Frame Off Built Corvette Roadster 350 4 Speed with A/C

If there's a better way to spend a warm summer evening than behind the wheel of a car that looks and drives like this, I can't imagine what it might be. Fully-sorted and ready to tear up the roads, this fully restored C1 roadster comes complete with a proven 350 cubic inch small block V8 and a tough Muncie 4-speed transmission. Everything about this classic will make you smile: how it looks, how it feels, how it accelerates, and how it draws appreciative glances from people on the street. And it's the perfect top down cruiser for taking your Sunday drives to a whole new level! If you're in the market for a solid first generation Corvette that you can enjoy on weekends and cruise to the local car shows, we have your car!

During its extensive rotisserie restoration this Corvette roadster's contoured fiberglass body was completely gelcoated, layered in glossy Onyx Black urethane and trimmed with traditional silver door coves. Like all '56 Corvettes, it was originally assembled at GM's new for 1954 St. Louis manufacturing facility; and like most '56 Corvettes, its fit and finish presents much better now than it did 56 years ago. Given their fiberglass construction, curved bodies and age, vintage Corvettes are difficult restorations that do not hide major repairs well. Judging by the looks of this roadster's smooth fuselage, there's no evidence it has ever seen any catastrophic damage or botched fix jobs. And today, the car's solid condition is typical of what we all wish to find in fully-sorted road warriors that can be reliably driven day in and day out.

The 1956 Corvette is essentially an improved version of Chevrolet's hand-built 1953 model which set a design precedent for American cars and began a legacy that is now 60 years strong. Up front, an aggressively styled and well-maintained chrome grille rides between round, chrome trimmed parking lights and angled front bumpers that bend around peaked front fenders. Below those bumpers, a chrome fang-like tag bracket snakes up the fascia to the middle of the grille; and above those bumpers pristine, chrome trimmed headlights align perfectly with a centered C1 Corvette emblem. At the sides of the car, well-maintained stainless combines with C1 cross-flag emblems to decorate the silver door coves. At the top of the car, a pristine wraparound windshield props a fresh black top above chrome trimmed fender vents, new for 1956 side glass, a correct driver's mirror and traditional chrome door handles. And at the back of the car, recessed and chrome trimmed tail lights hang between a second C1 Corvette emblem and a second set of angled chrome bumpers which neatly incorporate the car's factory exhaust tips

Tilt the car's shiny black hood and you'll find a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 which wears a nice combination of clean black paint and finished metal accessories. Built for effortless driving, that stalwart mill is topped by a chrome air cleaner which funnels wind into a chrome Edelbrock Weber carburetor that's complete with a small fuel pressure gauge and an inline fuel filter. Below that carburetor, an Edelbrock Streetmaster aluminum intake rides between a pair of traditional finned aluminum valve covers; and a modern Accel distributor fires spark through a fresh set of MSD Street Fire plug wires. Cooling for that hot spark is provided by a large aluminum radiator which circulates water past a trick chrome cap and a quick spinning electric puller fan. Exhaust from that hot spark is handled by a pair of chrome covered manifolds which allow give the engine plenty of room to breathe. And the charge for that hot spark comes courtesy of a polished alternator that's spun opposite a chrome AC compressor via two fresh V-belts. Reliable and appealing, this Corvette's stout small block takes off smoothly and has plenty of power. And the car's thoroughly detailed engine bay, with its combination of jet-black paint and brightly finished components, creates great looking texture and contrast.

Toss this roadster on a lift and you'll find a solid, restored X-frame which is bolted to clean floor tubs that are free of flaw-camouflaging undercoating. Behind the stout 350, a reliable Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission sends power to the ground through what appears to be the car's original highway friendly rear end. Holding that drivetrain off the ground is the car's original double A-arm front and independent rear suspension which has been rebuilt to include fresh rear air shocks. Smooth and solid stops come courtesy of power four wheel drum brakes. Exhaust is handled by a welded true dual system which includes dual chamber Flowmaster-style mufflers. And at the corners, correct 15 inch steel wheels spin fresh 205/75 BF Goodrich Silvertown white walls around traditional, full wheel covers.

Inside the car, a clean red leather interior is built around great looking bucket seats which have just enough break-in time to be exceptionally comfortable. Below those seats like-new black carpet, which is protected by heavy duty rubber floor mats, runs from under the dash all the way to the back of the cockpit. At the sides of those seats, beautifully stitched red panels combine with chrome hardware and stainless trim to highlight small, simple doors. And at the front of those seats, a red trimmed and black painted dash holds a full array of Equus gauges between a small rearview mirror, a Custom Autosound MP3 compatible stereo, a traditional Corvette speaker and controls for the car's heat and air conditioning system. In front of the driver a big steering wheel, which is clearly inspired by race cars of the period, features matching red paint, drilled spokes and a carefully matched horn button. And, since consoles were still an invention of the future in 1956, the car's Hurst shifter snakes its way directly out of the transmission tunnel.

Included with the sale of this slick C1 roadster is a small album of restoration photos, a bound assembly manual, a couple of component manuals and a reproduction owner's manual.

This hot '56 Corvette offers a ton of style and performance for very reasonable money. It's a highly desirable first generation convertible which features a custom black on red color combination, a proven small block V8 and an engaging 4-speed transmission. If you're in the market for a reliable cruiser that will provide endless fun on the highway and get you celebrity attention in the parking lot, this is your car!