Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

[Walter F.]

My understanding is Chevrolet gave certain Celebrities new 1953 Corvettes when the first cars were built. I know John Wayne was one , but was a list ever complied of all those celebrities who got the first cars and where those cars are today ?

[Tom B.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

There was a guy Ed Thieubad somewhere around Fresno Ca. about 30 or 40 yrs ago that had some notable early serial 53 cars.

[Roy V.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

Pat Boone and Dinah Shore come to mind, but maybe they were just in the commercials.
regards
Roy

[Bill M.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

Dan Blocker of Bonanza had one

[Paul H.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I believe John Wayne also had one.

[Mike E.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

The Duponts received one, I believe.

[Terry M.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I remember seeing the 1953 that was purported to have belonged to John Wayne in Hurrah's Museum in Reno a long long time ago - pre NCRS. Sadly I can't recall the serial number, but at that time the outside looked very original. Paint had sunk into the weave of the glass. I'll bet that has changed by now.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I think Dan Blocker was a school teacher rather than a celebrity in 1953. His TV acting career began in 1956 and Bonanza began in 1959. I just learned this because I am watching DVDs of some old westerns and googled the actors out of curiousity. I saw a 1956 episode of Gunsmoke that I believe was Blocker's TV debut.

[Paul D.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I seem to recall reading that Dan Blocker received one of the first 1965 Z-16 Chevelles. There is a neat feature length commercial on YouTube featuring the whole Bonanza cast introducing the new Chevrolets for 65 maybe. Chip.

[Frank D.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

Frank W. Fink -- designer of the B-24 Liberator had one: http://www.earlycorvettes.com/corvettesite/fink53.html
Sort of a celebrity I guess...

[Ed H.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I think Chuck Yeager was presented an early corvette but I don't recall what year.

[Edward S.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I would think with the size 0f Dan Blocker getting into a 53 would have been a real CHORE - he must have stopped it like Fred Flintstone style. John Wayne with his height might have driven it top down only - I am only 6' 2'' and had to drive my 58 that way or go through the top.

[Mark H.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

Digging thru my old Restorers looking for something else I ran across an item in the Winter 1983 issue. Mike Bogan enclosed a picture of his Dad who got one of the first '53 Corvettes. The article states that Mike's dad was an executive VP with Greyhound corporation. Mike says they kept the car for about a year before selling it, he didn't remember the serial number.

[Mike F.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I remember seeing the 1953 that was purported to have belonged to John Wayne in Hurrah's Museum in Reno a long long time ago - pre NCRS. Sadly I can't recall the serial number, but at that time the outside looked very original. Paint had sunk into the weave of the glass. I'll bet that has changed by now.

http://www.docrebuild.com/archive/archive53wayne.html

[Arland D.]

Re: Celebrity 1953 Corvettes

I recall reading somewhere that John Wayne gave his 53 to his buddy Ward Bond.............. seems like a tight fit for either one of them.