Jay Leno Checks Out A Very Special Corvette C1

Priced from $69,695, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible is the epitome of all-American open-top motoring. With up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque on offer, it’s a seriously quick car for the money. The performance figures say everything you’ll need to know; 0 to 60 mph is dusted in a mere 2.9 seconds and the top speed is pegged at 194 mph.

The Corvette has come a long way since the nameplate was introduced in 1953. In his latest video, Jay Leno takes a trip back in time, featuring a fastidiously restored 1954 Corvette C1, an absolute American legend. Owned by war veteran and master Corvette restorer Michael McCloskey, it’s quite possibly the finest example of its kind.

A “National Corvette Restorers Society” sticker on the window is a subtle clue into this Corvette’s condition. “They’re crazy,” quips McCloskey. “They’re so neurotic that they will deduct [points] for over-restoration. You do something too nice, and it’s a deduction.”