black 1954
I was inquiring if "rare" black 54 corvettes were built during a limited time period or vin range? I am considering purchasing a black 54 corvette without history of black color conformation. Thanks for guidance.
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Re: black 1954
My original black '54 is vin 2130. I have been told conflicting stories that they were all built around the same time. I have no definite confirmation one way or another. 2130 has mostly early features like flipper soft top guides, short exhaust, and bullet air filters.
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Re: black 1954
I recall seeing a black 54 at the fall Chevy/VetteFest last year. Had recently had a restoration, as I recall, and looked like a million bucks. Was that your's Chuck?
Stu FoxComment
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Re: black 1954
I remember when people said GM never sold a black 54 or a black 58 I remenber when those owners left NCRS.
What would happen if that 54 second from the left or 55 second from the right showed up now
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Re: black 1954
Chuck, I saw your car at Amelia! Very Nice!!!
I was with the guy who was displayiing the Guy Mabee Special, yellow Bonneville/road race car. It was just a few down the row form you. Another friend was displaying his AC, a blue/gray metallic car sitting across diagonally from yours. Jim, Jim and I looked at your car for a very long time! The Mabee Special Jim has a Polo white '54, and has for well over 25 years.
SteveComment
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Re: black 1954
Chuck, I saw your car at Amelia! Very Nice!!! I was with the guy who was displayiing the Guy Mabee Special, yellow Bonneville/road race car. It was just a few down the row form you. Another friend was displaying his AC, a blue/gray metallic car sitting across diagonally from yours. Jim, Jim and I looked at your car for a very long time! The Mabee Special Jim has a Polo white '54, and has for well over 25 years.
Steve
Hi Steve,
I enjoyed seeing the Guy Mabee Special at Amelia as well. I found Amelia to be one of the best Concours that I have attended. Auction was nice also.Comment
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Re: black 1954
Dear Steve
I am normally a 63 or 67 guy however I saw a 54 for sale with a VIN # ending 2095 , exterior color is black. how do I know if this color was originally black? did the 54 come with Trim tags ?
Any idea what they would worth today in a decent condition ?Comment
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Re: black 1954
Max, no trim tags on C1's. Might get an idea of original color from overspray, etc. as discussed a few weeks ago but detailed resto could remove traces of original paint. I am not a good one to ask worth. I don't pay much attention due to auction and web listed cars seem to usually inflate price and inflate descriptions and since I am not buying or selling now. Sorry. A '54 expert on the Board can probably give a good answer.
SteveComment
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Re: black 1954
I had my car in the Carlisle Gallery Display last year and had plenty of discussions with the owner of the 54 Black - he is the original owner and has won numerous awards with the car. I do remember him saying as far as he knows only made 4 black ones in 54, I have no idea how they would know how many were made and what the vins would be - the car was really outstanding.
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Re: black 1954
Well this car came up for sale in the Netherlands very recently. On the title from 1960 when it entered the Netherlands the colour says black
http://auto.marktplaats.nl/oldtimers/614473126-chevrolet-corvette-c1-bouwjaar-1954-import-1960-rood.htmlComment
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Re: black 1954
I'm not sure my comment will be received well here but here it is . Since there were no trim tags on any C-1 s , unless the restorer can provide proof of the original color , a C- 1 can be repainted any color that G M painted them in that year and no one will be any wiser . We know the percentage painted of each color but thats it . Why is it that the survival rate for red C-1 s with dual Quads and 4 speeds is higher than say white ones with 230hp and 3 speeds ? When I restored my 58 the last color I found was charcoal grey so I resisted the urge to restore another red 58 to the pack and repainted it charcoal which is beautiful , don't see many at car shows , mostly red .
The point I'm making is unless the owner of the black 54 provides proof that it was one of the 4 built all you've got is a clone .
StanComment
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Re: black 1954
there were 4 black 54s among the 28 corvettes pictured in the rose bowl and harbor freeway on march 17, 1954. i would have to believe there are more than just those four. i heard about 15, but i believe nearly double that amount are black today. in 2008, the corvette registry listed at least 15 and there have been more that have appeared since then.I had my car in the Carlisle Gallery Display last year and had plenty of discussions with the owner of the 54 Black - he is the original owner and has won numerous awards with the car. I do remember him saying as far as he knows only made 4 black ones in 54, I have no idea how they would know how many were made and what the vins would be - the car was really outstanding.Last edited by John S.; November 17, 2012, 06:42 PM.Comment
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Re: black 1954
Walt Black of hampton,mass, was an active ncrs member in the late 70's and 80's. he once caravaned to cyprus with the MAC crazies in his black 54. i thibnk jerry pings also had a blcak one. they are rare but they did leave st louis as such.mikeComment
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Re: black 1954
Lynn,
I have judged 3 Black 54's at regionals and nationals. My first one was in a regional where I was working for Dave Ferguson, who was the team leader. His instructions to me were did it have a beige top and were the pads and straps on the interior also beige, and the bows tan. Dave passed away last year and left me with instructions that if the color was black and everything else was correct, than any question is in favor of the owner, there were no trim tabs. I also understand from another friend of Dave's, that has completed a tour of the US, looking for original 53-55's, to photograph and provide all of his information to the writers of the new 53-55 manual. It is unkown when the manual will be published. He told me he found changes in the 53-54's that were different from one week to another. He said some published running changes were never discovered by anyone and he photographed them for the new manual. One change was an L-shaped, phenolic, attachment that was inserted into the coil and then into the center post of the distributer. The devise was considered as an anti-static radio suppressor. The same devise was used by the military in their Trucks and jeeps to suppress radio static, I have never observed one of these items in all of the 53-55's I have judged. One of the ways I have found for original color on C-1's is under the fuel tank cover. Some Vanitian Red paint was discovered under the cover when I found my basket case 57. As for the Shoreline Beige cove, that was a guess on my part. Good luck on your resto.Comment
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