6,500 miles
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This one-of-a-kind Proposal Car is an integral part of the Corvette story, with a fascinating history that dates to early 1953 - well before the first production models rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. Prior to series Corvette production, which commenced on June 30, 1953, Chevrolet built approximately 15 handlaid fiberglass bodies intended for experimental or Motorama use. These hand-built show cars were not assigned standard VIN numbers but were instead referred to by internal codes. One such example was EX-52, the first Corvette prototype unveiled to the public at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1953. Other famous Corvette-based show cars are referred to by their Shop Order S.O. numbers like the Corvair (S.O. 2071), the Nomad (S.O. 1954), and the Hardtop (S.O. 2000), which were stars of the 1954 Motorama. As documented in internal General Motors memos, many of these show cars were dismantled, destroyed, or reused for other projects. Several examples were modified, repainted, and repurposed for further promotional duties. As a result, precious few of these Motorama-era prototypes survive today. The history of this car originates with S.O. 2000, the pale-yellow Hardtop prototype that debuted in early 1953. According to various accounts, at least two of these show cars were built and it is believed that one was retired early so its body could be reassigned to a new project - S.O. 2151 January 1954. This body was returned to GM's famous Art and Colour department, and overseen by legendary designer Harley Earl. In its new role, S.O. 2151 served as the department's Proposal Car for 1955 - a prototype built for GM management to review and determine the look of next year's Corvette. During this process, the Corvette body was restyled to incorporate several notable new features: a decorative hood scoop, eggcrate front grille, bumper-exit exhaust tips, and a distinctive trunk design, like the one seen on S.O. 2071, the fastback Corvair. Another prominent element of the new design was the slanted front-fender vents, painted body color on the passenger side and trimmed with chrome on the driver side - giving GM executives two different looks to choose from. Similarly, the Corvette script was placed high on one side and low on the other. It also incorporated a large gold V to signify that the 1955 Corvette would be available with a V-8 engine. Once these changes were implemented, the body was repainted Bermuda Green, a beautiful jade-like metallic green used on production GM vehicles of the period, as well as another famous show car, the 1955 Corvette Biscayne (XP-37). Photographed in GM's design studio in March 1954, S.O. 2151 was mounted on a new 1954 Corvette chassis, powered by an experimental engine equipped with a high-performance solid-lifer camshaft. The 1955 Proposal Car was officially completed on July 30, 1954, as evidenced by the tag riveted inside the engine bay. In the end, the 1955 Proposal Car never made its way into production. Facing stagnant sales and new competition from the recently announced Ford Thunderbird, GM executives decided to completely reimagine the Corvette for 1956. The 1955 Corvette was virtually identical to the 1954 model, albeit with a new, optional V-8 engine. That year, Ford dominated the market, its new Thunderbird outselling the Corvette 30 to one. As for S.O. 2151, it escaped the fate of most GM prototypes. Instead of being destroyed or rebuilt into a new show car, this one-off somehow slipped through the cracks and eventually made its way to California. While little is known of its earliest whereabouts, by 1963, the Corvette had been sold to Auto Center, a car dealership located in downtown San Jose, California. In 1974, Richard Oldham, a Corvette collector and owner of Empire Chevrolet in Novato, California, acquired the car in basket case condition. Although most of the paint had been stripped from its bodywork, and many of its u
| Monday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
This vehicle may have an open safety recall. Head to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to perform a quick search.
Some vehicles may be subject to manufacturer safety recalls. See if there are any open safety recalls for this vehicle. This does not include non-safety recalls. Recently announced safety recalls may not yet be posted and there may be a delay between the time a repair is made and before it is reported or posted to the website. Before purchasing, be sure to ask the dealer for an up-to-date status on any recalls.
| Monday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
6,500 miles
