Chevrolet
1955 Corvette

Why it matters

The 1955 model year brought the 265-cubic-inch small-block V-8 to the Corvette. Only 700 cars were built that year and the programme was close to cancellation, but the V-8 and the competition from the Ford Thunderbird kept it alive.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

• Chevrolet 1955 Corvette (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Rex Gray · CC BY 2.0
• Chevrolet 1955 Corvette (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0
• Chevrolet 1955 Corvette (Wikimedia Commons search)
  Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

For 1955 Chevrolet built 700 Corvettes, and the new 265-cubic-inch V-8 designed by Ed Cole went into 693 of them, rated at 195 horsepower. The other seven kept the 155-horsepower six-cylinder. Late in the year a three-speed manual gearbox became available; before that the two-speed Powerglide had been the only choice.

Ford sold 16,155 Thunderbirds in 1955 against 700 Corvettes. The source says production was nearly stopped, and that General Motors would not leave the two-seater market to Ford. The V-8 was marked by a "V" in the badge script.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The six-cylinder car carries the 235-cubic-inch Blue Flame engine with three Carter sidedraft carburetors instead of the V-8. The hub notes that the 1953-54 cars are documented car by car, so provenance of a six can be checked.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   C1 Corvette generation hub (variants, options, production notes) Level B CorvSport

   • went into 693 of the 700
   • 265 ci V-8, 195 hp (693 cars)
   • 3-speed manual from 1955
   • steel X-braced ladder frame, 102-in wheelbase
   • independent front suspension, solid rear axle on leaf springs
   • solid rear axle on leaf springs
   • drum brakes throughout
   • fiberglass body on a steel structure
   • 102-in wheelbase

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   1955 Corvette Pricing, Factory Options, & Colors – CorvSport Level C

   • 693 1955 model-year roadsters with 8-cylinder engine (RPO 2934-8)
   • 7 1955 model-year roadsters with 6-cylinder engine (RPO 2934-6)
   • 45 1955 Corvettes painted Pennant Blue (code 570)
   • 15 1955 Corvettes painted Corvette Copper (code 573)

   Accessed 2026-11-12
3. 3
   C1 Corvette research hub (1953-1962) Level B CorvSport

   • six, 155 hp (7)
   • 8.0:1 compression
   • three Carter YH sidedraft carburetors

   Accessed 2026-11-12