1954 Corvette Shifter?o show l

[mechtech2]

At a street auto show last night, I saw a really nice '54 Corvette [with the chicken wire on the front lights].

It was a 6 cyl, and an automatic [no clutch].

But I saw no means of shifting - no gate, no indicator.
Maybe an obscure knob between the seats?

Anybody know how the gears were engaged?

 

[Stu_Rock]

A tiny, floor mounted shifter between the driver seat and tunnel.

 

[Trav]

2 spd trans with the shifter on the right side front of the drivers seat. From front to rear RLDNP.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: Trav
From front to rear RLDNP.


Interesting- IIRC GM column shifts were (top to bottom) PNDLR, I would have expected the 'vette to be the same front to rear as a column top to bottom instead of the reverse.

 

[morris]

when i was a teenager i knew a guy that had 1953 corvette. it was a show car , not a lot of mods. but had a lot of crome. he would raise the left side, take the rear end cover off, and undo one axle and he would use an electric motor to spin one wheel. in 1959 that was really something. he lived in enid ok i think he drove the car to shows

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

I was thinking that 54 was the inaugeral year. Did they make a few in 53? I know the first one was only offered with the Blue Flame Six with 3 carbuerators since Chevy did not have a V8 yet. I believe it was also only offered with the Powerglide. That car would be worth a bundle, though I would prefer a 61 or 62.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: Old Mustang Guy
I was thinking that 54 was the inaugeral year. Did they make a few in 53?


Yep, 53 was the first year of the Corvette, but they only made 300 of them. All of them were white. I believe that it was very difficult for the average person to buy a 53 though, I believe mostly celebrities and "well connected" people were only able to get them when they first came out.

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

Thanks Patman. When do you get your C6? There ought to be some good used car deals out there. My choice would be a Gran Sport with paddle shifters.

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: Old Mustang Guy
Thanks Patman. When do you get your C6? There ought to be some good used car deals out there. My choice would be a Gran Sport with paddle shifters.


A few years ago I had a plan that I wanted to get a C6 within 5 years, but when I lost my job in 2009 that plan went out the window! I make a lot less money now than I did then, plus I split up from my wife and we sold the house, so I am 100% debt free, and really want to stay that way for a while!

So I will probably not be getting a C6 for a very very long time. Besides, I still love my C5!

Although if I won the lottery (see my thread in the General and Off Topic forum!) I would definitely buy a new Grand Sport! I already know exactly how I'm going to option it out too!

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

Nice to see someone with a high mileage vette. Most of the guys in the little car club I am in only drive them on occasion. One, for example, has about 20k on an almost 10 year old car. I drive my Mustang GT daily but in retirement only average about 10k a year.

 

[mechtech2]

OK, thanks.
There WAS a little knob kinda between the seats.
Short, stubby, and looked like a folding closet door knob.
No markings.

 

[Trav]

Yep it was backwards. At the light think you grab low,but instead toss it into park and floor it.

It was marked when new.