Skip Navigation LinksVetteFacts.com : C1 1953-1962 : 1959 Corvette
Skip Navigation Links.


The 1959 Chevrolet Corvette

1959 Red Convertible Corvette

The 1959 Corvette was mechanically unchanged from the 1958. It did have the new reverse lockout t-handle on the 4-speed shifter as well as an optional black interior. The fake hood louvers and chrome spears on the trunk were removed this year as well. The seats and door panels were redesigned and a shelf was added under the dash. A new instrument panel with concave instruments to reduce glare was introduced. The tachometer, seat belts, outside rear view mirrors, electric clock and dual exhast were now standard equipment. Sunvisors were offered as optional equipment. Interestingly the seat pleats on the 1959 run from side to side where the 1958 and 1960 run up and down. This was also the only year the turqoise soft top was available.

Production Options and Build Statistics

Total 1959 Corvettes Built - 9,670

Serial Numbers
ConvertibleJ59S100001 - J59S109670

The serial number (Vehicle Identification Number -- VIN) is located on a plate on the left front door hinge pillar.

PositionCharacterDescription
1JCorvette
2-3591959
4SAssembled in St. Louis, MO
5 to 10100001 to 109670production sequence

Engine Serial Number

PositionValueDescription
1 to 70001001 and upSequential Production Number
8F or TFlint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
9 to 10Carburetion & Transmission
  • CQ: Three-speed manual transmission
  • CR: Three-speed manual transmission with fuel injection
  • CS: Three-speed manual transmission, high lift camshaft, and fuel injection
  • CT: Three-speed manual transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors
  • CU: Three-speed manual transmission, high-lift camshaft and dual four-barrel carburetors
  • DG: Powerglide automatic transmission
  • DH: Powerglide automatic transmission and fuel injection
  • DJ: Powerglide automatic transmission and dual four-barrel carburetors

Cars with optional four-speed manual transmissions used the same engine code suffixes as cars with three-speed manual transmissions. The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. Fisher Body Style Number 59-867 identifies a Corvette. ;

Production Options

RPO
Description
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
867Base Convertible$3,875.00 9,670 100.0%
101Heater Deluxe$102.25 8,909 92.1%
102AM Radio, Signal Seeking$149.80 7,001 72.4%
107Parking Brake Alarm$5.40 3,601 37.2%
108Courtesy Lights$6.50 3,601 37.2%
109Windshield Washers$16.15 7,929 82.0%
261Sunshades (right and left)$10.80 N/A N/A
276Wheels, Five 15"x5.5" (provides hubcaps in place of wheel discs)$0.00 214 2.2%
290Whitewall Tires, 6.70x15$31.55 8,173 84.5%
313Powerglide Automatic Trans. (with 230/245 or 250hp engine only)$199.10 1,878 19.4%
419Auxiliary Hardtop in place of folding top (production number is for all shipped)$0.00 5,481 56.7%
419Auxiliary Hardtop in addition to folding top (production number is for all shipped)$236.75 5,481 56.7%
426Power Windows$59.20 587 6.1%
440Two-Tone Paint Combination$16.15 2,931 30.3%
469283ci, 245hp Engine (2x4 carbs, regular cam)$150.65 1,417 14.7%
469C283ci, 270hp Engine (2x4 carbs, high-lift cam)$182.95 1,846 19.1%
470Top, Folding, Optional fabric colors$0.00 N/A N/A
473Power Operated Folding Top$139.90 661 6.8%
579283ci, 250hp Engine (fuel injected, regular cam)$484.20 175 1.8%
579D283ci, 290hp Engine (fuel injected, high-lift cam)$484.20 745 7.7%
675Positraction Rear Axle (3.70:1)$48.45 1,362 14.1%
675Positraction Rear Axle (4.11:1)$48.45 2,523 26.1%
675Positraction Rear Axle (4.56:1)$48.45 285 2.9%
684Heavy Duty Racing Suspension - includes heavy duty brakes (with 3&4-speed trans and 270 or 290 HP engine only)$425.05 142 1.5%
6854-Speed Close Ratio Synchromesh Manual Trans. (replaces standard 3-speed close-ratio trans.)$188.30 4,175 43.2%
686Metallic Brakes - Heavy-duty Metallic facings (with 3&4-speed trans and 270 or 290 HP engine only)$26.90 333 3.4%
1408Blackwall Tires, 6.70x15N/A 1,497 15.5%
162524 Gallon Fuel Tank (Special fiber glass fuel tank offering greater mileage without refueling. Replaces standard tank. Available only with the removable hardtop (RPO #419))N/A N/A N/A

Color Options for 1959

RPO
Color
Cost
Ditzler
Dupont
RMNumber
Soft Top Color
Interior Color
Total
Prod.
%
N/AInca Silver$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/BlackBlack/Red 957 9.9%
N/ATuxedo Black$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/BlackRed/Black/Blue 1,594 16.5%
502AFrost Blue$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/Blue/BlackBlue/Red 1,024 10.6%
504ACrown Sapphire$0.00DDL-120012930-L (acrylic lacquer)
Duco 92945 (nitrocellulose lacquer)
A-1137 (acrylic lacquer)
1137 (nitrocellulose lacquer)
White/Black/
Turquoise
Turquoise 888 9.2%
506ARoman Red$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/BlackBlack/Red 1,542 15.9%
508AClassic Cream$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/BlackBlack 223 2.3%
510ASnowcrest White$0.00N/AN/AN/AWhite/TurquoiseRed/Turqioise 3,354 34.7%

Interior Colors

RPO
Color
Cost
Total
Prod.
%
BlackN/A$0.00 N/A N/A
BlueN/A$0.00 N/A N/A
RedN/A$0.00 N/A N/A
Turquoise59C24$0.00 N/A N/A


1959 Corvette Specifications

Mechanical Dimensions

FeatureDimensions
Wheelbase102 in.
Track Front/Rear57 in. / 59 in.
Length177.2 in.
Width72.8 in.
Height51.6 in.
Frontal AreaN/A
Ground ClearanceN/A
Curb Weight3,092 lbs.
Weight Distribution Front/Rear53%/47%
Fuel Capacity16.4 gal.
Coolant Capacity16.5 qt*


Interior Dimensions

FeatureDimensions
Headroom34.7 in.
Hip Room21.5 in. per bucket
59.6 in. total
Leg Room46.5 in.
Shoulder Room49.4 in.

Engine Specifications

FeatureBase469469C579579D
BoreN/AN/AN/A3.875 in.N/A
StrokeN/AN/AN/A3.00 in.N/A
Displacement283 ci283 ci283 ci283 ci283 ci
Compression RatioN/A9.5:19.5:19.5:110.5:1
Horsepower230 bhp245 bhp270 bhp250 bhp @ 5,000 RPM290 bhp
TorqueN/AN/AN/A305 lbs.-ft. @ 3,800 RPMN/A
RedlineN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
CarburetionCarter four-barrel Type WCFB Model 28162x4 bbl2x4 bblRochester Fuel InjectionFuel Inj.
Oil CapacityN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
ValvetrainN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

;

VetteFacts.com SiteMap
© Copyright 2006-2019 1031 Productions