Although the first series cars built from 1953 to 1955 introduced the Corvette to America, it was the second series, which made its debut in 1956, that truly earned the title of “America’s Sports Car.” The clean good looks of Harley Earl’s new body design struck a chord with the American public, and it quickly outsold the older style by a margin of three to one. In addition, Zora Arkus-Duntov and Chevrolet Engineering had dramatically altered the personality of Chevrolet’s sports car with a new focus on performance, a growing range of powerful small block V-8 engines, and improved handling.

For 1958, the Corvette featured greater comfort, and its appearance was slightly revised by Harley Earl with 1958-only touches, including a louvered “washboard” hood treatment and twin chrome deck lid strips, which were consistent with the styling trends of the era. Performance continued to be emphasized, of course, and the high-revving 283-cubic inch engine ensured that the Corvette was highly competitive on both the street and the race track, with quarter-mile times in the 15-second range. Not surprisingly, Corvettes from this year are among the most collectible models to this day.

This Snowcrest White example, with its pure color offset by attractive red coves and a matching interior, is one of 2,477 Corvettes produced in 1958. All around, it displays excellent chrome. The interior is also in excellent condition, and it is complemented by a white vinyl soft top. For practical purposes, a Vintage Air air-conditioning unit has been installed, and the car is also equipped with an AM/FM radio. In its current ownership, it has been maintained in climate-controlled storage and has been driven and maintained regularly. This stunning example would be a great addition to a collection of Corvettes or American muscle.