Corvette Model Gallery

1954 Roadster

For 1954 production was moved to St. Louis and while the factory could handle production of ten thousand cars it would take several years for that number to be achieved. Thirty-six hundred cars were produced in ‘54 but by the end of the year more than a thousand cars remained unsold. One reason for the lack of popularity was that all the weaknesses of the ‘53 remained. At least you could have a choice of two internal colors and four external ones and the most popular, Polo White. Toward the end of ‘54 the future of Corvette was in grave doubt. Two events intervened to give it another chance. One was a strongly worded letter by Zora Arkus Duntov who joined the Corvette team in the summer of 1953. Zora came from a racing background and realized the Corvette had a future if only it could be given more time. An even more influential reason was Ford’s decision to build a V-8 powered two seat car, to be called the Thunderbird. The Corvette would be given another chance.

The model

Robert built this great looking 1954 black beauty for his Corvette collection.

To paraphrase the famous Ford line, "in 1953 you could have any color Corvette you liked, as long as you wanted white". In 1954 your color choices were expanded to four, white, red, blue and black. Records indicate that only four cars left the factory in black making this, one of the rarest of Corvettes. Interiors for all colors continued to be red except for cars painted pennant blue.

Kit

• AMT Snapfast kit #8314

Paint

• MM Classic Black with red and white painted interior.
• After drying the exterior was polished using the Micro Mesh system and Novus polishing cream.

Work Done

• The front and rear pans were glued onto the body and the bumpers cut apart so that they could be fitted into place at the end of construction.
• The exhaust pipes were made from plastic tubing, remember that in ‘54 they extended further out then the previous year.
• Some interior detailing was done and carpeting created using Detail Master flocking.
• Chrome foil used where needed.
• Whitewalls added using acrylic paint and red detailing added to the wheels.

Problems

• The headlights are represented by chrome surface pieces while the real headlights were set in. This was a shortcut that AMT shouldn’t have and didn’t need to take in creating this snap kit.
• It was very difficult to fit the tire over the one piece wheel and resulted in damage to my carefully prepared paint.
• The licence plate bezel fits poorly and will need sanding.

Overall Comment

• "I chose this kit as a project because I’d already built the AMT ‘53 glue kit but wanted to stay consistent to a scale for my collection. I expected fewer problems then I encountered and as a result I’m only moderately happy with the results."

If you have any questions or comments for Robert, you can email him at  r.wheeler@sk.sympatico.ca

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Page updated  08/29/99