Unique parts to the first-year 1954 Corvette

[spoker]

View attachment 1022151
This early 1955 Corvette in Dark Opal Red just came in for the beauty treatment. It is a one owner and not ridden since the 1960s.

Serial number L67106 dates the frame to the end of July 1954.

It checks many of the boxes (great info!) that GTs58 listed earlier in this thread such as 17" bars, bow pedals with screwed on blocks, aluminum Mayweg with the 3"prongs, ballooner clamp with AS bolt head, and lightweight chainguard with riveted cable clip.

The fender width front and rear is 2.75" and it has 26 x 1 3/4 Trelleborg whitewalls. Is the saddle from the Phantom model as mentioned elsewhere?

It appears to missing the light and rear reflector but is otherwise OG except for perhaps the tires.

The catalog and ad pics posted here are just super. I have a 1955 catalog but the ads are a great supplement.

looks looks like some came with left over stock of ballooner panther and ballooner jag

 

[spoker]

heres mine as found,why a letter and 6 numbers?

 

[Oilit]

View attachment 1022151
This early 1955 Corvette in Dark Opal Red just came in for the beauty treatment. It is a one owner and not ridden since the 1960s.

Serial number L67106 dates the frame to the end of July 1954.

It checks many of the boxes (great info!) that GTs58 listed earlier in this thread such as 17" bars, bow pedals with screwed on blocks, aluminum Mayweg with the 3"prongs, ballooner clamp with AS bolt head, and lightweight chainguard with riveted cable clip.

The fender width front and rear is 2.75" and it has 26 x 1 3/4 Trelleborg whitewalls. Is the saddle from the Phantom model as mentioned elsewhere?

It appears to missing the light and rear reflector but is otherwise OG except for perhaps the tires.

The catalog and ad pics posted here are just super. I have a 1955 catalog but the ads are a great supplement.

That's got to be one of the very earliest ones! Thanks for posting and how about some more pictures?

 

[Oilit]

heres mine as found,why a letter and 6 numbers?View attachment 1022195

View attachment 1022196

View attachment 1022198

View attachment 1022199

That's a good question. According to the serial number list, they were using serial numbers starting with "J" in 1953, but those only had 5 numbers. A serial starting with "J9" would be 1959, so it could be a replacement frame, but the decals look original to me.

 

[spoker]

That's a good question. According to the serial number list, they were using serial numbers starting with "J" in 1953, but those only had 5 numbers. A serial starting with "J9" would be 1959, so it could be a replacement frame, but the decals look original to me.

ya im gonna have to look again,the parts wouldnt fit from a 59 frame,aand the frame paint and chain guard match

 

[Allrounderco]

Mine is L47852

Correct early chainguard and bars. Rest of good stuff is gone. Fenders are from a ‘58. It’s available, if anyone’s interested.

 

[GTs58]

Mine is L47852

View attachment 1022262
Correct early chainguard and bars. Rest of good stuff is gone. Fenders are from a ‘58. It’s available, if anyone’s interested.

Your serial number was used at least twice, end of June 54 and the beginning of August 56.

I'd bet big $'s that @spoker 's Corvette has a warranty frame. No other legitimate explanation for that 1959 serial

 

[Allrounderco]

Your serial number was used at least twice, end of June 54 and the beginning of August 56.

It also has a ‘54 crank, and a 7/54 stamped Sturmey AW. I had a thread on schwinnbikeforum.com about 7 years ago with photos. I actually think you commented on it, @GTs58. Someone did make the point that it was a very early example. It’s my first old bike.

Edit: here is the thread on SBF: http://www.schwinnbikeforum.com/index.php?topic=11950.0

 

[GTs58]

It also has a ‘54 crank, and a 7/54 stamped Sturmey AW. I had a thread on schwinnbikeforum.com about 7 years ago with photos. I actually think you commented on it, @GTs58. Someone did make the point that it was a very early example. It’s my first old bike.

Now that you mention it, I remember that. It was for sale on the side of the road in someones yard I'm thinking.

 

[Allrounderco]

Now that you mention it, I remember that. It was for sale on the side of the road in someones yard I'm thinking.

Not exactly, but just as random. I found it at a flea market. I updated my previous post with the link. And thanks for the help, both then and now.