54 Corvette, America's sports car!!

[@Chopper650]

another quality kiwi upload ... cheers bro

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it!!

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! 🍩☕️👀😎😎 : LOL ! Nice to a car little younger than I am , very beautiful ! 👀😎👍👍 🇺🇸

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

I'm a few years older, but I think this car is holding up better. 🥺

[@rayblack6183]

That is one nice ride! Keep it preserved.

[@AlanSchildroth]

To look that good when your 70, what a treat!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

lol. So very true 😁😎👍

[@brianhdueck3372]

What a sweet little chariot. Nothing to be ashamed of for sure.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Not at all 😁👍😎

[@outlawbillionairez9780]

This is what I like. A classic with some improvements that you can drive anytime. 'Vette concept never changed, while T-Bird became a yacht in a couple years.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yeah Thunderbird lost their way 😔

[@billyduffany3387]

I really appreciate that Kiwi actually answered a couple questions I had on a live he recently had. I know that a lot of KZbinrs can't answer all the questions they get, Kiwi did and I thank him.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

You're welcome bud!!😁😎👍

[@craigbenz4835]

I think of the movie "Heavy Metal" every time I see one of those.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

😁😎👍

[@jamesmisener3006]

That rear view mirror needs a grass skirt! It loves to dance. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

lol it kinda does😎👍

[@johnkelly8525]

Love it, cannot watch right now , but will check it out later looking forward

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Cheers mate !!

[@67L-88]

Very nice car! They were sold as an American sports car, rivaling the Jaguar and MGs of the day.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I like the old jags but not so keen on the MG's😎👍

[@ronbelanger4113]

Sweet ride, to each their own.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It really is!!😎👍

[@lessharratt8719]

"A little vague in the steering" I have never known any different. What a beauty.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It really is. 😁😎👍

[@TheClampettmobile]

I believe this is the first time I've seen an early Corvette actually in motion.

[@ockersrknobs]

Kia Ora Chris....LOL, looking at my new project car, a '54 Morris Minor 2 door, upgraded to the 948cc, British built, and then looking at this beautiful 'Vette. Different worlds. Enjoying your show.

[@Techbitznpcs]

that is one very nice clean early model vette. like you mentioned this a car top down cruiser to enjoy the sunny days

[@donaldhalls2189]

The main thing isn't how fast it goes but how quick can it stop,😂😅 beautiful car,the sort I used to dream about, 😂 ,can't forget the Thunderbird 😂 thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@bcbloc02]

Had anyone else in America made a sports car for the public prior to the Corvette? Not that I know of.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Not that I know of....

[@justralphajerseyguystuckin3671]

Just a lovely, sweet old car...I concur - Cheers 🙂

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Cheers mate!!

[@fishgeralding9224]

Back in the mid 90's I worked at a dealership in Florida. The owner had a 53 vette he'd had an employee who was supposedly was going to restore it. The young guy took the body off of the frame and set it on saw horses. It sat on the saw horses a number of years and warped. The young man got a job elsewhere and returned the car. I tried buying it for a number of years without success. He eventually had the dealership rebuild the engine and transmission and had the frame blasted and repainted. He wound up losing interest and sold it to some lucky soul for 10k! While I worked there I ran the #'s on it. It was,#7 off of the assembly line.! That's why I desperately tried to buy it! #'s matching, original transmission and blue flame 6! The bloody fool didn't know what he had! Damned bean counter!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I thought this story sounded familiar and then I realized you told me about it when you were at the shop 😁👍😎

[@joegarage6132]

I actually have a 62. It's amazing how similar those cars are with the 62. Mine has the 327 and I love it. In the process changing the brakes to a dual master cylinder with disc brakes on the front. Just manual brakes. Then I have plans on painting it next to my shop. I've done a few so it should be nice. Good video on that car. I love the basic car aspect with no electronics.

