History C1 1956

A New Vision

With devastating sales in 1955, anything had to be better.  By the end of 1956 MY,  3,467 Corvettes would be manufactured.  For the first time a color other than white would be the best seller.  While '55 introduced the V-8 engine, 1956 brought a major change in the body style.

First seen in the 1953 Motorama dream car, Buick Wildcat...and later in the 1955 Motorama dream car, Cadillac LaSalle, sculpted scallops became the classic coves of the 1956 - 1962 Corvettes.  Taillights were also sculpted into the lines of the rear fenders eliminating the projecting taillights of the previous years.

Outside door handles, an optional power system for the convertible top and roll-up windows (power window lifts were also available) became available for the first time on a Corvette.    Also for the first time, passenger seats were adjustable fore and aft.  Previous years had fixed passenger seats.

Venetian Red represented approximately 30% of the manufactured cars and became the first color, other than white, to dominate a model year.  Offering two-tone paint was another first...the color of the cove could be chosen.

The 265 c.i. V-8 was carried over to 1956.  The base model produced 210 horsepower.  RPO 469 provided the owner with "dual quads" and 225 horsepower.  A special RPO (240) came with the Duntov cam helping to produce 240 horsepower, but for "racing purposes only."

Duntov always looking for a racing edge for Corvette made his attempt at Daytona to exceed 150 mph.   Finally in early January, 1956 Duntov drove a Corvette on Daytona Beach to a two-way certified run of 150.58 mph.

Final production numbers for each RPO and its associated cost.

RPO#    DESCRIPTION                               QTY     RETAIL$
2934    Base Corvette Convertible               3,467   $3,120.00
101     Heater                                    ---      123.65
102     AM Radio, signal seeking                2,717      198.90
107     Parking Brake Alarm                     2,685        5.40
108     Courtesy Lights                         2,775        8.65
109     Windshield Washers                      2,815       11.85
290     Whitewall Tires, 6.70x15                  ---       32.30
313     Powerglide Automatic Tansmission          ---      188.30
419     Auxiliary Hardtop                       2,076      215.20
426     Power Windows                             547       64.60
440     Two-Tone Paint Combination              1,259       19.40
449     Special High-lift Camshaft                111      188.30
469     283ci, 225hp Engine (2x4 carburetors)   3,080      172.20
471     Rear Axle, 3.27:1 Ratio                   ---        0.00
473     Power Operated Folding Top              2,682      107.60

Although nearly 3,500 Corvettes were sold...it was only a GM relative success.  Ford had managed to sell over 15,000 Thunderbirds in the 1956 MY.

Ed Cole became Chevrolet's general manager ensuring at least a 1957 model year as decisions on the future of the Corvette were made on a year-to-year basis.