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1959 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Color

1959 Corvette

1959 C1 Corvette Price & Options

CODE DESCRIPTION QUANTITY RETAIL PRICE
867 Base Corvette Convertible 9,670 $3,875.00
101 Heater 8,909 $102.25
102 AM Radio, signal seeking 7,001 $149.80
107 Parking Brake Alarm 3,601 $5.40
108 Courtesy Lights 3,601 $6.50
109 Windshield Washers 7,929 $16.15
121 Radiator Fan Clutch 67 $21.55
261 Sunshades 3,722 $10.80
276 Wheels, 15 x 5.5 (5) $214.00  $0.00
290 Whitewall Tires, 6.70 x 15 8,173  $31.55
313 Powerglide Automatic Transmission 1,878 $199.10
419 Auxillary Hardtop 5,481 $236.75
426 Power Windows 587 $59.20
440 Two-Tone Paint Combination 2,931 $16.15
469 283ci, 245HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) 1,417 $150.65
469C 283ci, 270HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) 1,846 $182.95
473 Power Operated Folding Top 661 $139.90
579 283ci, 250HP Engine (Fuel Injection) 175 $484.20
579D 283ci, 290HP Engine (Fuel Injection) 745 $484.20
675 Positraction Rear Axle 4,170 $48.45
684 Heavy Duty Brakes and Suspension 142 $425.05
685 4-Speed Manual Transmission 4,175 $188.30
686 Metallic Brakes 333 $26.90
1408 Blackwall Tires, 6.70 x 15 Nylon
1625 24 Gallon Fuel Tank

Base Corvette Roadster (867)

  • The base price of the 1959 Chevrolet Corvette without any optional equipment.
  • This base option price included a 283 cubic inch, 230 horsepower V8 engine, 3-speed manual transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft top.
  • The 1959 Corvette’s exterior appearance is very similar to the 1958 except that it does not have the simulated hood louvers or the twin chrome trunk “suspenders”.

Heater (101) – An interior space/cockpit heater

  • The 1959 Corvette heater has an “outside” fresh air type heater.

AM Radio, signal seeking (102)

  • A standard Delco, signal seeking AM radio with conventional volume and selector bars.
  • The AM Radios for the 1959 Corvette are transistorized.
  • Most 1959 selector bars for the signal-seeking feature included the word “Wonderbar”.
  • Models not equipped with this option received a painted block-out cover plate.

Parking Brake Alarm (107)

  • A warning light that illuminates/ indicates when the parking brake is applied.

Courtesy Lights (108)

  • Interior lights mounted on the interior of the car to aid in visibility when outside lighting is unavailable.

Windshield Washers (109)

  • A washer pump and dispensing nozzle mechanism that dispenses cleaner onto the windshield.
    The optional 1959 washer reservoir is mounted on the left side for all carbureted engines and on the right side for all fuel injected engines.  Right side mounted reservoirs are protected by a heat shield.

Radiator Fan Clutch (121)

  • A thermostatically controlled clutch that disengages the radiator fan during engine operation.
  • New to the 1959 Corvette, this feature allowed for increased horsepower and better fuel efficiency by disengaging the fan during “cool” engine operation.

Sunshades (261)

  • Also known as a sun visor, this fold down shade blocks sunlight during vehicle operation.
  • The 1959 Corvette was the first model to feature sunshades.
  • Included both driver and passenger sunshades.

Wheels, 15×5.5 (276)

  • Optional wheels that were one-half inch wider than stock.
  • Featured small, passenger car hubcaps instead of standard, full wheel disc covers.

Whitewall Tires (290)

  • Original tires were either U.S. Royal Air Ride, B.G. Goodrich Silvertown or Firestone Deluxe Champion.
  • All tires were wide-whitewall type, with whitewall widths varying from 2.5 to 3 inches.

Powerglide Automatic Transmission (313)

  • An “optional” two-speed automatic transmission developed by GM.

Auxiliary Hardtop (419)

  • An optional hard-top that replaced the standard convertible top.
  • Although the Auxiliary Hardtop is shown as an option, customers could swap the convertible top for the auxiliary hard top at no additional cost.  Of the 5,481 Corvettes sold with this option,  1,695 of them were the result of this substitution.

