Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
Corvette Hardtop Motorama Showcar, 1954
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
For the 1954 Motorama shows, General Motors Styling Section created not one but three distinct Corvette dream cars: the Corvair fastback coupe, the Nomad station wagon,
and the convertible coupe. All three shared some recognizable Corvette
features, such as the front grille and fascia treatment, but were given
certain unique styling elements in order to set them apart. The Corvair
and the convertible coupe maintained the same wheel base and overall
length as the 1953 Corvette. The Nomad wagon had a longer wheelbase and
was approximately two feet greater in overall length.
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
The Corvette Convertible Coupe was the closest in styling to the
production model. It was painted in a muted yellow hue and it’s main
distinctive was a fiberglass removable hardtop that gave the sports car
new ”all-weather utility” as touted in the Motorama brochure. This
feature would appear on production models as an aftermarket accessories
beginning in 1955 and would officially become an option for the 1956
model year.
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
The 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Hardtop was a Convertible Coupe. It was one
of the Corvette based Motorama dream cars shown in 1954 and was a
version fitted with a removable hardtop. The 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
Hardtop Advertising Brochure said the following: “The Chevrolet Corvette
Convertible Coupe - The sports car gains new all weather utility in
this new experimental model. The removable top of the same glass fiber
plastic construction as the body itself may be left behind in the garage
on warm and sunny days.”
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
The hardtop feature would not become available until 1956. It took
General Motors and Chevrolet three years to figure out that the consumer
wanted roll up windows, outside door handles and door locks.
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
Like the 1954 Chevy Corvette Corvair and 1954 Chevy Corvette Nomad only
the Chevrolet Corvette Hardtop Motorama Experimental Show Cars were
made. How many? No one really knows.
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe, 1954 - Rendering
Three
Corvette-based show cars were among the attractions of the 1954 GM
Motorama. From background to foreground are the Corvair, Nomad, and the
prototype hardtop car. The latter featured a detachable hardtop and
roll-up windows; both features would be adopted for the 1956 Corvette.
The white Corvette is a production model.
