C1 - 1953-1962
C2 - 1963-1967
C3 - 1968-19821959 Corvette
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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.
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.
Early "low script" cover - note staggered rocker arm cover
bolt pattern.
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 | CT - 283-cid 245-hp, manual transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor DJ - 283-cid 245-hp, automatic transmission, 2 x 4-bbl carburetor 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.
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