1959 Corvette

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1953

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1954

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1955

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1956

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1957

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1958

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1959

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1960

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1961

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1962

1959 Corvette Photo Gallery


The 1999 Corvette saw minor styling changes, mainly the removal of the faux louvers on the hood and extra chrome spears on the trunk.

What began as a highly modified 1958 Corvette for Bill Mitchell, head of GM Styling. In 1959, the car was modified with a longer and smaller oval grille, extended tail and a double bubble plastic canopy, coated with vaporized aluminum to help block the sun's rays. Complete with a periscope type rear view mirror, it was repainted metallic silver in 1959 from its original red and elevated to show car status. The Corvette used the 283cid 230hp engine with a 4-speed transmission. It's reported the XP-755 Mako Shark was built on the XP-700 chassis, explaining its disappearance.

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
XP-700 Concept Car

The instrument glass was now convex to help eliminate glare and all tachometers have a redline and safe limit indicators. A small storage bin was added below the Assist Bar and a Corvette script was added to the anodized aluminum area behind the Assist Bar.

The manual 4-speed shifter now had a reverse lockout mechanism and black interiors were offered. The tachometer, seat belts, outside rear view mirrors, electric clock and dual exhaust were now standard on all 1959 Corvettes. The 1959 model year was the only year a turquoise soft top was offered.

The finned aluminum rocker arm covers went through a couple of changes in 1959. Early units retained the staggered bolt pattern and the "Corvette" script is often called "low script" due to its height. Late units changed to a straight across bolt pattern and the "Corvette" script is often referred to as "high script" due to its height.

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Early "low script" cover - note staggered rocker arm cover bolt pattern.

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Late "high script" cover. Note late production year heads with straight rocker arm cover bolt pattern.

1959 total Corvettes built - 9,670

A 283-cid, 230-hp engine, manual 3-speed transmission, vinyl interior trim, and a soft top were included in the base price of $3,875.00.

Corvettes Engines 9,670 Percentage
RPO 469 - 245-hp engine 1,417 14.65
RPO 469C - 270-hp engine 1,846 19.09
RPO 579 - 250-hp engine 175 01.81
RPO 579D - 290-hp engine 745 07.70
base 230-hp engine 5,487 56.74

 

Serial Numbers  
  J59S100001 - J59S109670

Engine Identification

Position Character(s) Description
1 V or T Flint, MI. or Tonawanda, N.Y. engine assembly plant
2 to 5 1025 Engine assembly date (month/day)
6 and 7 Size/HP/Fuel Delivery System/Transmission CQ - 283-cid 230-hp, manual transmission
DG - 283-cid 230-hp, automatic transmission


CT - 283-cid 245-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor
DJ - 283-cid 245-hp, automatic transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor

CR - 283-cid 250-hp, manual transmission, F.I.
DH - 283-cid 250-hp, automatic transmission, F.I.


CU - 283-cid 270-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor, high lift camshaft
CS - 283-cid 290-hp, manual transmission, F.I., high lift camshaft
F.I. Fuel Injection  

Like the 1958 model year, the Flint engine plant stamped the assembly date of the engine as month/day instead of the model year. Engines built September through December of 1958 have a 4-digit date while those built January through June/July have a 3-digit date.

Engine Specifications - 283 engines

  Base 283 RPO 469 245hp RPO 469C 270hp RPO 579 250hp RPO 579D 290hp
Bore (in inches) 3.875 3.875 3.875 3.875 3.875
Stroke (in inches) 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000 3.000
Cubic Inches 283 283 283 283 283
Compression Ratio 9.5:1 9.5:1 9.5:1 10.5:1 10.5:1
Horsepower @ RPM 230 @ 4800 245 @ 5000 270 @ 6000 250 @ 5000 290 @ 6200
Torque lb-ft @ RPM 300 @ 3000 300 @ 3800 285 @ 4500 305 @ 3800 290 @ 4400
Fuel 4-bbl
2818S #3756676
2 x 4-bbl
2626S #3744002 front
2627S #3744004 rear
2 x 4-bbl
2613S #3741089 front
2614S #3741090 rear
F.I. w/Powerglide
7014900
7017200
F.I.
7017250
7014900R

