Found & Restored Harley Earl Corvette Prototype S.O. 2151 Not Seen Since 1954
2022 ж. 2 Сәу.
2 989 089 Рет қаралды
Call us with Barn Finds - 806-236-3681
Read online - www.motortrend.com/features/1954-chevy-corvette-prototype-so2151/
Resurrected to the flamboyant design that Harley Earl envisioned the 1955 Corvette should have looked like.
This was not just a restoration, this was an archeological restoration! Absolutely beautiful!
I restored a 1965 fastback mustang in 1999. My father bought me it in 1985. I still have it today. I was way over my head. Took me almost a year do it. Much longer than I anticipated. I spent every weekend in every night in the garage working on it. I showed it in the World of Wheels in Boston. Took best of Paint. Got a 60 inch trophy. I will never sell it. I miss you Dad.
Great comment, I miss my dad too although we worked on tractors more than fastbacks, cheers.
I miss my Dad too, he bought me a 3000gt vr4 30 years ago and I still have it.
Great tribute to your dad. I miss my dad too.
What motor is in it
My dad sucked and I dont miss him
What a great restrained interview style - asking the right questions and then respectfully keeping quiet to let the man explain, great filming and editing too!
Thank you for noticing what I try my best to do, and that is to ask the right questions and then shut up and record people that have a great story to tell. I learned this through thousands of interviews that I recorded and transcribed researching magazine articles and now to making videos for KZhead.
It really shows! I was reminded of some of the best interviews, for example Dave Allen of 'Great British Eccentrics'. Thank you for taking the time to reply@@thewriter2549
Very few would take on a project like this, fewer still would see it to the end. The dedication to authenticity is truly commendable. My hat is off to you sir, subscribed.
I couldn't even imagine what this must have done to this very fine craftsman's head not to fix all the little boo boo's. After just watching I feel the need to medicate, Bravo for staying true even when it hurts.
imagine the dollar signs if it ever goes to auction
Authenticity? They were annually changed one offs even before they retired. Some of them had different trim and handle configurations to show off possible mass production options!
Well you’re subscribing to the narrator not the builder
Its a prototype vette, many people would kill to get the opportunity
When a car has a history of being repainted, repurposed, and hacked about like that, it must be a nightmare deciding what moment in its history is to be enshrined in a restoration. Beautiful and incredibly thorough work!
Motorola showcase duhh.. Pollyanna best of everything like SEMA
Soon as I heard the narration voice, I clicked thumbs down and navigated away. So ridiculously annoying.
I didn't see anything hacked up on it lol just basic decay
@@crazypeoplearoundtheworld304 then you missed a great video. You must not be a corvette guy.
@@chadwickalexanderjr1758 just can't stand the guy. He's really got a horrific personality
That restoration job was a work of art. What amazing talent!
Basically this is a holy grail of corvettes. Beautiful restoration
Just incredible! I'm speechless about all the research that went into this masterpiece!
This was absolutely amazing. As a Corvette admirer since a child, I really enjoyed watching this video. Billy Jay is an artist. An amazing artist. And the history on this car. I love the fact that you can trace the lineage of this car from the 50's to 2022. Thank you for making this video. And thank you Billy Jay for keeping this amazing piece of automobile history alive.
As brilliant as the car is I'm as impressed by his work on that old safe.
Agree .... That would be my show peace in my living room.
If only cars nowadays were made with such gorgeous lines and beauty. They look like art.
Bmw an Mercedes
Thank you for restoring and saving this wonderful car.
Classic cars are works of art. I always prided myself in what I know but after watching this guy….THIS gentleman (and I have seen others similar to him)… they take it to such another level.
Great story , and Greater Restoration ! 👌
Most custom work on cars goes way over actual value. But this being a Harley Earl mock up has to be priceless.
This is my favorite story of yours so far. The lengths he went to in order to keep as much originality as possible is outstanding.
