1959 Chevrolet Corvette #02889
SPECIFICATIONS
- Year1959
- MakeChevrolet
- ModelCorvette
We are pleased to offer 1959 Corvette s/n 02889, nicely updated and unusually well documented. Corvette s/n 02889 was completed between 4-6 Jan., 1959 and began life with twin Carter AFB (Aluminum Four Barrel) carbs, good for 270 hp, (a $182.95 option); a bullet-proof Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed (a $188.30 option); Positraction (a $48.45 option); courtesy lights (a $6.50 option); a heater (a $102.25 option); sun visors (a $10.80 option); an emergency brake light warning light, (a $5.40 option); a hardtop (a $236.75 option) but no radio. The original paint was Tuxedo Black with silver side cutouts with a red vinyl interior.
1959 Corvette s/n 02889 comes with a massive amount of documentation staring with copies of titles back to the early 1980s when owned by John Jackson in Garden Grove, CA before going to George McLeod in Tucson in early 1986. In Feb., 1990 Corvette s/n 02889 was sold to Jay Van Orden in Tucson, AZ who took her down to the frame for a complete restoration as shown in the work listed while in his ownership. The frame was repainted in gloss black and the suspension rebuilt. A Dick Guldstrand “Factory heavy duty” suspension package with a heavy duty front sway bar, heavy duty front coil springs, a fast steering adapter, 5-leaf rear springs, a 4:11 positraction setup plus a rear sway bar were added for a great handling package.
The engine was rebuilt by Koerner Engineering, 3231 E. Michigan St., Tucson with a .060 over-bore and with pistons by Keith Black, an UltraDyne cam shaft and a Center Force Clutch assembly matched with an aluminum flywheel, all of which was balanced. Z28 valve springs, a high-volume oil pump and a Big Boss water pump were added. A Bill Thomas modified 1959 Rochester 7017250 Fuel Injection unit replaced the twin Carter AFB carbs. When completed, the engine was topped off with finned aluminum valve covers. Porterfield Carbon Kevlar brake lining and 6×15 steel wheels are mounted with 215/75 Michelin X Radial tires which provide the slow down. The wider wheels wear chrome covers with faux knockoffs. The dual exhaust system exits through the rear bumpers, and side-exiting bypass pipes ahead of each rear wheel on each side are fitted with steel covers which can easily be fitted or removed. A clutch fan assembly helped keep in cool in Tucson traffic. We believe the engine is original with engine # F1215CU, which means it was built in Flint on December 15th 1958 and the engine was originally a 283ci, 270hp, Manual transmission. The engine casting number is 3756519 which matches the late 1958-1961 engines.
This 1959 Chevrolet Corvette has been re-finished in its original Tuxedo black with silver coves and features a body-color hardtop highlighted with silver center stripes with red accents, red #59 number decals, Mobil Pegasus fender decals and “Fuel Injection” fender badging. The body and paint were done in the original black with silver scallops by Vintage Vettes of Tucson. The interior houses bucket seats trimmed in red leather upholstery in addition to matching carpeting and two-tone door panels, all from Al Knock Interiors.. Equipment includes lap belts, a dash-mounted rear view mirror, and a heater/defroster. Signatures from Bob Bondurant, Bill Thomas, Dick Guldstrand, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and Joe Freitas are proudly present on the center console. The three-spoke steering wheel fronts a 160-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 37,427 miles, approximately 100 of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
Once completed 1959 Corvette s/n 02889 competed in multiple SCCA Solo II events, bracket races and regional rallies in the Arizona area plus two trips to Hot August nights in Reno, a Bob Bondurant driver’s schools and several VARA races at the Palm Springs Historic races. It’s reliability was demonstrated by a Tucson-to-Canada-and-back road trip. Comes with not one, not two but ten file folders of paperwork which documents the engine rebuild, the suspension work, a Bob Bondurant driver’s school manual, parts lists and receipts, cam, valve and ignition timing specs, SCCA Solo II time sheets and voluminous correspondence. The car was featured on the cover of On Solid Ground magazine in 2004 and was also in Vette magazine. Copies of periodicals featuring the car are included in the sale along with a Corvette club NCRS judging manual, parts books, and service records. Also included are several dozen Corvette related books and magazines.
Today the older repaint still presents very well with good gloss and generally nice cosmetics despite the usual small scratches and minor paint flaws, although there is some paint cracking on the right rear fender. The interior presents well throughout and is in remarkable condition considering the age, showing no major flaws to the seats, though the seat cushion support material has relaxed over time. The instruments and switches are in excellent condition, and all appear to retain the original finishes. The soft top mechanism raises and lowers and affixes to the windshield while the easy-to-use latches hold it firmly in position. The soft top material has not been used much and thus remains in very nice condition, showing only light hazing on the plastic window. A removable hardtop is mounted on the car, finished in matching Tuxedo black with silver center stripes with red accents. The engine compartment remains tidy and properly prepared, displaying a correct and desirable original generator, correct distributor, correct cast aluminum valve covers, correct cast iron exhaust manifolds, and a correct original VIN stamped tag. The chassis, under body and suspension components all show well thirty years after the restoration. Close-up pictures of the paint and imperfections are provided in the photo
The engine starts instantly, idles smoothly, sounds great with open side pipes and pulls strongly. The brakes are good, pulling down well and tracking straight. There is no slipping when the clutch is engaged or chatter off the line. The gearbox is smooth, easy to operate absolutely bullet-proof and frankly the entire driving experience counts as one of the best we’ve enjoyed in an original vintage Corvette. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a nicely restored vintage Corvette, ready to use as originally intended. Well balanced and comfortable to drive, classically styled, powerfully equipped, driver-friendly, cheap to own, service and maintain, these early 60s Corvettes are utterly dependable and offer fantastic vintage ownership experiences. Priced to sell at $79,950 or best offer, seriously for sale.
