1955 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Gypsy Red 265ci V8 *Frame-Off Restoration!

Corvette collectors & enthusiasts, you will want to take a very close look at this outstanding vehicle!'Red Hills Rods & Classics' is very proud to offer you this absolutely gorgeous, frame-off restored 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, finished in its original factory correct Gypsy Red exterior wrapped around a beautiful white interior, w/ only 17 miles on the clock since the comprehensive nut & bolt restoration. Total production for 1955 Corvette was expected to be around 10,000 units, but the final...numbers are much, much smaller, w/ only (700) 1955 Chevrolet Corvettes actually manufactured. 1955 was a very good year for the Corvette, and arguably the year that saved the model from extinction. For the 1955 model year, Chevrolet finally did away with the anemic 'Blue Flame' straight-six and replaced it with the 265ci V-8, bringing much needed performance and soul to 'America's Sports Car'. Many people believed this would be the last year for Corvette, but thanks at least in part to the success of the Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet realized that there was a serious market for the Corvette. The new 'Turbo-Fire' V-8 did wondrous things for the Corvette's performance, and the 195 horsepower V8 was a 40-hp improvement over the 'Blue Flame Six'. Chevrolet marketed the V-8 not as an engine option but as a separate Corvette model, and though the two cars looked almost exactly the same, the V-8-powered Corvettes were readily identifiable thanks to special 'CheVrolet' lettering on their sides. The V8 certainly helped kick-start interest in the Corvette, a surge that would carry the car to fabulous sales successes in the years ahead. Not counting the (300) Corvettes produced in the first-year 1953 model, the (700) cars produced in 1955 is the lowest production by far, which certainly makes it one of the rarest Corvettes ever produced. This spectacular example has been in a private collection since it was frame-off restored in 2007, and has only been driven a total of 17 miles since. The gentleman who restored the car was a Corvette guru, and specialized in early C1 Corvettes only. It was originally a California car, and was in excellent condition w/ no signs of ever being damaged in any way. She left the factory in arguably the prettiest color combination of Gypsy Red wrapped around a white/red interior, which was a huge plus right from the start. The factory correct Gypsy Red paint was done in proper single-stage lacquer. It was then polished to an absolutely brilliant shine throughout, which looks to be a mile deep. The paint is absolutely gorgeous on this car and looks as fresh as the day it was done. All of the chrome & bright work is in show-quality condition, including the bumpers & bumperettes, front grille, and all of the stainless-steel trim. The factory correct tan convertible top is brand new and was lowered for the first time to take these photos. She sits on the original 15" wheels w/ the correct faux-spinner wheel covers wrapped w/ 15" whitewall tires, just like she did 64 years ago. This is a stunning Corvette from every angle, period! The undercarriage is also very nicely detailed and factory correct throughout (please see undercarriage photos).Open the driver's door and you will find an absolutely perfect white/red interior that is 'factory fresh' in every way. These cars had beige carpeting from the factory, but during the restoration they decided on using red carpeting throughout, as the original beige carpeting just didn't pop enough in their opinion. This can easily be swapped out, but I really think that the red carpeting makes for a much more elegant interior. All of the original gauges, lights, blinkers, horn, etc., are in perfect working condition. Again, everything inside has a showroom appearance, and you would have to search long & hard to find a more perfect interior in a 1955 Corvette! The trunk area is also beautifully restored and houses the original side curtains, which are in the original red pouch that hangs in the back of the trunk. The chrome, steel-framed door windows & vent assemblies (side-curtains) contain Plexiglass logos on each pane. They have been completely restored and are in 'as new' condition. They are so perfect that I didn't want to remove them again for photographs after I originally inspected them upon delivery of the car, as they are very hard to find and very pricey.Pop open the hood and nestled inside the nicely detailed engine bay you will find the original 265ci/195hp V8 motor dressed up in correct Chevy orange paint w/ chrome valve covers & chrome louvered air cleaner assembly. The original engine pad stamp shows the correct suffix code (FG), for the 265ci/195hp V8 motor. The 265ci motor is linked the original Powerglide automatic transmission, which feeds power to the original 3.55 rear-end. She fires up instantly, settling into a nice smooth idle, and runs, drives beautifully. Since there are so few miles on the car, I only drove about a mile to make sure that everything functioned properly, and I was simply amazed at how nicely it performed. This is an investment-grade vintage Corvette in every sense of the word. It is nearly impossible to find a 1955 Corvette Roadster in such beautifully restored condition, as many of the parts for the '53-'55 Corvettes have become very hard to acquire.This car is for the serious collector who has yet to find the perfect 1955 Corvette for their high-end collection. Future potential is limitless w/ a car of this stature, and it is certainly better than money in the bank. If you have been searching for an absolutely mint example of one of the rarest Corvettes ever produced, you will want to take a long hard look at this gorgeous 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible!