Steve Magnante's 1001 Corvette Facts. Steve Magnante

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      151 Corvette received roll-up door glass in 1956, an improvement that quieted loud customer complaints about the awkward snap-in side curtains used previously. Better still, RPO 426 delivered power window lifts for $64.60. Only 547 of the 3,467 cars built in 1956 were so equipped.

      152 An optional power-operated folding top augmented the standard manual folding top, adding to Corvette’s more civilized 1956 redesign. For $107.60, RPO 473 took the hassle out of raising and lowering the vinyl roof in case of rain. A healthy 2,682 out of 3,467 1956 Corvettes came with the power top.

      153 Snuffing out a lucrative cottage industry that sold fiberglass lids to chilled 1953–1955 Corvette owners, Chevrolet finally released its own auxiliary hardtop in 1956. For $215.20, buyers could have RPO 419, a color-matched fiberglass roof that could be installed or removed in minutes. The combination of the hardtop and the new roll-up door glass finally transformed the Corvette into an all-weather machine. Of the 3,467 cars built in 1956, 2,682 came with the auxiliary lid.

      154 Interestingly, Chevrolet knew that a certain number of customers saw the folding roof as being superfluous after the RPO 419 hardtop arrived. Thus, customers who knew they’d never hassle with the soft top could get the hardtop at no charge (a savings of $215.20). Corvettes built this way lacked the folding top and related anchoring hardware that was otherwise stashed in the area behind the seats. This was popular with road racers because it shed about 40 pounds, and 629 Corvettes were built this way in 1956. This roof-substitution option continued through 1962.

      155 A major boost to passenger comfort came in 1956 when the RPO 101 heater was redesigned to blend fresh outside air into the mix, putting an end to the stuffy atmosphere of older cars. The improved equipment triggered a price increase from $91.40 (1955) to $123.65. That said, availability delays forced the factory to install the old-style non-recirculating heater in the first 145 1956 models built.

      156 Even though virtually every restored 1956–1961 Corvette seen today has a two-tone, contrasting paint treatment applied to the side cove, the attractive feature was not standard issue. Rather, buyers had to request RPO 440 to get the contrasting cove paint, which cost an extra $19.40 ($16.15 after 1957).

      157 Don’t assume that every 1956–1961 Corvette came with the RPO 440 contrasting-paint cove treatment. In fact, far more new Corvettes from that era were delivered with monotone paint than with two-tone. In 1956, 2,208 of 3,467 cars built came with monotone paint. In 1957, 3,545 of 6,339 cars built had monotone paint. Of the 9,168 cars built in 1958, 5,746 came with monotone paint. For 1959, 6,739 had monotone paint out of 9,670 cars built. In 1960, 6,949 of the 10,261 cars built came with monotone paint. Finally, in 1961, of the 10,939 cars built, 7,588 had monotone paint. Clearly, the two-tone side-cove treatment was not as popular then as it is today.

      158 The two-tone side-cove paint option was dropped in 1962, Corvette’s final year before the arrival of the Sting Ray. Given the facts presented above, Chevrolet’s decision makes sense. If the majority of buyers don’t want something, why offer it? As such, all of the 14,531 Corvettes built in 1962 had monotone paint. The RPO 440 two-tone cove paint treatment was discontinued.

      159 Even though the 1962 Corvette was a last-run offering, Chevrolet made several changes, including eliminating the previous bolt-on stainless side-cove outline trim. In its place, an exaggerated, raised lip was formed into the fiberglass. Thus, the door skins and front fenders were unique to the 1962 Corvette.

      160 Unlike the rectangular-screen radio antennae molded into earlier trunk lids, a telescoping mast-type antenna was adopted for 1956-on. But unlike the conventional placement atop the passenger-side front fender, it was mounted atop the driver-side rear quarter panel. This added distance worked with the metal ignition-system shielding to prevent radio interference.

      161 Speaking of radios, they were a $145.15 mandatory option from 1953 to 1955; buyers were finally able to decline radio equipment starting in 1956. Typically requested by road racers who didn’t need the added entertainment, Corvettes built without factory radios came with rectangular block-off plates to seal the hole left in the dash. Radio-delete Corvettes also lacked the elaborate multi-piece stainless-steel ignition shrouding.

       In 1956, the mandatory installation of radio equipment ended. Of the 3,467 cars built that year, 750 omitted the radio and carried a color-matched metal block-off plate, instead.

      162 Savvy Corvette spotters could learn what was under the hood by checking СКАЧАТЬ