Billy Jay is a living legend in the automotive world. He is trusted with the most valuable cars.
5 % remains; I need my pinstripes re-done. white - green - orange - black
This is awesome! The find, the restoration, the documentation, the story, your clip. Really awesome!
Thanks, and when you work Billy Jay, well, he is a real stickler for doing things right. He is truly an amazing painter, restorer, researcher.
@@thewriter2549.... Fantastic Documentation & Restoration, Jerry. Where is the "Vette" now?.... Just asking as the video shows you loading it into the trailer at the end. I had a 61 (w/rag & removable hard top) in the mid 60s until I went into the service in 67, then a 63 roadster (rag top) after coming home from VN (3 "tours") the last time, which a buddy of mine sold me for the coast of the new HP long block (4 bolt mains,etc) from Chevrolet ($375.00!!), which I built, sold and bought a 63 "Split window" with the Rochester FI for $1,500.!! If my "foresight" was 1/50th of my "hindsight".... I would be a multimillionaire today, if I had kept all the 50s & 60s muscle cars that I owned years ago (coupled with nearly 20 years of drag racing FED's! lol)... and All of them were "cherry"! Watching Barrett-Jackson Auctions brings tears to my eyes & bank accounts!! lol I subscribed to your channel, quite some time ago... love your restorations, and look forward to more. God Bless & protect you, and yours.
@@Romans--bo7br Thanks, and I know how you feel. I sold some too soon, as well. Billy Jay owns the car.
@@thewriter2549... Thanks So Much for your rapid reply... you now hold the world record for the fastest response time to one of my comment/questions... by a couple of days, so I think you're "safe" for the rest of time. I can relate to Billy Jay being a "stickler" for "doing things right"... I'm the same way. Longevity and reliability is in paying close attention to all the fine details.... I'm a firm believer in doing things Once, even if it takes whatever amount of time, longer than most people... to do it right. In my younger years I got into metal polishing (still have most all of my equipment) "on the side" and have been in many different restoration projects myself, to that end... everything from motorcycles, steam locomotives, 1880's & 90's pullman railroad coaches, hot rods & show cars to musical instruments.. and written up in a half dozen or so (lost track, been a while now) magazines related to those various types of restoration projects. Anyway... thanks for posting and sharing your fabulous work, once again... am an ardent admirer of others who also take great "pains" to do things correctly, and whatever time it takes to "get it there". PS: Interesting that you restored "TV Tommy's" four engined (Buick), four wheel drive dragster. I remember helping lifting him out of it, back in 1978 (or,79?.. it's been a while), after he made his first pass at SIR (Saskatchewan Int'l Raceway - NHRA track) up in Canada, in the "left lane" after I suggested to him Not to use that lane due to a nasty, nearly lane wide frost heave just past the last mph beam. Considering the rigidity and weight of that beast.... I didn't think it would be a wise move for him (knowing how it hammered myself in my own, much more flexible FED - Front Engine Dragster/rail, during qualifying up there) to use it... but, Tommy, being Tommy... ran it anyway, and payed for it with a re-injuring of his lower back, which sadly put him out of commission for a short while that year, while he healed up... again.
Absolute labour of love, stunning. The blues and greens of the 50's really epitomised that era.
It's a miracle the car ended up in your hands , great job on the restoration my friend.
Just incredible, what you've done with this car. Fantastic job.
Superb craftsmanship and dedication. And it took a lot of willpower to leave the poor fitting panels ! I live in the UK and 54 years ago as a 15 year old l was offered a very early Corvette with the grille headlights for £100 ! I turned it down because the seller (a local scrapman) told me the V8 had been taken out and replaced with a Ford straight 6. Of course , years later it's pretty obvious it was probably the "blue flame " unit ! I thought it was a very attractive car and was , and still remain , frustrated that l never bought it. I did see the Corvette in a custom magazine a number of years later with a huge V8 ! Once again , fabulous work . Thankyou
the man;s passionate about his job. the world needs more of him.