Regular Production Options

RPO Description Cost Qty Percentage
867 Base Corvette Convertible $3,875.00 9,670 100.0
101 Heater $102.25 8,909 92.1
102 AM Radio, Signal Seeking $149.80 7,001 72.4
107  Parking Brake Alarm $5.40 3,601 37.2
108  Courtesy Lights $6.50 3,601 37.2
109 Windshield Washers $16.15 7,929 82.0
121 Radiator Fan Clutch $21.55 67 0.7
261 Sunshades $10.80 3,722 38.5
276 15 x 5.5 Wheels * $0.00 214 2.2
290 6.70 x 15 Whitewall Tires * $31.55 8,173 84.5
303 3-speed Manual Transmission $000.00 3,617 37.4
313 Powerglide Automatic Transmission $199.10 1,878 19.4
419 Auxiliary Hardtop $236.75 5,481 56.7
426 Power Windows $59.20 587 6.1
440 Two-Tone Paint $16.15 2,931 30.3
469 245-hp, 2 x 4-bbl $150.65 1,417 14.7
469C 270-hp, 2 x 4-bbl $182.95 1,846 19.1
473 Power Operated Folding Top $139.90 661 6.8
579 250-hp, F.I. $484.20 175 1.8
579D 290-hp, F.I. $484.20 745 7.7
675 Positraction Rear Axle $48.45 4,175 43.2
684 Racing Suspension $425.05 142 1.5
685 4-speed Manual Transmission $188.30 4,175 43.2
1408 670 x 15 Nylon Blackwall Tires * *** *** ***
1625 24 Gallon Fuel Tank *** *** ***

* Images may be representation of the option
> Tachometer redline→

1959 Exterior/Interior Colors

RPO Color Soft Top Color Interior Color Total
Production Percentage
  Tuxedo Black Black - White Blue - Red - Black 1,594 16.5
502 Frost Blue Black - Blue - White Blue - Red 1,024 10.6
504 Crown Sapphire Black - Turquoise - White Turquoise 888 9.2
506 Roman Red Black - White Black - Red 1,582 15.9
508 Classic Cream Black - White Black - Red 223 2.3
509 Inca Silver Black - White Black - Red 957 9.9
510 Snowcrest White Black - Turquoise - White - Blue Black - Blue - Red - Turquoise 3,354 34.7

> Suggested interiors shown. Other combinations were possible.
> Interiors and exteriors were not coded to individual cars. Five 1959 Corvettes were painted a non-standard color, combination, or primer. An additional 83 were exported and their colors combinations are unknown.
> Number of interior colors sold in 1959 are: 1,303 Blue, 1,181 Turquoise, 5,124 Red, and 2,062 Black.
> The 2,931 quantity for code 440 two-tone was split;
>> 805 Roman Red/white
>> 535 Snowcrest White/silver
>> 496 Tuxedo Black/silver
>> 420 Crown Sapphire/white
>> 361 Frost Blue/white
>> 220 Inca Silver/white
>> 89 Classic Cream/white
>> 5 other

1959 OEM Supplier Paint Colors

Color Valspar Code PPG Code DuPont Code
xxx - Tuxedo Black K090 9300 99
502 - Frost Blue L3738 12018 2928
504 - Crown Sapphire L3284 12001 2930
506 - Roman Red R492 70961 2931
508 - Classic Cream MW5901 81092 2924
509 - Inca Silver S353 31425 2436
510 - Snowcrest White W962 8160 2697

Mechanical Specifications

Wheelbase 102.0 inches
Track Front/Rear (inches) 57.0 / 59.0
Overall Length 177.2
Width 72.8 inches
Height 52.4 inches (folding top)
52.3 inches (hard top)
Curb Weight 3,033 pounds - 3-speed manual transmission
3,045 pounds - 4-speed manual transmission
3,135 pounds - Powerglide transmission
Coolant Capacity 16.5 quarts with heater/15.5 quarts without
Fuel Capacity 16.4 gallons
Oil Capacity 5.0 quarts

GM Heritage PDF file of specifications/options/etc.

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1953

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1954

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1955

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1956

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1957

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1958

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1959

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1960

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1961

© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld
1962


© C1-C3 CorvetteWorld