[@Mark-um7ey]

Lol the gumball rally comment was exactly what I was thinking when you started talking about the mirror. First rule of Italian driving, what's behind you is not important. Seen that movie in the theater as a double feature with vanishing point when it came out, still my favorite car movie...real cars, not replica junk

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Both great movies!!😁😎👍

[@Mark-um7ey]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 yeah they are, still get goosebumps hearing them row through the gears of the cobra and the motion Camaro on the surround sound. Won't be any more movies like them.

[@douglasatkinson2476]

I saw another a few weeks ago with a small block with a 6 pack.

[@Fevebblefester]

Very nice car.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!!

[@John-wx9oy]

The color combination of the interior and exterior are perfect.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Agreed!!😎👍

[@aussiebloke609]

Love these. I remember there used to be one (in white, natch) on the road down to Balmoral Beach in Sydney when I was a kid. Don't know what year it was for sure, but judging by the license plate, was possibly a '53.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

That would have been a very special car in Aussie back then!! 😎👍

[@garyslentzii2796]

The one i have is a 1/24 scale model i built a few years ago, only one i could afford. 😂 What a beautiful Corvette, my favorite classic sports car.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yeah I've got a few of those 😁👍😎

[@glennnickerson8438]

Nice ride Kiwi! The story (or fairy tale) goes that GM was going to axe the Corvette but Ford saved it with the introduction of the T-bird. The T-bird got bigger and the Corvette got faster (and I'm a Ford guy)!😆

[@StevenMilne-sm4fk]

Yea me too, but they super cool cars.

[@kennethkarlsson7421]

Beautiful car!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Indeed!!😎👍😁

[@terrystewart2070]

I just knew your glasses were going to blow right off your head LOL When I was lad, one of my Dad's customers on the garbage route had either a 53 or 54 (I don't know which but it looked identical to this one color and interior wise), and it just sat in his driveway literally for years. He never drove it. Finally it went away somewhere. This was in about 1961 to 65 or so. Then, in high school my friend had a sweet 57. His Dad owned the Chevy dealership and it got traded in, and my buddy snagged it. This would have been in about 67-68. It had a Muncie 4 speed and a 327, which I don't think was stock, but it was a runner. Oh, BTW those straps on the rear end housing were to keep the inside wheel from lifting in a sharp turn. A lot of old stuff would lift the inside back wheel right off the pavement in a sharp turn. On the 1/4 mile paved track at the local fairgrounds we all chained the driver side rear axel to the frame, it helped a lot. Fun Times. This owner has a real treasure.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Very cool story!! Thanks for sharing!!😎👍

[@TAVOAu]

They're a gorgeous little car. No surprise it's all mainstream Chevy underneath. Imagine the cost of engineering it all from scratch, for what was really a 'maybe it'll sell' new car. At least you can get replacement steering parts from your local forklift dealer 🤣

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It was an experiment for sure. Pretty successful one though😁😎👍

[@jlletaw1954]

Good walk around & ride a long

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!!

[@simcard027]

beautiful these are one of my all time favourite cars the body is just such a great design

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!!

[@boilerroomed3682]

You really needed a pair of shades driving that beauty!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

You're right there!!!!

[@SpeedyG289]

Very nice. Glad to see the exterior remains as as the designers intended. I’m certain Duntov would have approved of the engine swap. Cheers mate. 🥃

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Cheers bud! 🍻

[@oldtimerf7602]

A buddy used to take a 1953 Vette to the store from the body shop where it was stored. Rumor was it is the 1st Corvette to enter New England.

[@johna1160]

Being a devout Third Pedalist, I don't usually like slush boxes, but after the drive Chris and Steve just took us on, it makes sense on this little cutie.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Thanks man and thanks for watching!!!

[@Broken_Yugo]

A well matched converter always helps, as does a light car with a short rear axle ratio.

[@popsmustangshop]

I Love The Red Mustang Fastback in the background on the screenshot,,,

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

600 hp FE goin in that one!!

[@rossdavis2654]

Sensational Kiwi. Just been to the Kaikoura Hop car meet display, best day out in ages

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I'll bet it was !! How many cars go to that?