OMG, I can imagine the stress of Not "fixing" the imperfections. 👍
I commend him for that, as he restored that car to exactly how it was made, not how many would say it SHOULD have been made.
I thoroughly enjoyed that what a great story and truly a one-of-a-kind ride I can only imagine the hours an hours of work you put into that car great job.
WOW. I was 8 years old when this car was built. What lovely restoration and I love the fact you left all the "witness" evidence so it could be seen. I'd love to anything more about this car if you ever make more about it.
Thank you for the forensic examination. A thing of beauty
Thanks for bringing this up. I think more history cars should be restored this way. I bet you would agree.
WOW!!! Most impressive, restoration bar NONE!!! Love your presentation, look forward to seeing more! Godspeed from The Yakima Valley in Washington STATE 🙏🏽🙌🏽
Wow, what a car, what a story. I was 3 yrs old in Detroit in those days.
So many of us value this treasure of history that transcends automotive history, so meticulously researched, restored, recreated & preserved! ...in 2022!
WoW! What a remarkable job of research, investigation, documentation and preservation--all within a full (but sensitive to originality) restoration. Thanks for both refreshing and conserving this bit of Corvette history! And thanks to the videographer for recording this commentary!
Those corvette prototypes look awesome.
Totally Rad Man! My favorite part was seeing your artistic application to bring back original features, even when Tracer sneezed 🐶.
yes, we had to bless the little doggie
Great video. I have never been a fan of Corvette, will never be. True American automotive history and an absolute treasure.
The way you researched and documented that car through its long journey I found to be amazing and very satisfying.I love to see elite excellence in action.Kudos to you sir.
Very intriguing story Jerry! So much detective work went into getting everything right on this car. It turned out fabulous. Your presentation of the subject was very well done as usual - one of the reasons why I subscribe to your channel. Keep up the good work!
Somebody stole my name.
@@TheFirstStater I'm kind of fond of it! Lol
@@billking772 ‘we wuz kangz’ 😁
I’m really proud of my brother in law!
@@jacquelynkheasley8614 I'm not impressed with my brother's wife.
What a story!! What an exhaust note!! That would make a wonderful display at the National Roadster Show. Great job on the restoration.
Good job, really nice to see a car that is not over restored. This is tastefully restored and respects the original history
Lots of good and hard work went into this car you are one lucky guy , to me this car is priceless 👌
Thanks 👍
Fastback corvair was a really beautiful car.
Thats labor of love, thanks for such a sweet job on a one of a kind that will live on for years to come.
what an amazing story and amazing car. the start of American Sports cars, love it. Thank you for the journey.
now that you mention it, yes, the start for America
@@thewriter2549 I really do appreciate this video and story, it's a shame that after the 70s the American automotive industry just didn't care about capturing the character and attitude of cars anymore. For me cars before 1974 had beauty, character, attitude, an almost spiritual effect when you drive them. It truly was and is a full body and mind experience, you and the car become as one. I was born 30 years to late because the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s were the most amazing time for cars. Thank you again.
That Boss engine was amazing. Your devotion to this project is amazing.
I like where you kept the inconsistencies on each side, it is a wonderful artifact thank you, Bob Ordewald, Staunton Virginia
Fascinating story! Thanks for posting! Great looking Vette-Love the gills and hood scoop and other differences in the body...
This guy is an absolute legend I thought for certain he was doing other stuff Really cool to see him still neck deep in his art. Thanks for the peek inside the workshop Billy Jay!!! And thank you Jerry I find your videos so enthralling
Wow! What a big chunk of car history!!! Bravo!
Amazing to see the History come back to Life. Thank God people still appreciate Hot Rods
My neighbor had Number 8… He found it in a junkyard in the 70’s. The junkyard has Number 3 as well. He almost bought it for 12k. Later he found out that they never found number 1 or 2. He just passed away a few months ago. Rip Bill. He was a good man.
