Built from 1953 to 1962, the first-generation Chevrolet Corvette is one of the rarest iterations of the nameplate when it comes to production numbers. Especially the first-year version, built in 300 units, and the 1955 model, produced in 700 examples. But the C1 also spawned a series of one-off concepts and prototypes that are highly sought-after and expensive nowadays. The “proposal car” you see here is one of them.
What exactly is a “proposal car,” you ask? Well, the company’s styling department built this car for GM Management to review and determine the look of the then-upcoming 1955 Corvette. The proposal was eventually dismissed, and the egg-crate grille, the front fender gills, and the scooped hood didn’t make it into production. The 1955 Corvette arrived in showrooms virtually identical to the 1954 version, albeit with an optional V8 engine under the hood.
But there’s even more to this unique ‘Vette. Before it became a “proposal car,” it was part of the batch of 15 VIN-less fiberglass bodies intended for experimental use. One became the Corvette prototype that Chevy unveiled in January 1953. Two of them morphed into the Corvair and Nomad concept cars. This one started life as one of two pale yellow hardtop prototypes before being returned to GM’s “Art and Color” department to be repurposed as a “proposal car.”
And unlike most of its Motorama-era siblings, which were either destroyed or rebuilt into different show cars, this prototype soldiered on to see 2023. Its early whereabouts are still a mystery, but the car found its way to California before it was sold to Auto Center in the early 1960s.
In 1974, it was purchased by Corvette collector Richard Oldham, who sold it to George F. Campbell in 1975. The prototype remained with Mr. Campbell for 40 years, during which he collected parts and researched the car in anticipation of restoration. When he passed away, the Corvette ended up with an Indiana-based enthusiast who performed a three-year restoration, returning the “proposal car” to its former glory.
Come 2023, the prototype is in fantastic condition and sporting the same Bermuda Green color applied by GM in 1954. But even though it was restored to its “proposal car” specification, remnants of the original yellow and green paint were preserved in hidden areas like the trunk and behind the seats. As evidence of its early days as a factory prototype, of course.
Since the restoration was completed, the Corvette was showcased at the 2023 Amelia Concours d’Elegance, where it won The Founders Award. Only a few months have passed since then, and the prototype is looking for a new owner. The one-off sports car will be auctioned off at the Pebble Beach Auctions, and it’s estimated to fetch $1.5 to $2 million.
If it does, it will become the most expensive first-generation Corvette ever auctioned. And that’s a considerable feat for a Corvette not powered by a V8 engine. Yes, this prototype rocks a 235-cubic-inch (3.9-liter) “Blue Flame” inline-six. And that’s perfectly fine!