In the 1950s, many of the world’s most desirable sports cars came from European designers and manufacturers. A team of engineers from General Motors, led by the legendary Harley Earl, went to work to design a fiberglass-bodied car with the design and performance to compete with anything that Europe could throw at the U.S. market. The team penned a low, aircraft-like body that looked fast just sitting still. The long, sleek hood was made possible by moving the ‘Blue Flame’ six-cylinder engine toward the rear. This also had the benefit of lowering the car’s center of gravity, making it handle superbly.

The finished prototype, which cost the staggering sum of $1.5 million to complete, was dubbed EX-122 and made its public debut on 17 January 1953 at the iconic 1953 Motorama display, where it featured alongside other luxury convertible concept cars from GM’s family of marques, including the Buick Wildcat and Oldsmobile Starfire. The public reaction to EX-122 was overwhelming, and GM quickly rushed the car into production beginning in June 1953. Just 300 Corvettes were completed by year’s end. Not simply a cultural icon, this first year of Corvette production also marked a significant technical milestone, as GM was the first major American car manufacturer to successfully mass-produce a vehicle with an all-fiberglass body and underpan. The car, of course, would go on to become an American icon that is still revered by those lucky enough to own one.

The car offered here is the 209th of those 300 Corvettes built for 1953. A full photo-documented restoration was completed to the highest possible standards, and the car is ready to compete for trophies at any Corvette show in the country. Presented in the original color scheme of Polo White over a red interior with black convertible top and equipped with a Signal Seeking radio, side curtains, original jack, spare tire, and owner’s manual, this 1953 Corvette is an ideal addition to any sports car collection.