Photo: Russo and Steele
Everybody knows one of the Billboard Hot 100 hits released by The Carpenters. Close to You, A Song for You, Now & Then, you name it, the Grammy-winning duo have an impressive and acclaimed discography. Richard Carpenter was also a car enthusiast, owning several two-seater sports cars back in the day.
This 1954 Chevrolet Corvette roadster is one of them, and it will go around the auction block this weekend at Russo and Steele's Newport Beach Sale. Out of the 28 Corvette vehicles consigned to this R&S' auction, Richard Carpenter's is the grooviest of the lot.
Being a 1954 Corvette, this model year differs a little from the 1953. The original model year of the two-seater sports car boasted two short stainless-steel exhaust outlets protruding inboard of the rear fenders. This design created air turbulence, soiling the paint job in the process. As such, the 1954 Corvette gets lengthened outlets routed below the body.
Furthermore, gas and brake lines were better protected and the top irons changed from black to tan. Pretty neat, huh? A further enhancement that appeared on the 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a revised camshaft. This bit of kit boosted the output of the 235 cu.in. (3.9-liter) Blue Flame inline-six by 5 horsepower to 155 HP.
Richard Carpenter's white 1954 Chevrolet Corvette also received a single-handle exterior hood latch as the 1953 model year's two-handle latch was a little hard to operate. Though Polo White was the most popular color for the 1954 Corvette, this example of the breed looks magnificent. Even the interior appears pristine.
Speaking of the interior, the choke control was moved from the right to the left of the steering column, swapping places with the wiper switch. This solution eliminated having to reach through the steering wheel to operate the choke with the left hand while turning the key with the right.
The Carpenters' main man didn't tinker with the mechanicals of the Corvette, nor customized it with aftermarket bits and bobs. It's all original, and it even comes with matching numbers. Bought in 1988 from Richard Carpenter, the current owner of this Corvette will miss it after the hammer strike.
Being a 1954 Corvette, this model year differs a little from the 1953. The original model year of the two-seater sports car boasted two short stainless-steel exhaust outlets protruding inboard of the rear fenders. This design created air turbulence, soiling the paint job in the process. As such, the 1954 Corvette gets lengthened outlets routed below the body.
Furthermore, gas and brake lines were better protected and the top irons changed from black to tan. Pretty neat, huh? A further enhancement that appeared on the 1954 Chevrolet Corvette is a revised camshaft. This bit of kit boosted the output of the 235 cu.in. (3.9-liter) Blue Flame inline-six by 5 horsepower to 155 HP.
Richard Carpenter's white 1954 Chevrolet Corvette also received a single-handle exterior hood latch as the 1953 model year's two-handle latch was a little hard to operate. Though Polo White was the most popular color for the 1954 Corvette, this example of the breed looks magnificent. Even the interior appears pristine.
Speaking of the interior, the choke control was moved from the right to the left of the steering column, swapping places with the wiper switch. This solution eliminated having to reach through the steering wheel to operate the choke with the left hand while turning the key with the right.
The Carpenters' main man didn't tinker with the mechanicals of the Corvette, nor customized it with aftermarket bits and bobs. It's all original, and it even comes with matching numbers. Bought in 1988 from Richard Carpenter, the current owner of this Corvette will miss it after the hammer strike.
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