1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Coupe

Corvette Hardtop Motorama Showcar, 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.

 

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.

 

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.”

 

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.

 

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 - Rendering

 

 

Three Corvette-based show cars were among the attractions of the 1954 GM Motorama. From background to foreground are the Nomad, Corvair, 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.

 

Source:  shorey.net