#1 was in the GM Museum in Bowling Green KY and #2 was owned by the then CEO
Wow! How lucky. Sorry he passed away though. I hope we will be able to drive in heaven!
Love it Jerry. Another fantastic story. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it - from Down Under!
Great Story and a Happy ending for this one of a kind Corvette! This builder should be Proud of himself!
Totally Awesome Rebuild, ONE IN A MILLION , Thanks for Sharing, this man is a True ARTIST!!!!
Thanks again Jerry for bringing the stories to us. Absolutely gem here. Much appreciated!
Fascinating story about this rare car! I love how you go into the weeds! Great story, but even better, great explanation about the restoration of this vehicle! Thank you all for sharing!
Thanks again Pete
Awesome car! Great story. Bought my 75 vette in 77. Still have it 45 years later. Still cherry with 80,000 miles. Get a lot of thumbs up. Must be the bright orange original paint.😎🇺🇸
I have never really liked the early Corvettes, but his level of enthusiasm and depth of knowledge brought the car to life, and it became beautiful.
This range of car designs from the 50's are truly amazing. It's great to see this type of painstaking restoration on what must be one of the most beautiful body designs of the period. It certainly gave the Italian's a run for their money! Great work
Not many cars can change hands that many times and make it to restoration. That’s great this car was kept alive to get it to this point.
Very true. I am the sixth owner a fiberglass car from the same time period that was never completed and thankfully has remained untouched (butchered) by the various owners. We are in the process of completing the build, but the first 4 1/2 years of having it were spent researching, interviewing, and chasing leads to identify who designed/built it because that was unknown. We solved that mystery, found the designer/builder and his family and now know that he built seven to ten using various engines/chassis between 1953 and 1955. He lived in Wayne, Michigan and built the cars in a garage on in Livonia, Michigan where he was a teacher and coach. The car I have is the only currently known example, but we continue to search for other examples and the owners/former owners of them, so that we can capture and share their stories too.
@@ward7voter111 that’s nice. I’d love to see the progress of your build.
One of the best restorations I've ever seen and hope one day I grow my small business to a fraction of this. My favorite Enhancement I've done was to a red 1964. I was very light with the pressure and used a very light polish just to bring back the original color and shine a bit. There was a lot I left alone vs go deeper and my client to this day thanks me. I wanted to go farther but knew I shouldn't in it's condition. It now sits in front of a small business outside Kingman AZ. He had me do it for his girl. And I've enhanced a green boat from the same year. One day I hope to be able to get a hold of a 1950's it's my dream job. Don't care the make I just want to learn what it takes to bring back something that is beyond fixable but able to at least give it some of its original shine back and color. Big ups to you and your passion I'm jelly beyond words. 👏👏👏
You are somewhat a scientist with all the research and attention to detail. Great job.
I LOVE how you saved/used everything you could as is - because you should. And I hope people appreciate how much thought and effort you put into the process on every little point. And of course, your work is Stunning! Grand Slam with this project. Totally 100% blown away!
Soo very cool, an amazing piece of history!!!! Great job on the restoration, thank you for saving her.
Best 1/2 hour I've spent in years lol. My hat off to this gentleman! Very artistic and creative man with phenomenal skills!
You did the corvette right really good job all documents done excellent job well done God Bless
Amazing that it didn't get hot rodded all those years. Bravo!
Great story. Great history on the car. It definitely went to the right man. Job well done.
