Doc's 1959 Corvette Archive

1959 Value Guide

This 1959 Value Guide is a cardboard sleeve assembled with 3 metal eyelets and a sliding inner cardboard chart. Measuring 4" wide by 8" tall, you pull the inner sliding chart to compare the 1959 Corvette with seven foreign sports cars. Grab the white semi-circle in the center below and pull out to compare these cars and features.

V
These are reversible and allow comparison of the different models on both sides. The following parameters are compared on the left side in the photo below.

59 VETTE

Austin-Healey

100-6

Jaguar

XK-150

Mercedes

190 SL

Mercedes

300 SL

MGA

Triumph

TR-3

Porsche

1600
Price (Lowest Price Convertible)

$3875a

$3087b

$4595b

$5020b

$10928b

$2462b

$2675b

$3591b
Price (Lowest Price Hardtop)

$3875

$3329c

$4475

$5232

$11375c 

$2695

$2835

$3865
Weatherproof Roll-up Side Windows

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes(d

No

Yes
Inner Controlled Door Locks (Both Doors)

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

Yes
Power Operated Convertible Top

Opt.

No

No

No

No

No

No

No
Individually Adjustable Seats

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Foam Cushioned Seats

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes
Seat Belts Standard

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No
Acrylic Lacquer Finish

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No
Advanced Fout-Unit Headlights

Yes

No

Opt.

No

No

No

No

No
SCCA Production Class (Highest H.P. Engine)

B

D

C

E

C

F

E

F

 (a) Manufacturers' suggested retail price -f.o.b. at factory
(b) Port of Entry prices at New York
 (c) includes two tops
 (d) in hardtop only

On both sides these are marked in capitals: "CONFIDENTIAL - FOR SALESMAN'S USE ONLY". The following parameters are compared on the right side above.

59 VET

Austin-Healey

100-6

Jaguar

XK-150

Mercedes

190 SL

Mercedes

300 SL

MGA

Triumph

TR-3

Porsche

1600
Horsepower - Standard Engine

230

117

190

120

250 

72 

100

60
Displacement - Standard Engine (cu. in.)*

283

161.1

210

115.7

183 

90.88 

121.5

96.5
Carburetion - Standard Engine

(b)

(c)

(c)

(d)

(e

(c

(c)

(c)
Horsepower - Highest Available

290 

117

250(a)

120

250 

107 

100

110
Displacement - Highest H.P. Engine (cu. in.)*

283

161.1

210

115.7

183 

96.9

121.5

91.9
Horsepower/Cubic Inch- (Highest H.P. Engine)

1.025 

.726

1.190(a)

1.04

1.37 

1.104 

.823

1.197
Carburetion (Highest H.P. Engine)

(f

(c)

(a,g)

(d)

(e

(c

(c)

(c)
Standard Transmission No. of Forward Speeds

3

4

4

4

4

4
Fully Synchrozized 4-speed Transmission

Opt.

No

No

Std.

Std. 

No

No

Std.
Automatic Transmission

Opt.

No

Opt.

No

No

No

No

No
Positive Rear Axle Control (Radius Rod)

Yes

No

No

Yes(h)

Yes(h)

No

No

Yes(h)
Positraction-Type Rear Axle

Opt.

No

Opt.

No

No

No

No

Std.

 (a) "S" Model
(b) Four-barrel
 (c) Dual single-barrel
 (d) Dual duplex
 (e) Timed port fuel injection
(f) Constant-flow fuel injection
 (g) Triple single-barrel
 (h) Independent rear suspension
* cubic centimeters (cc) = cubic inches x 16.387

(There appears to be an error is the listing of the displacement of the Porsche 1600 engines, since Standard is 96.5 cu.in., while the Highest H.P. Engine has 91.9 cu.in.)

1959 is really Oh So Easy

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