The Corvette was a race car almost from the very beginning!

Yes, these were the first Chevrolet-built Corvette race cars. They don’t look familiar because in this promotion photograph the cars had yet to be decorated. The young man to the left and in the back is Bill France, Jr. in 1953 Corvette VIN #211 and the man on the right and in front is Joe Hawkins in 1955 Corvette VIN #1399. The names of the bathing beauties are not known. Back in the NASCAR’s early days they had a “Sports Car Series,” sometimes called the “International Class” that ran as support races for the Grand National races.

Terry Michaelis, owner of ProTeam Corvette has fully restored the 1953 version and meticulously researched the two cars, stitching together the history of these two forgotten Corvette racecars. Back in the day, working under the direction of three-time Indy 500 winner, Mauri Rose and Chevrolet chief engineer, Ed Cole, the Chevrolet Engineering Department did an admirable job turning the struggling Corvette into a racer. The cars were equipped with preproduction 1956 265-CID engines with dual four-barrel carbs, 3-speed close-ratio manual transmission, heavy-duty rear and fitted with a plastic tonneau cover, headlight covers, a small, cut-down windscreen and relocated gauges. The cars competed in many races thought the South but how many wins they racked up is not completely known.  – Scott

Check out the super collection of Corvettes at ProTeam Corvette, HERE.