What a work of art. This gentleman is one of a kind.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I have no Corvette experience, but I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
I was 5 when I saw the first Corvette displayed at the 1953 GM Autorama. My dad was a foreman at GM then, so we got a special viewing, and I was thrilled to see the debut of America's original popular sports car! That's likely the event that made me a car nut and eventually a Mechanical Engineer. I recall getting to drive a scaled-down, battery-powered Corvette at that Motorama which I took off through the crowds, my mom scrambling after her naughty five-year-old! I got a ticket.
what a great story, what city? Also, would you look at the phone of the yellow EX-129 on display at the show in this video - you can see Allison signs in background, and discern which Motorama this was - WHERE and possibly WHEN? Please send me an email - jerryheasley@gmail.com
@@thewriter2549 It was the '53 Motorama, one year before the featured 'Vette in this video was used for display. I didn't pay much attention to signs because I was enamored with the shiny 'Vette! That car was and is an amazing American phenomenon. It's weird to know that I was seeing that debut when all that was brand-new, and now it's the resurrection of an historical ghost! Anyway, we attended the Motorama either in our home-town of Grand Rapids or in Flint, as I recall. It wasn't a long drive. Sorry, I don't have email.
@@SIMKINETICS but you need an email for a KZhead account 🙃
Love it! 👏Bravo!
Thank you! 😊
I love this side of American car culture, it is unique to you guys due to the vast size of the country and your rural locations that enable cars to literally vanish for decades and then reappear much further down the line. That and the space/land a lot of folks have that means they can keep or forget about an old car without the need to free up the space and potentially scrap it.
I really appreciate that Billy, as much as he wanted to do a super clean resto, he kept as much of the original dna as possible.
Wow, stunning, the mans an artist, great restoration, great story of an iconic car in the making, how they used to decide what they wanted on the actual car, these days all done on computer. Another great video Jerry.
Talent like Billy Jay needs to be recognized nationally, thanks, yes.
Wow, with that straight 6 it really sounds like an old ford tractor. That is amazing attention to detail. Incredible.
Lol, historic rare example of the marquis of the Chevrolet brand, with teething marks, nay birthmarks from it's time in the womb, showing the process of the designs evolution... And "it sounds like a Ford tractor". The balls on this one. 😉
@@AJNpa80 What? It's a very similar design and layout. You would expect it to. That it does, has nothing to do with me. It was made long before I was born. I have only had influence on how a dozen or so motors sound that I have changed induction or exhaust on. What's ballsy about that?
I love classic cars. Built with pride!!! Great video!!! Thank you for sharing these beauties.
I enjoyed watching this episode. Reminds me if hanging out with my Dad watching. classic car shows. Thank you fir sharing. I want fi see more
Great video, just shows that the electrics in newer cars can be a very large headache even for some specialists. The Turbo R can have a few electric niggles as well that can be very expensive to put right. Glad you found the right part and fixer!
Belongs in a museum. Beautiful restoration.
Do what you love and love what you do, I can agree that taking your time made this car come out the right way it was meant to. these days people are in a hurry to get things done, I am so happy that you took your time to restore her to her former glory. can tell your a man that love's doing what he does...cheers!
Amazing talent! The car looks great.
Such an amazing car and talented person to put it back together Beautiful car looking forward to seeing more of your work,the safe is outstanding
Great time capsule of art and the craftsmanship that went into these cars. I have been enjoying your show it is very inspiring. I grew up watching a father and son that built all types of Ford cars. The father worked at the Ford motor company for 25 years. I got to watch them work on a 1971 Mach 1 one with the 351 Cleveland engine 4 barrel with hurst shifter. I told them when I was around 19 or 20 years old that I wanted to buy it someday. Well when I turned 26 I bought the mustang had it for 6 years and it was a blast to say the least. Thanks for the great channel great history lesson for all generations.
Another resurrection of automotive cornerstone of the most famous car ever built. Very nice video.
And well said, one of the cornerstones.
That shooting break looks sick
Yes it does. They should have made it.
What a labor of love. Congratulations on such a fine example of real America style and engineering.
A stunning design, well worth all the incredible effort to restore it.
great history, great documentation, great video, a job well done !
