This year, Corvette
celebrates 70 years, and we’re not surprised that Jay Leno wanted to get in on the action. The late-night host recognizes that Corvettes, or ‘Vettes as he calls them, are a joy to drive in their own unique way. Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, checks out the details on this rare award-winning Corvette brought back to life.A restored piece of art
Not only does Leno own many Corvettes himself, but he was also the first to drive the C8 Z06. He also owns a “1957 C1 Corvette restored by Master Corvette Restorer Mike McCluskey,” MotorTrend reports. And McCluskey let Burbank
’s most well-known car enthusiast check out his 99-point restored 1954 Chevrolet Corvette. According to Motor Authority
, “This 1954 Corvette is from the 'Vette's second model year. Only 300 cars were made for the initial 1953 model year, however, so Leno considers 1954 to be the Corvette's first full production year.” Originally, the Corvette was slow to sell, since sports car enthusiasts weren’t too excited about the Blue Flame inline-6 engine alsofound on other everyday Chevys. “The Corvette version of the Blue Flame did at least get three single-barrel side-draft carburetors and a solid-lifter camshaft, bringing output up to 155 hp,” Motor Authority tells us.
For McCluskey’s work, the auto was awarded “a near-perfect 99 points and won the Duntov award, both from the National Corvette Restorers Society, of which McCluskey is a member,” Motor Authority notes.
The car sits low in the back to make it look like it’s “taking off.” And when Leno and McCluskey took the egg-shell white 1954 Corvette for an afternoon spin, the engine putter was very noticeable.
Let’s get into the specs of the 1954 Corvette
The 1954 Corvette is powered by a 3.9-liter “Blue Flame Six” inline-six with triple carburetors. Originally equipped with 150 horses, a mid-year update brought the car’s total output up to 155 hp. With 223 lb-ft of torque, the classic car can reach 60 mph in 11 seconds.
In the early years, Corvettes didn’t come with exterior door handles and side glass, so it was pretty easy for people to open the door if they didn’t have the key. And did you know that the truck lock was located below the rear license plate? Sounds like quite the contrast to the modern models
we’re familiar with today. However, we can't deny that the 1954 Corvette has its charm. “Although its suspension is sedan-based, the C1 handles well for its age. In addition, the 1954 cars have better fiberglass than the 1953 cars, so they’re easier to work with.” The bodywork also involved less suit due to their longer exhausts.
While the 1954 Corvette is identical to the 1953 model year (functionally), they’re actually much more affordable. If you want a 1953 model in good condition, expect to spend about $166,000. However, a well taken care of model from 1954 will only set you back about $70,000.
MORE: Why the Chevrolet C10 Still Holds Up Today
Insuring a classic car
If you’ve done the work to restore a gorgeous rare gem, it’s important that you have the right car insurance before you hit the road. Spend your weekends cruising the canyons in style, not at home researching policies on your computer.
If you’d rather leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use the Jerry
app. Jerry collects quotes from 50+ top insurance companies, like Nationwide, Allstate, Safeco, Progressive, and Travelers, in seconds! Jerry can even help you cancel your old policy once you’ve made your selection. Users save an average of over $800 a year. 
4.7