[@rossdavis2654]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 around a thousand, great variety this year

[@IronChief]

I've got one of those grills hanging on the wall !

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

That's some cool garage art! 😁😎👍

[@jayweiss4378]

Got a lot get up and go….Nice

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Cheers mate!!

[@1998dodgejd]

Yeah that's a pretty nice car there. Neat conversion . Not a corvette fan but nice car.

[@RichieRichpobutproud]

First a ‘65 Malibu SS, now a Corvette? Kiwi! What’s next, a Camaro? Oh the humanity!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

lol. I truly believe that if you're a genuine car guy you appreciate them all. Sure you going to have allegiances to a certain brands but beauty is beauty !!

[@RichieRichpobutproud]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Yes sir, in my 641/2 years I’ve had pretty much everything except an AMC. Fun fact: Phil Long Ford in Colorado Springs, Colorado sold more Mustangs than any other dealer west of the Mississippi. At one time they were everywhere, and I had my fair share! My first cars in 1974 was a 1965 Malibu SS and a 1968 Ford F100.

[@robbieautrey3158]

WOW Kiwi, that is an awesome little Corvette.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yea it is! Glad you enjoyed it 😁😎👍

[@dewreckdeberjack9618]

I really like the concept wagon they built one or three of. 👍

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes, that was cool 😁😎👍

[@robertchall8576]

That's a nice ride.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes it is !!! 😁😎👍

[@stevesmoneypit6137]

You may be one of those ford guys but stepping up with Marge!

[@Jstme303]

an awesome little car.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Agreed!!😎👍

[@oldtimerf7602]

Still my favorite channel!!!

[@ericuncapher9922]

Very nice

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!!

[@tedjones-ho2zk]

Growing up back in the 60's and 70's my neighbor had one the same color, and I remember he had it parked in the street in the snow. If only he had that car now...

[@nickbruni8041]

🤘🏼⛽️

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

😎😃🥃

[@michaelteasdale2919]

What a peach👌

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes indeed 😁😎👍

[@aussiebloke609]

You were so close, Kiwi. Curb weight for '53-'54 is 2886 lb with the factory inline 6 - which, being a fairly chunky block, likely wasn't much different in weight to the venerable 350 SBC. Interestingly, the '55 actually lost 81 lb, so possibly the inline 6 is actually heavier?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

That was a guess too! Wonder if they went to an aluminum trans ....?😎👍

[@barrycuda3769]

I think the six cylinder in the early Corvettes was thought of as perfectly acceptable because 6 cylinder Jaguars were desirable and considered more than acceptable . This reminds me of the movie "Hot Rods to Hell" , in which there was a '58 6 cylinder Corvette being driven really hard , and performing quite impressively, despite the constant trail of blue smoke from the exhaust. It definitely sounded like a 6 cyl, but was that still an option in 1958?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

At least the Jags were twin cam, the Vette engine is an old truck motor. Pretty sure the 55 was the last time a six was offered and they only made 6 six cylinder ones in 55. Wonder how valuable one of those would be now...🤔

[@barrycuda3769]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 It wouldn't be unusual at all for movie people to have the wrong exhaust sound for a car , or especially a motorcycle.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

@@barrycuda3769 true!!!! The General Lee switched from auto to manual and back many times ...😁😎👍

[@barrycuda3769]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 And 440 to 318 . It annoys me how many Chargers they wrecked.

[@jhonditch4269]

and early thunderbirds had similar look

[@61rampy65]

I'm a 53 model myself, and when I was a little kid, about 3-4 years old, there was a white 53-55 Corvette that I'd see driving around my neighborhood. I remember seeing those spaceship taillights and thinking how weird and different they were from other cars! BTW, even at 3, I could identify most cars by name. That car seems just right with the quiet 350 and auto trans. Question for anybody who knows: Didn't the 53s have a backward shifter where Park was all the way back on the lever? I noticed Kiwi pushed it all the way forward to park.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes!!! The shifter is marked backwards but now operates in the typical pattern. Good spotting and knowledge 👍👍👍😁

[@61rampy65]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Cool! Thanks for the reply!

