al Knoch reproduction beige nylon loop-pile
Instrumentation: OEM '54 Corvette (0-140 mph speedometer in front of driver, plus 0-5000 rpm tachometer with no redline, fuel level, oil pressure, ammeter, coolant temperature gauges in center of dash)
Sound system: RPO 102A GM-Delco "Wonderbar" signal-seeking AM radio
Heater: OEM (RPO 101A) GM-Harrison heater
A/C: Dream on. Air conditioning wasn't a Corvette factory option until '63