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Chevrolet Introduced the Corvette in 1953
In 1954, with the Corvette on the verge of being discontinued indefinitely, a “stay of execution” emerged from the unlikeliest of places. Historically, it is well known that General Motors and Ford Motor Company have always shared more than a friendly rivalry. In many instances, the actions of one company were often guided, sometimes even dictated, by the actions of the other. So it was with the Chevrolet Corvette.
For more: 1955 Corvette Research Guide
1955 Corvette Specifications
1955 Corvette Main Specs
| MODEL: | 1955 Chevrolet Corvette |
| BODY STYLE: | Two-door convertible, front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| MANUFACTURING LOCATION: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| CONSTRUCTION: | Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, steel frame with steel and chrome structural & chassis components. |
| VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN): | VE55S001 thru VE55S001700 (for 6 cylinder models, “V” is omitted.) |
| VIN PREFIX: | FG: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GR: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION YG: 235 CUBIC INCH, 155 HORSEPOWER, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION |
| ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER: | 3703524: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER, 3835911: 235 CUBIC, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) |
| HEAD NUMBER: | 3703523: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER, 3836241: 235 CUBIC, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) |
| CARBURETOR NUMBERS: | CARTER 2066SA #3706989: 235 CUBIC INCH, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) CARTER 2218S #33717687: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (FIRST DESIGN)) CARTER 2351S #3724158: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (SECOND DESIGN) |
| DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER: | 1110847: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (WITHOUT VACUUM ADVANCE) 1110855: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (WITH VACUUM ADVANCE) 1112314: 235 CUBIC INCH, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) |
| GENERATOR NUMBER: | 1102525: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER 1102793: 235 CUBIC INCH, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) |
| STARTER NUMBER: | 1107627: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (FIRST DESIGN) 1107645: 265 CUBIC INCH, 195 HORSEPOWER (SECOND DESIGN) 1108035: 235 CUBIC INCH, 155 HORSEPOWER (6 CYLINDER) |
| PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE: | JANUARY, 1955: 001027, FEBRUARY, 1955: 001110, MARCH, 1955: 001150, APRIL, 1955: 001200, MAY, 1955: 001300, JUNE, 1955: 001389, JULY, 1955: 001489, AUGUST, 1955: 001555, SEPTEMBER, 1955: 001599, OCTOBER, 1955: 001634, NOVEMBER, 1955: 001688, DECEMBER, 1955: 001700 |
1955 Corvette Engine & Transmission
| ENGINE: | 3.8 OHV I-6 “Blue Flame”, Normally Aspirated, Water Cooled |
| BLOCK MATERIAL: | Cast Iron |
| VALVE TRAIN: | OHV, 2 valves per cyl. |
| TORQUE: | 223 lb-ft @ 2.400 rpm |
| MAX. ENGINE RPM: | N/A |
| DISPLACEMENT: | 3.85 Litre/235.5 Cubic Inches |
| CYLINDER HEAD MATERIAL: | Cast Iron |
| FUEL DELIVERY: | Three Carter Sidedraft Carbs. |
| RECOMMENDED FUEL: | N/A |
| BORE: | 3.56 x 3.95 inches |
| COMPRESSION RATIO: | 8.00:1 |
| HORSEPOWER: | 150/155 HP @ 4200 RPM |
| EST. MPG: | N/A |
| TRANSMISSION: | 2-SPEED POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC |
| STANDARD AXLE RATIO: | 3.55:1 |
| ENGINE: | 4.3 OHV V-8, Normally Aspirated, Water Cooled |
| BLOCK MATERIAL: | Cast Iron |
| VALVE TRAIN: | OHV, 2 valves per cyl. |
| TORQUE: | 260 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm |
| MAX. ENGINE RPM: | N/A |
| DISPLACEMENT: | 4.34 Litre/265 Cubic Inches |
| CYLINDER HEAD MATERIAL: | Cast Iron |
| FUEL DELIVERY: | Carter 4 Barrel Carburetor |
| RECOMMENDED FUEL: | N/A |
| BORE: | 3.75 x 3.00 inches |
| COMPRESSION RATIO: | 8.00:1 |
| HORSEPOWER: | 195 HP @ 5000 RPM |
| EST. MPG: | N/A |
| TRANSMISSION: | 3-SPEED MANUAL (STANDARD), 2-SPEED POWERGLIDE AUTO (OPTION) |
| STANDARD AXLE RATIO: | 3.55:1 |
1955 Corvette Car Dimensions
| Exterior Dimensions | Interior Dimensions | ||
| Wheelbase: | 102 Inches | Headroom: | N/A |
| Overall Length: | 167 Inches | Shoulder Room: | N/A |
| Total Body Width: | 72.2 Inches | Hip Room: | N/A |
| Overall Height: | 51.3 Inches | Leg Room: | N/A |
| Front Track Width: | 57 Inches | ||
| Rear Track Width: | 58.8 Inches | ||
| Capacities | |
| Passenger Capacity: | 2 Passengers |
| Curb Weight (LBS/KG): | 2,851/1,293 2,910/1,320 (V-8) |
| Cargo Volume (CU.FT/LITERS): | 22.4/634.4 |
| Fuel Capacity (GALLONS/LITERS): | 18/68 |
| Engine Oil Capacity (QTS./LITERS): | 5.5 |
1955 Corvette Wheels, Suspension & Brakes
| Wheels & Tires | |
| Front Tires: | 6.70 x 15 inch, 22 psi. |
| Rear Tires: | 6.70 x 15 inch, 22 psi. |
| Front Wheels: | Steel disc with safety rims. 15 x 5k |
| Rear Wheels: | Steel disc with safety rims. 15 x 5k |
| Suspension | |
| Front: | Independent; upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, antiroll bar, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers. |
| Rear: | Live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers |
| Brakes | |
| Front: | Hydraulic Drum Brakes. 11 inch drums |
| Rear: | Hydraulic Drum Brakes. 11 inch drums |
1955 Corvette Performance
| Published Track Test Performance Results | 6 Cylinder | 8 Cylinder |
| 0-30 MPH: | 3.6 Seconds | 3.3 Seconds |
| 0-60 MPH: | 11.1 Seconds | 8.7 Second |
| 0-100 MPH: | 39.0 Seconds | 24.7 Seconds |
| Quarter Mile: | 17.90 Seconds @ 77.0 mph | 16.7 Seconds @ 83.0 mph |
| Top Speed: | 108 MPH | 118 MPH |