Wow! What an AMAZING video. The story, the car and the restoration were just incredible. This was like watching a documentary about automobile archeology. Simply loved the whole video, from beginning to end. So cool how he kept the fit and finish the same and how he kept the left side of the car different/same as it was originally. I was a little confused about the ending. I was under the impression that the guy who restored the car, ended up becoming the owner. Am I mistaken. Was he giving it back to the owner at the end?
no, you are correct, he became owner
@@thewriter2549 The painstaking restoration of this museum piece 53//54 CorVette is beyond description. The devotion & attention to this project is phenomenal. Perhaps I missed the explanation during the video...BUT...why was it painted Bermuda Green...rather than yellow; as it was first presented at Motorama? I mean the 1 piece body began life as a "yellow" 1953 "Chevrolet"//Corvette. OK, the '53 body was reused, restyled & mounted on a 1954 frame. But I didn't hear any mention or see a color photo of the 1954 "restyled" CorVette. ...not complaining just wondering. Respectfully, Ben
@@duygukayhanisaskank4915 A large group of GM photos, passed down from GM to George Campbell through the famous author Noland Adams - and you will see these photos spread out over the trunk of S.O.2151, all are black and white. None were color. However, there is no question Harley Earl's Art & Colour Section painted S.O.2151 Bermuda Green. As we said, there is a lot of documentation of Shop Order 2151. Although not necessary, Billy Jay actually photographed Bermuda Green in black and white and compared his photos to the original black and whites and they looked the same. In other words, a black and white of a yellow car looks different than a black and white of a green car.
Wow how beautiful is that Fast back Corvair! Actually they all look stunning 🤩
Thanks for sharing this piece of History, that must be worth a lot$$$👍
My god those are incredibly beautiful cars in those pictures. Why they don’t bring back that kind of style I will never know. You can’t tell me they wouldn’t sell like hotcakes with that body style and all updated engine, suspension, safety features, and drivetrain. I might even bite the bullet on a brand new vehicle if that was the case. They’re almost majestic looking. Also, man, you do one hell of a job. A true professional with a passion for said profession, which makes all the difference.
Thanks Chandler, I agree about the styling and yeah incredible to see one with current technology.
An unbelievable amount of time went into this car and it shows through beautifully! Very few restorers would be capable or interested in completing a job like this, even for themselves. Curious that the Hemmings ad in the '70s said "rebuilt 6 cylinder". Seems like it still needs a little mechanical attention, its a booger to start...
He probably drives it to empty, clearing varnish before it can form.
When you let a car sit for a long time, it is hard to start because you have to fill the float bowls on the carb(s), all the worse if you have more than one carburetor.
Now this presentation of a historic car is raw gear head style “just the facts Mam”. So informative I have to watch it again. I own a 1964 Ermine white original all numbers matching corvette coupe that has 32K miles on the clock, and which has been in the family since 1967, with a total of three previous owners before me; I have the documentation. I rely heavily on my copies of Nolan’s Adam’s corvette restoration books when working on my baby. Great video my friend 👍🏼
As a kid in at my uncle's gas station I worked on old cars in the mid-70s. It was always fun to work on 50s and 60s vehicles sometimes twenties and thirties and even some model A and T Ford's. Looking at such an iconic machine of Chevrolet ingenuity and iconic piece of machinery and Design restored to its former glory for its prospective iconic history the Corvette name in its infancy is just amazing what a fantastic job artwork and beauty reconstructed in its finest and most respectful way thank you for bringing this to light it made my day!
Drooling.....
Fantastic project and history overview. True craftsmanship.
Oh man, I could not have done this, but I am so happy you did. You respected the original intent and function of the car, in all its imperfection and unholy gaps included :) Great work!
Geeze Man Exquisite Work thing Car is just Georgiuse through and through thanks for bringing it back 👍👍👍
It's really cool it was able to be brought back to life with such detail. Unreal attention to detail, amazing work !
So happy the he opened this up to his family a lot more memories will be made 👍