Rare Polo White 1955 Chevrolet Corvette C1

A rare Polo White 1955 Chevrolet Corvette (C1) with Red interior, one of 700 Corvettes built for 1955, arriving at South OC Cars and Coffee at the Outlets at San Clemente. The first-generation (C1) Corvette was introduced in 1953, and for 1955 Chevrolet added an optional 4.3-liter "Turbo-Fire" V8 engine producing 195 horsepower and a 3-speed manual transmission, the first time a Corvette was offered with a V8 engine and a manual transmission.

Those who know me personally or have seen me at car events recently may know that I became the owner and caretaker of a low-mileage C4 Corvette less than a year ago. Since then, I've been particularly interested in the rich history of the Corvette name. 1955 was a particularly important year, as the introduction of a powerful V8 and a manual thrusted the Corvette into the spotlight as a true and proper sports car. Both features came to define American performance cars, especially once the muscle car scene took off, and there are still many enthusiasts today that would rather walk than drive without either.

I've always thought the original 1953-1955 Corvettes are among the most beautiful Corvettes ever made, with styling that is simple and classy yet filled with fanciful cues typical of GM's Motorama era. This is especially true in the iconic introductory shade of white with red interior. These early cars are also more rare than later C1s, which explains why it took me this long to finally catch one on video. As a new member of the Corvette community, I couldn't help but introduce myself to the owner and geek out a little. If only I brought my car that day too so the two could get a picture together!

Would you choose this early C1 Corvette over later examples? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!