C1 (1953 to 1962)

The Chevrolet Corvette C1 represents the beginning of the Corvette story, first appearing in 1953 as America’s earliest mass-produced sports car and laying the foundation for every generation that followed. Initially launched with a fiberglass body and modest six-cylinder power, the C1 quickly evolved to adopt V8 engines, manual transmissions, and more performance-focused engineering as Chevrolet responded to growing competition and buyer expectations. This era established the Corvette as a legitimate performance car rather than a styling exercise, with late-production C1s offering strong performance and classic design cues that remain instantly recognisable today. In the Australian market, the C1 is exceptionally rare, with examples almost exclusively imported and prized for their historical significance rather than outright performance. Values are driven by year, engine specification, originality, body style, and condition, with early 1953–55 cars and later V8-powered examples commanding significant premiums as collectors place increasing emphasis on the Corvette’s origins and early design history.