Back in 1953, General Motors unleashed the Corvette, setting the stage for America’s original sports car. The C1 was hand-built in Flint, Michigan, in a flurry of postwar optimism. Its smooth fiberglass body, Polo White paint, and Sportsman Red interior were eye-catching, but early models were powered by a modest inline-six “Blue Flame” engine mated to a two-speed Powerglide automatic. Only 300 were produced in that first run, making each one a genuine rarity.
A Vanishing Act
What distinguishes the first Corvette isn’t just its heritage, but also its mystery. General Motors kept the earliest cars—particularly those with serial numbers 001 through 003—for additional internal testing instead of releasing them to the public. The very first unit, VIN 001, was used as a rolling lab to refine the design; engineers tinkered with seat height, steering column positioning, and resolved niggling quirks before mass production hit its stride.
For years, rumor and speculation reigned. Many believed the car had been destroyed, a casualty of GM’s relentless push to perfect its star car. But pieces of the puzzle began to come together recently, thanks to passionate detective work by restorers and historians.
The Rediscovery
Fast-forward to the early 2000s. A mysterious, battered 1953 Corvette sat quietly in restorer Lloyd Miller’s shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The car came with strange modifications that didn’t quite match any known 1953 production model: the floor was cut and lowered, the firewall was notched, and the fuel filler bore a later style. These quirks stalled its restoration, and the Corvette gathered dust for nearly two decades.
Enter Corvette historian Corey Petersen. After chasing the trail for over a decade, Petersen acquired the car from its long-dormant owner. While sifting through boxes of parts in the trunk, he stumbled upon a crucial discovery—a VIN plate confirming the car as serial number 001. Petersen hadn’t just bought a 1953 Corvette; he’d found the first one ever made.
Where Is It Now?
Rather than flipping the car for a quick profit, Petersen plans a painstaking, historically accurate restoration. At the August 2025 Corvettes at Carlisle event in Pennsylvania, this battered survivor captured the attention of enthusiasts and experts alike. Today, “Engineering Car #3950,” as it was known within GM, is in the process of being brought back to its original glory.
