Evaluation: No representation this is the original engine. Excellent fresh paint, tight top, and bright chrome. Crisp dash and gauges. The engine compartment is not as good, with some engine paint dribbled on the frame and smudged on the right engine mount. There’s storage dust where it’s hard to reach. The water temperature capillary tube is kinked. Good but not great.
Bottom Line: The price it brought, however, is great but not good, an expensive result even for a ’53 Corvette. This is a flawed example that brought a beyond perfect, show car, price. Mecum sold E53F01300 at Kissimmee in January for $418,000, but it was the last ’53 Corvette built. It was a result that propelled this otherwise undistinguished example to a magnanimous price. RM sold E53F01227, a better restoration, at Amelia in 2021 for $201,600, which is a better value benchmark.