Power Windows (426)

  • Electronically controlled windows which could be raised or lowered during vehicle operation.

Two-Tone Paint Combination (440)

  • A second, optional paint color that was used to highlight the bodyside coves.
  • A total of 2,931 Corvettes featured the two-tone paint scheme in 1959.  Of these, 805 were painted Roman Red/White, 535 were painted Snowcrest White/Silver, 496 were painted Tuxedo Black/Silver, 420 were painted Crown Sapphire/White, 361 were painted Frost Blue/White, 220 were painted Inca Silver/White, and 89 were painted Classic Cream/White.

283 CI, 245 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469)

  • A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
  • 1,417 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 270 HP Engine (2×4 Carburetors) (469C)

  • A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
  • 1,846 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Power Operated Folding Top (473)

  • Electronically controlled convertible top that could be automatically raised/lowered.
  • Unlike the 1953-1955 Corvette Roadsters, which had an optional top that could be attached to the car, this convertible top was an integral part of the design, allowing the 1959 Corvette to be classified as a true convertible.

283 CI, 250 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579)

  • A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
  • 175 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

283 CI, 290 HP Engine (Fuel Injected) (579D)

  • A “high output” version of the standard 283 CI, 230 HP engine.
  • 745 of the 1959 Corvettes were built with this engine.

Positraction Rear Axle (675)

  • A “limited slip” rear axle that engages both rear wheels as drive wheels.
  • For 1959, this option required that the Corvette have a manual transmission.
  • Of the total 4,170 Corvettes built with this option, 1,362 had a 3.70:1 ratio, 2,523 had a 4.11:1 ratio, and 285 had a 4.56:1 ratio.

Heavy Duty Racing Suspension (684)

  • Modified suspension system featuring a number of performance/handling upgrades.
  • Included special front and rear springs and shock absorbers, a heavier front stabilizer bar, quick steering adapter, metallic brakes, finned brake drums, fresh air ducting to rear brakes (early models only), and front brake air deflectors.
  • Positraction rear axle, manual transmission and either the 290 Horsepower, 283 Cubic Inch Fuel Injected V-8 Engine OR the 270
  • Horsepower, 283 Cubic Inch Carbureted (2×4 Carbs) V-8 engine was required.

4-Speed Manual Transmission (685)

  • An optional four-speed, close-ratio, synchromesh manual transmission.
  • This option included a “T” handle with positive reverse lockout – an option featured for the first time on the 1959 Corvette.

Metallic Brakes (686)

  • Optional sintered-metallic brake linings increase braking effectiveness.
  • They comprised three pairs of lining segments that were riveted to the primary brake shoes and five pairs of slightly thicker segments for the secondary shoes.
  • Drums were finless with this option but were flared at their open ends to enhance cooling.
  • The sintered linings made braking less harsh than the Cerametallic material and needed far less warming up to provide maximum braking effectiveness.
  • They were developed by GM’s Delco-Moraine Division.

Blackwall Tires, 6.70×15 Nylon (1408)

  • Optional black sidewall tires to replace the standard white sidewall.
  • It is uncertain how many Corvettes were ordered with this option.

24 Gallon Fuel Tank (1625)

  • A special fiberglass fuel tank that allowed for greater fuel mileage.
  • Replaced standard tank
  • Available only with the removable hardtop (due to spacing limitations created because of the increased storage space

1959 Corvette Exterior/Interior Colors

EXTERIOR TOTAL BODY COVE COVE TOTAL SOFT TOP WHEELS INTERIOR
Tuxedo Black 1,594 Silver $496.00 Black, White Black Blue,Black,Red
Classic Cream 223 White $89.00 Black, White Black Black
Frost Blue 1,024 White $361.00 Blue, Black, White Black Blue,Red
Crown Sapphire 888 White $420.00 Black, Turquoise, White Black Turquoise
Roman Red 1,542 White $805.00 Black, White Black Black,Red
Snowcrest White 3,354 Silver $535.00 Blue, Black, Tq, White Black Blue,Black,Red,Tq
Inca Silver 957 White $220.00 Black, White Black Black,Red

Exterior Color Templates

Interior Color Templates

For more 1959 Corvette, see our 1959 Corvette Research Hub and 1959 Corvette Model Guide