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1959 Facts
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There just a few minor changes in 1959. Corvette added
"sun-shades" and a turquoise soft top. The turquoise soft top
only lasted until the end of the year. The '59 had ceramic
metallic brakes with finned drums, air scoops and blowers. It
was the last year for cotton ply tires. The big news for '59 was
that Chevrolet was beginning to show profits with the Corvette
after selling 9168 '58s.
Bill Mitchell's personal vehicle for style testing, the Sting
Ray, debuted at the President's Cup Race at Maryland's Malboro
Raceway. On April 18th, Dick Thompson raced it to a 4th place
finish. This car would be critical in the design of the '63.
In October, the XP-700 was revised and lengthened. Designers
added a double bubble hardtop made of transparent plastic. The
XP-720 clay mock-up was completed. It was also a critical design
for the future '63.
More concept cars: Chevrolet, under Duntov's direction, began
work on the Chevrolet Experimental Racing Vehicle (CERV I).
Also, the full scale Q-Corvette was completed.
DID YOU KNOW?: 1959 was the only year that turquoise
soft tops were available. |
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1959 Corvette Options
| RPO# |
DESCRIPTION |
QUANTITY |
$ RETAIL |
| 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 Light |
3,601 |
6.50 |
| 109 |
Windshield Washers |
7,229 |
16.15 |
| 121 |
Radiator Fan Clutch |
67 |
21.55 |
| 261 |
Sunshades |
3,722 |
10.80 |
| 276 |
Wheels, 15x5.5 |
214 |
0.00 |
| 290 |
6.70x15 Whitewall Tires |
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 Exterior Paint |
2,931 |
16.15 |
| 469 |
283ci, 245hp Engine (2x4 carburetor) |
1,417 |
150.65 |
| 469C |
283ci, 270hp Engine (2x4 carburetor) |
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 |
6.70x15 Blackwall Tires |
n/a |
n/a |
| 1625 |
24 Gallon Fuel Tank |
n/a |
n/a |
1959 Corvette Exterior Color
Choices
| CODE |
EXTERIOR |
QUANTITY |
| - |
Tuxedo Black |
1,594 |
| - |
Snowcrest White |
3,354 |
| - |
Roman Red |
1,542 |
| - |
Classic Cream |
223 |
| - |
Inca Silver |
957 |
| - |
Frost Blue |
1,024 |
| - |
Crown Sapphire |
888 |
1959 Corvette Interior Color
Choices
| CODE |
COLOR |
| - |
Black Vinyl (2,062 built) |
| - |
Blue Vinyl (1,303 Built) |
| - |
Turquoise Vinyl (1,181 Built) |
| - |
Red Vinyl (5,124 Built) |
Note: Interior and exterior colors were not
coded to individual cars in 1959.
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