[@Jim-ic2of]

Sue Pair !😊

[@ManuelPerez-ip4bb]

Quality build and only used a quarter of energy that's used to make an EV.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

70 year of service, it's carbon footprint has to be virtually nil now !!😎👍

[@davidmccrory5604]

So aaaah yeh ahhhh you say aaaah yer ahhhh quite alot ahhhhhhhh

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yeah you're right I do... I'd like to do better but i don't want it to be all rehearsed and fake either.

[@simcard027]

i was worried you were going to lose your glasses to the wind there

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I didn't think about it at the time but when I saw that while editing I thought how precarious they looked 😬

[@craignehring]

I remember discovering that the early Corvettes had GMC six cylinder engines, them GMC's had full pressure lubrication rather than the Chevrolet splash, something like that anyways. Thanks for reviewing this fine machine, built just up the road from you eh?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes about an hour and half away😎

[@jhonditch4269]

so rare they had issuse with fiberglas bodies it was new tech at that time

[@DaveA-w9x]

I remember reading that fibreglass being new tech at the time the body was so overbuilt that it ended up being heavier than a steel body would have been. I have no idea if this is true.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

That's quite possible I'd say, I believe the use of fiberglass was about cost of production rather than lightweight

[@doublebackagain4311]

Not bad for a Chevrolet 😜

[@timr31908]

That's so sad that they put a Chevy 350 engine and such a rare car.. that 350 engine has got to be about the best way to say cheap ass..😮

[@99mustard10]

great as always Kiwi,but we really like the shitty cars videos the best.

[@Westcoastride]

Rear rocket motors! What more do you want?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Exactly!!!!😁😎👍

[@billywird]

Yes, sir my understanding is that GM wanted to kill off the Corvette due to poor sales its first two years. Of course, the Ford Thunderbird came out in 55 and blew the Corvette out of the water in sales. A fellow named Zora Arkus Duntov argued for the Corvette to be continued and of course we had the 265 as you know come out in 55. Also, the Thunderbird got kind of heavy in 58 with the four-seater models and that sort of hurt the sales of Thunderbird. The Corvette was Harley Earl's baby as he observed the popularity of the British sports cars (WWII vets started bringing those cars home). Of course, Earl wanted to incorporate more Italian styling with the egg crate grills and such (55 Chevrolet grille for example). I worked with a fellow back in 69 when I pumped gas, and he had a British style sports car (an earlier MG I think) He even looked the part as he had a beard and such like a beatnik. He had to shoehorn himself into that car and like the Corvette it had the same type of door latches and plastic pull up side windows. That was what a sports car was all about, no creature comforts.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Cool story, thanks for sharing😎👍

[@edge2sword186]

Smokey said those cars handle about as well as a manure spreader . Believe it or not ?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

The suspension is pretty archaic and while it was a comfortable cruiser, sports car handling it wasn't ....

[@DanEBoyd]

I'd polish those valve covers since it's a Corvette. The engine looks just right otherwise. Don't like that frame-notch for the fuel pump, or that ignition setup - the first time someone turns it to Lock, they are screwed if they don't know how to hotwire it.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It won't go to the lock position without the key and wont come out of the locked position without it either. It's a GM thing I think, my 57 Buick ignition switch works the same the same. Cheers Mate!!

[@DanEBoyd]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Aha, I was thinking of the '69-'90whatever column-mounted key-switch. I've had two '80s Ford/Fox key-switches go bad too - the first didn't lock at all, and the other would lock without the key IIRC.

[@craigbenz4835]

At first it's tough to go from a vague steering car to a tight one. There is a lot of overcorrection.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Yes!!😁

[@johndillon28]

Its a shame there was such a distaste for the original "blue flame" inline six and 2 speed transmission Id love to have the experience of driving one. Always though the pontiac overhead cam straight 6 could be a cool engine in an early corvette

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Don't know much about that Pontiac six! The blue flame went on be used in the early Landcruisers all be it quite improved by Toyota engineers

[@johndillon28]

@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 I didn't know that about the blue flame. Sounds much like the Buick 215 and Rover relationship

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

@johndillon28 yeah it was!

