The original 1953 Corvette and the 50th Anniversary edition

Let’s face it; the Chevrolet Corvette is an American icon. It’s hard to believe it’s 50 years old — just like the boomers who coveted it before marriage, homes, career, kids, etc.

Sports cars — mostly British nameplates like the wildly popular MG, as well as Jaguar, Austin-Healy and Triumph — were new to the automotive scene in this country in the early 1950s. But in spite of a growing enthusiasm for performance cars, history shows the Corvette, got off to a very rocky start after its late 1953 debut, selling only 674 units in 1955.

General Motors (GM) considered dropping the slow-seller in 1955, since costing only a few bucks less than a Cadillac, it was rapidly developing a reputation as an expensive loser. Ironically, it was only Ford’s introduction of its successful two-seater 1955 Thunderbird, built to compete with the Corvette, which kept GM in the game.

But it was actually the gifted auto engineer and sports car racer Zora Arkus-Duntov who saved the Corvette and made automotive history in the process. Arkus-Duntov is credited with the design of Chevy’s small block V8 engine, which has been the mainstay of American hot-rodding since it was introduced in 1955. Since then, that same basic design has been the basis for most of Chevy’s high-performance powerplants, including the legendary 327 and today’s 5.7-liter 350, as well as the 283, original 265 and even the 4.3-liter V6.

The original 1953-54 Corvettes only came with a 6-cylinder engine and 2-speed Powerglide automatic instead of the 4-speed manual gearbox found in most sports cars of the time. But the 1955 ‘Vette came with Chevy’s hot new 265 cubic inch V8, — just in time to compete with the T-Bird and its powerful 272 cubic inch V8.

The V8 caused the Corvette to catch fire. It was winning races against those exotic foreign sports cars, blowing away T-Birds, and helped sales rise to 9,168 units by 1958, finally making the ‘Vette profitable. Chevy never looked back and has consistently improved the Corvette.

One thing hasn’t changed — a new Corvette still costs as much as a Cadillac. The base hatchback version with removable roof panel lists at $43,735 and includes the 5.7-liter, 350-horsepower V8. The convertible version is slightly more, but the “Vette is actually a bargain when compared to most sports cars with its performance because as a rule they cost almost twice as much.

For example, the top of the line 405-horse Corvette Z06 (0-60 in 3.9 seconds) lists at $50,486, while the 500-horsepower Dodge Viper lists at over $80,000. Although the Viper was redesigned in 2003, it still lacks the basic civility and comfort of the Corvette.

While the 1953 Corvette came only in “Polo White” with a red interior, the 50th Anniversary ‘Vette came with “50th Anniversary Red” paint — actually a luxurious burgundy with aluminum-oxide flakes for sparkle and depth under a special tinted clear coat. The Anniversary Edition package also boasted special badging, a unique shale interior with a color-coordinated instrument panel and console as well as champagne-painted “anniversary” wheels with special emblems, embroidered badges on seats and for the convertible, a Shale soft-top.

The Anniversary Edition package also featured a major technical advance called Magnetic Selective Ride Control. It works really well, utilizing a computer and a unique damper design that controls wheel and body motion with special shock absorber fluid. The result is a quieter, flatter ride and more precise, responsive handling. The system works with the standard traction control system to assure maximum stability on bumpy or slick surfaces and is offered as a $1,695 option for Corvettes without the package Look for this feature on other GM models in the not too distant future.

There are three basic Corvette trim configurations — the convertible, a hatchback with removable roof panel, and the Z06. The standard powerplant is the aforementioned 350-horse, 5.7-liter V8. It’s available with both an optional, $915, 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. The stick is really unnecessary for the 350-horse version because it has so much power and torque. But Chevy feels this is a true sports car and true sports cars have sticks. The Z06 comes only with the 6-speed manual gearbox.

I’ve driven both the 2003 50th Anniversary edition, and Z06, as well as special commemorative editions of both the convertible and hatchback versions of the 2004 in recent months. Except minor improvements, the color scheme, badging, and the Magnetic Selective Ride Control, they are basically the same car.

The Z06 is by far the most fun to drive, but the other two won’t shame you to be seen in either. Corvettes turn heads wherever you go — no matter which one you’re driving and 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds will get you noticed.

Standard equipment includes sport seats with a power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control for driver and passenger, aluminum 5-spoke wheels, power heated outside mirrors, parcel net, and a luggage shade for the hatchback.

Behind the wheel, instrumentation is quickly read and the optional head-up display saves you having to take your eyes off the road. All major controls are within easy reach. And most are nicely sized, but both sides of the steering wheel rim block some secondary controls.

The Corvette is not a small car, so there’s a nice amount of room for two tall people despite the large console. It’s easy to get in and out of, especially with help from an automatic feature that moves the seat all the way back when the key is extracted. The 6-way power bucket seats are supportive and reasonably comfortable over a long distance.

The hatchback’s interior is surprisingly quiet but some noise does creep in with the convertible. Cargo space is reasonable in the hatchback and at least big enough for a couple of small suitcases in the ragtop.

The Corvette delivers quick steering via its speed sensitive rack and pinion setup, racing-car-style handling compliments of 4-wheel independent suspension and lots of raw power. The anti-skid and traction control systems help keep it stable, especially on wet, slippery roads — something the Viper could take a lesson from.

Thanks to 4-wheel anti-lock disk brakes, braking is smooth, with minimal pedal travel and short stopping distances.

Gas mileage is an estimated 19/city and 28/highway with the 350-horse V8 and the stick, and 18 and 25 with the automatic. The Z06 delivers a respectable 19 and 28. The highway numbers come from the fact the Corvette is loafing at around 1500 rpm in sixth gear at 70 mph.

Whines: The “Vette’s long, heavy doors can be a problem in a tight space. The shifter in the manual gearbox is kind of notchy when rushed — especially between first and second, and the long-throw clutch is pretty stiff. The horn is hard to find.

Bottom Line: The Corvette delivers traditional Chevrolet value when compared against its market competition and is actually a high-performance bargain when you get right down to it. Corvette sales have remained high for decades, allowing Chevrolet to continually improve this car without forcing the price up anywhere near the level of comparable European performers.