What color was the original 1953 Corvette?

The original 1953 Corvette was Polo White.

Chevrolet built the first production Corvettes late in the 1953 model year, and every one left the factory with a Polo White exterior. The standard appearance paired that white body with a red interior, a black canvas soft top, and a blue-painted engine. The combination gave the new sports car a distinctly patriotic red, white, and blue theme.

Polo White was not simply the most popular color among several choices in 1953—it was the only exterior color offered. Chevrolet expanded the palette for the 1954 model year, adding colors such as Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black. That later variety is why modern recollections sometimes incorrectly place a red or blue Corvette at the beginning of the story.

The 1953 cars were also unusual mechanically and structurally. They used fiberglass bodywork, independent front suspension, and a rigid rear axle. Chevrolet assembled them largely by hand in Flint, Michigan, before production moved to St. Louis. The first Corvette had a 235-cubic-inch Blue Flame inline-six rather than a V8; the V8 arrived as an option in 1955.