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“America’s Sports Car” was largely unchanged for 1959 having received quad headlights the year before. Sales flirted with the 10,000-unit mark for the first time after surpassing 9,000 in 1958. The 283 cubic inch V8 remained the only engine, but several variants and horsepower were available. The seller’s ’59 ‘Vette has been in storage for at least 50 years (1971-72) and is being sold from the owner’s estate. The engine may have given out at that time and work was never completed.
More than half of Corvette buyers in 1959 checked the box for the optional, removable hardtop, including this example. The primary color on this ‘Vette might be Frost Blue, and it seems to have held up over five decades. But a thorough detailing will reveal whatever flaws that surely will have crept in over time. The interior seems okay, but the biggest concern about extended indoor storage is whether any small critters have tried to set up shop.
We don’t know which version of the 283 is in this car, but the base engine would have had a 4-barrel carburetor and a 9.5:1 compression ratio, both resulting in a rated horsepower output of 230. The valve covers, intake manifold and carburetor have been removed from this car, but we don’t know why. It doesn’t sound as though they will go with the car to its next home.
This Corvette has a manual transmission, either a 3 or 4-speed. The mileage only got to 62,000 before the car went dormant, so hopefully whatever is going on with the engine isn’t terminal. From Frankenmuth, Michigan, this project sports car is available here on Facebook Marketplace where the seller is hoping to net $46,400 from the sale. Another tip brought to us by Barn Finder T.J.!