[@dogsense3773]

My friend in san Francisco has the same car,white over red,he took the six out and put the 283 4speedin,I'm 5'11 170, driving it with that big steering wheel is not fun!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I found it roomier than the early TBird. 😁😎👍

[@todddenio3200]

A little bit of trivia. Who designed and developed the Chevy Small Block? No cheating by looking it up.

[@derekhobbs1102]

My Kia has about the same power from it's 3.8 V6, but needs to move 4500 lbs.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

All our modern luxury and safety weigh a lot 😁😎👍

[@ldnwholesale8552]

T Bird had a OHV V8 however. 6cyl sports car with a Powerslide?? Not me. Needs wind up windows as well and a hardtop. The reasons they did not sell when new.

[@Rembrant65]

I bet there was a stone and masonry show room there before you.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

You are correct sir !😁😎👍

[@richdorak1547]

That car is in great condition for sure but the first 3 vettes were fugly . Very fugly .

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It's funny isn't, I think the first three were the best ones🤷🏼‍♂️. We like what we like and don't what we don't. 😁😎👍

[@richdorak1547]

@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 the spice of life, my friend.

[@gulfy09]

So it has 1 front engine mount then the transmission has another mount..

[@craigbenz4835]

Did the original 6 cylinder have dual exhaust?

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I believe so yes 😁😎👍

[@timmiller260]

My dad in50s had junkyard in ks city on 40 hwy and man was going to tullsa oil guy had 54 it blown up rod out dad got 500.for 52 chevy that man died in mom wood nt drive got vet and got nother block.hard to sell then.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Be nice to have today .......😁😎👍

[@zyzzx2012]

Yeah, that's not a cast iron powerglide heck. It's not even an aluminum power glide. It looks like it's a turbo 350. Cast iron power glides didn't have a pan at all. And the shape of the pan on a aluminum power glide is different than that.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

Hmm, now that you say that you've got me wondering. I just assumed it would be a power glide. I only remember one up change though🤔

[@normmerkel1969]

The transmission looks like a later TH350.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I think you might be right there. It did only seem to shift up once though ....🤔

[@strokermaverick]

Kiwi, what was the '55 265 cid, rated at?

[@61rampy65]

162 or 180 hp, I believe, depending on carburetion.

[@strokermaverick]

@@61rampy65 Thank you!

[@michaelstrafello7346]

Steering is the same as an Avanti

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

A lot of GM stuff in Avanti's, didn't realize they used such old suspension though.....

[@jayh1947]

Did you get the mechanical tach fixed ?? Jay

[@johnbriggs3916]

Next week, he said. You could see it was dead on the "test drive."

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

The owners not worried about it 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Grandadsjunk]

Neat wee car yanks had to do something about the British invasion sports car

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

It was a market they had been neglecting for sure !! 😎👍

[@joshhoman]

Car is confused about whether it's in California or Tennessee!

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

🤣😂😎😎

[@alantrimble2881]

The C1 Vettes LOOK gorgeous, but I don’t like driving them. I’m 5’10” (178 cm). Almost exactly average height for an American male. I BARELY fit in these cars. The steering wheel is right in my face even with the seat all the way back. I find these cars and the first generation Thunderbird miserable to drive. It doesn’t help that the C1 uses a front suspension that dates to the 1930s and a rear suspension that predates the automobile. The C1 and first generation Tbird look cool, but that’s about all they excel at. They’re basically pretty tractors.

[@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160]

I find this corvette easier to get in and out of than the early T bird. Don't confuse "easier" for easy though😁😎👍

[@pfflyer3381]

And all the FAKE SS camaros that had the 6cy 3sp on the column and bench seat! Are dreams, like a C2 with a 2sp powerglide. That's probably easier to find!

[@normmerkel1969]

The transmission looks like a later TH350.