23 pages packed with performance info for 1959 Corvette disciples and dreamers

Art courtesy of the GM Heritage Center.

The Corvette endures as one of those special vehicles that’s widely adored by its owners and also revered by many who haven’t yet had the privilege of holding title to one. Not surprisingly, today, vintage Corvettes bring top dollar in the collector car market.

First-generation (1953 to 1962) examples received performance improvements through the Ike era, which led to America’s sports car becoming an increasingly popular choice for various forms of motorsports.

Engine choices were accompanied by descriptions and dyno graphs. Note that gross and even net horsepower and torque ratings were provided.

For 1959, there were five 283-cu.in. engines offered, including a standard 230-hp four-barrel and an optional 245-hp two-four-barrel, a 250-hp with Ramjet Fuel Injection, a 270-hp two-four-barrel, and a 290-hp with Ramjet Fuel Injection. Add in three transmission choices, a host of rear gear ratios, and heavy-duty suspension and brakes, and there was a dizzying array of decisions to be made when ordering a Corvette.

This fact was not lost on Chevrolet. It of course wanted to perpetuate its sports car’s escalating sales and motorsports participation momentum in 1959. By providing direction for potential buyers and owners regarding how to order a Corvette to best suit their needs, and then offering insight to make it competitive in motorsports for those who may race theirs, Chevrolet would ensure that its extensive product and racing development benefitted privateer racers as well. Thus, the division published the comprehensive “Corvette Sports Car Equipment Guide.”

Areas explained include engines, transmissions, rear axle gear ratios and Positraction, suspension components including the “specialized performance option RPO 684,” brake systems, wheels, tires, steering, oversized fuel tank, other options, tuning, event preparation, keys to successfully running at events, course setup, spare parts, equipment, sportsmanship and registration.

Here’s the tuning section. Notice the cigarette replete with a long ash. Not likely a required tuning tool.

The guide is geared specifically for Production Class competition use and the discussions therein provide the reasoning as to why each item offered would be advantageous. It even extends to the exterior color choice. “Some drivers feel that lighter tones tend to lower interior temperatures on hot, sunny days,” the guide states.

Interestingly, power windows were discussed as a safety item since they, “enable the driver to raise or lower the windows electrically without looking away from the road or reaching across the car—a definite safety factor.”

The most interesting aspects of this guide for many of us, however, will be exploring the engine, drivetrain and chassis combinations, and dreaming about what it would be like to own and possibly weekend-race a 1959 Corvette with all the good stuff installed. For instance, RPO 684 heavy-duty brakes and suspension was limited to the 270-hp and 290-hp 283s with manual transmissions, both of which were the top performing engines for the year.

There was even advice for competition driving.

At $425.05 in 1959 (about $3,559 today), RPO 684 only made it into 142 Corvettes of the 9,670 produced that year. You can imagine how much those equipped with it may be worth today, or you can check out Hagerty.com where a 270-hp 1959 Corvette with a four-speed and heavy-duty brakes and suspension is currently valued at $86,805 as a number three (driver), and a 290-hp fuel-injected Corvette with the same equipment is $103,140 in the same condition. Given those values, dreaming about a race-ready 1959 Corvette will have to suffice for me and possibly many of you.

Dreaming will cost us nothing, however, since the “Corvette Sports Car Equipment Guide” is offered as a free download from the GM Heritage Center.

Many automakers that developed performance models (especially in the 1960s) produced a special-fold-out or brochure that extolled their virtues, and some provided super-tuning information. Which ones can you recall that approached this level of specialized information? Tell us about them.