Beautiful C1 in Roman Red w/ Orig Numbers Matching 283 V8, 4 Spd Man, Both Tops!

The 1961 Chevrolet Corvette featured a few design updates from the early C1s, and after looking at this lovely Roman Red roadster, it's easy to understand how GM designers were willing to switch things up a bit. Beautifully proportioned and detailed, this car embodies all that was great about early Corvettes while delivering enough performance to make it every bit as entertaining today as it was more than fifty years ago. OK, just admit it: this is one... heck of a good-looking car. Perfect color combination, first year of the new tail section that deftly foreshadowed the upcoming Stingray, a redesigned, "toothless" grille, and, well, it just screams "Corvette" over every inch of its fiberglass body. In the world of Corvettes, this car commands more attention than almost anything else they've built since. Fortunately, the restoration was done to standards that match the car's status, with great Roman Red paint that's deep enough to swim in. The Ermine White cove is a wonderful addition, adding contrast and sophistication (and cost, since it was optional), and it's framed by bright stainless trim that's in great shape and beautifully polished. In fact, almost all the shiny bits on this car have been restored or replaced in the not-too-distant past and it simply jumps off the glossy red paint in a way that makes cars of this era so famous. And just in case you have the gall to drive this beauty in the rain, it also comes with an accessory red hard top and white soft top to protect you from the elements. With a red exterior, the only sensible choice is bright red inside, right? Supple red vinyl buckets show very little wear save for some wrinkles that only enhances the inviting appeal of the Corvette. Matching carpets are slightly faded but still in great shape and restored door panels give it a factory fresh look and feel. The instrument panels puts all the secondary gauges below the huge dome-shaped speedometer, and the factory tach in the center was a Corvette trademark, as was the sporty 3-spoke wheel that emulates Europe's finest. A later AM/FM/Cassette stereo head unit lives in the dash and yes, that is a proper cue ball knob atop the 4-speed shifter between the seats. The trunk is finished nicely with a reproduction mat and a spare tire, but it's going to need a spare rim if you plan on ever using it. They say that you haven't really experienced a classic until you've sat behind the wheel of a Corvette, and the comfortable interior of this C1 certainly fits the bill. You could get your 1961 Corvette with any engine you wanted, as long as you wanted 283 cubic inches. This one is indeed the original, numbers matching V8 block under the hood, topped with a single 4-barrel carburetor, but the truth is, there's plenty of power everywhere on the tach. It has that old-fashioned low-end torque you'd expect and a genuine American V8 soundtrack from the factory replacement dual exhaust system. Detailed and ready to show off with Chevy Orange paint on the block, finned valve covers, and that big air cleaner, it looks genuine under the hood. Other correct details include a generator and ram's horn exhaust manifolds, and it's worth noting that 1961 was the second year for an aluminum radiator offered in the C1. The believed-original 4-speed rocks through the gears powering the original rear end, and despite the lack of power options (which is common on an original C1) this roadster steers tight and stops very well. 205/75/15 wide white radials at each corner look flashy on the already attention-grabbing Corvette, particularly with bright spinner hubcaps. Look, the bottom line is that this car is every bit as gorgeous as it looks in photos and still drives like your favorite V8-powered sports car. And have we mentioned how pretty it is? Call today!