Lost Corvette prototype seen for first time since 1954
- This Corvette prototype was first shown in 1954
- For decades, it hasn’t been seen by the public
- Now, it has been restored to its former glory
Published on Oct 02, 2024 at 4:56 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 03, 2024 at 6:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This lost Corvette prototype has been seen for the first time since 1954.
The Harley Earl Corvette Prototype was a show car at Motorama way back in the 1950s.
It would disappear from the limelight afterwards, being picked up by George Campbell in 1975.
Now, nearly fifty years later, the car has been restored to its former glory.
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What’s so different about this Corvette?
The journey towards restoration began in 2012, before the car was brought to the workshop of Indiana mechanic, Billy Jay in 2015.
The Harley Earl is one of 15 Corvettes made with a one-piece fibreglass body.
Later models would make use of a two-piece design.
This prototype was intended to show what the 1955 model could look like, and was equipped with new features.
It had a V8 engine, custom side-vents, ‘bullet style’ dual exhausts on the bumper and a beige dashboard, as reported by motortrend.
When the 1955 model came to fruition, the V8 engine stayed whilst the other design choices were scrapped.
Side vents and a ‘bullet style’ dual exhaust made their way into later models.
They may have been unique for the time but given some of the design choices that come in years since, they hardly scrap the top ten of weirdest car design choices.
There’s been a car with a tail, and a van sized dune buggy.
Enough said.
How much work did it take to get this car back into top form?
With 6,152 miles on the odometer, this car hadn’t seen much action out on the roads.
As such, there was little wear and tear on the brakes, the engine and the cylinder walls.
Billy Jay was able to use a lot of the original parts in bringing the Harley Earl back to life.
It took 1,800 hours in the shop and approximately five years, but he managed to pull it off.
And we have to say – it looks incredible.
The colors really pop, and the vibe is giving ‘Let’s go to a drive-in movie and then hit a malt shop’.
This isn’t the first time a prototype has been lovingly restored; this 1967 Shelby got a fantastic makeover.
To see more of the car, check out this video on motor journalist Jerry Heasley’s channel.
