Rare 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Prototype Heading to Auction

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A singular 1954 Chevrolet Corvette design prototype, representative of a never-realized model revamp, is due for auction during the Monterey Car Week event, orchestrated by Gooding & Company, scheduled for Aug. 18-19.

This vehicle harks back to the infancy of the Corvette era. As per the auction details, it originated as one of approximately 15 manually assembled show cars crafted before the initiation of Corvette manufacturing in 1953. Used for experimentation and showings at General Motor’s Motorama shows, these automobiles were not given standard vehicle identification numbers (VIN), rather they received an “S.O.” tag for “shop order.”

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1954 Chevrolet Corvette design prototype (photo courtesy of Gooding & Company)

The vehicle set for auction carries the serial number S.O. 2151, designating it as the prototype for a proposed 1955-model-year update of the Corvette. The vehicle was transferred to GM’s design division, then guided by renowned design chief Harley Earl, where it underwent various stylistic modifications, encompassing a decorative hood scoop, front fender vents, an eggcrate grille, bumper-exit exhaust tips, and a fresh trunk lid inspired by the Corvette Corvair fastback concept.

A clue that this car was utilized for exploring new design concepts is the position of the Corvette script, which is elevated on one side and lowered on the other for comparison. Designers additionally incorporated a substantial gold “V” into the lettering to indicate that the 1955 Corvette would offer a V-8 engine, boasting greater power than the inline-6 engines used in the initial two model years. S.O. 2151 was also coated in Bermuda Green, a GM production color of that era.

The finalized body was mounted on a 1954 Corvette frame fitted with an experimental solid-lifter-camshaft motor. The design prototype was officially finalized on July 30, 1954, as stated by a tag riveted inside the engine compartment.

1954 Chevrolet Corvette design prototype (photo courtesy of Gooding & Company)

Nevertheless, the envisaged refresh for the 1955 Corvette was shelved. Concerned about rivalry from the Ford Thunderbird, GM administration decided to postpone the revamp. Besides the V-8 option, the production 1955 Corvette mirrored the 1954 model, but by 1956, Chevy had outfitted the Corvette with an entirely new body.

S.O. 2151 avoided the common fate of most GM design prototypes, enduring intact in private collections. Its exit from GM is still a mystery, as reported by Motor Trend, but this unique Corvette was preserved by various owners and subjected to a comprehensive 1,800-hour restoration to its 1954 condition.

However, this slice of Corvette history won’t come cheap. Gooding & Company anticipates that S.O. 2151 could fetch between $1.5 million and $2 million at auction.

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More about 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Prototype Auction

• Gooding & Company’s Auctions
• History of the Chevrolet Corvette
• General Motors’ Design History
• Chevrolet Corvette Prototype at Monterey Car Week
• Motor Trend’s Coverage of the Corvette Prototype