Historical photo examples of early model Corvettes produced and modified for use around the world. This site features Corvettes that were produced for VIP's, Kings, Ambassadors, a Prince and Export GM Show Cars. See the differences of the Export Corvettes vs the USA versions. Also as thirty plus years of collecting has rolled by,information on the export Corvair, Camaro, Chevrolet and Buick have been included. Also there is some Ford and Chrysler pictures included.
Date(s): 1953 - 1982. Album by James Hurt. Photos by Various Contributers. 1 - 24 of 344 Total. 425 Visits.
1 Fit for a King, built for a PRINCE! Not the first, but the best known Export Corvette. 1956, serial #41. This one-off Corvette was part of a GM marketing program to increase awareness and sales of the new 1956 Corvette in Europe. It was not unusual at that time for GM to provide high profile automotive enthusiasts, like Prince Bertil, with specially modified cars that would attract significant media attention in their home markets.
2 Prince takes delivery Deliver day, Sweden GM plant, May 29, 1956, Mr Baroll of GM Nordic, standing,delivers Corvette to Prince Bertil seated in car. Photograher Hans Johnson
3 Fit for a PRINCE Prince Bertil of Sweden shown seated in his "one off" Corvette at the Sweden GM plant as he takes delivery. Notice the Euro Lucas headlamps to meet safety rules.
4 Prince Bertil GM Plant Sweden May 29, 1956, Mr Baroll, standing,delivers Corvette to Prince Bertil seated in car. Photograher Hans Johnson
5 1956 Export Corvette #41 Prince Bertil of Sweden, seated, shown with Mr Baroll representing GM Nordic, as he inspects his special, one off Corvette, serial #41. May 29,1956. Photo credit: Per Wesslen
6 The Prince and his Corvette Prince Bertil takes delivery of 1956 #41 at GM Sweden plant. Mr Baroll represents GM Nordic, presents the Corvette.
7 Prince Bertil seated in Corvette Upper left, car shown in its special Baby Blue Color. To the left, Prince Bertil in uniform.
8 Prince Bertil visits USA Prince Bertil,center. Bertil often visited GM headquarters here in the USA. Shown here with local police officers during a visit.
9 Harlow Curtis seated in 1956 #41 before exporting to Sweden Photo taken at GM Design Studio, Detroit, before shipment to Sweden. Notice special color. This Corvette is now under going a restoration. It is back in the hands of one of the previous owners in Sweden. See this web site: www.royalcorvette1956.com
10 Harlow Curtis, GM President Picture taken at GM before shipment to Sweden. These international marketing programs had the support of GM’s top management. GM President, Harlow Curtis took time to review the completed Corvette in the Design Auditorium before it was shipped to Stockholm, Sweden.
11 Special, One-off front end The Corvette was designed and built at the Design’s often used off-site, special projects studio, located in the Fisher Body Plant 8. Plant 8 provided overflow studio and fabrication space for special projects that could not be fit into the regular studios.
12 1956 CORVETTE #41, SPECIAL INTERIOR While retaining the basic Corvette architecture and power-train, GM’s Design added many special features which included a specific front grill treatment, new exhaust ports, special wire wheels, a completely custom blue interior trim design and a unique exterior paint color combination. Even the stock fuel filler cap was replaced with one custom made in the Design Prototype Shops.
13 Prince Bertil & the Buick Prince Bertil of Sweden views the Buick XP300. The Prince is the tall man in the center of the picture.
14 Zora and Prince Bertil Zora at the wheel, gives Prince Bertil a ride in the Buick XP300, photo taken at GM, USA
15 Tool Kit for the Prince Tool kits were often displayed in the car trunks in the fifties era. GM included this kit for the Prince. Notice the dark blue carpet like cloth (center) with trim sewn along the edge. Was there to match the custom blue interior installed in this "one off". Information supplied by family of second owner.
16 Tool Packet 1956 #41 This tool kit, similar in color to the interior trim of car, was shipped in the trunk of Prince Bertil Corvette.
17 Tool Kit Exterior view, note blue inside material with sewn trim. The kit was descibed as matching the interior, interior of the car or trunk area? Maybe both?
18 1956 Export Corvette #41-Sweden GM built this "one off" export Corvette especially for Prince Bertil of Sweden. Yellow Corvette is the same car, later owners made a few modifications. The Corvette is now being restored to original specs.
19 1956 Export Bertil Corvette The Bertil Corvette, converted to a race car by other owners
20 1956 Bertil Corvette Modified for the strip, front area changed after an accident. When the car was repaired, a different grill was fitted to the front end.
21 Bertil Drag Car Another picture at the drag strip
22 The 1956 Prince Bertil Corvette Owner made modifications for the drag strip. Notice the 1958 trunk bars still on trunk lid
23 The Bertil Family, center/right Early picture of the Prince with his family. Kids have toy sports car! The Prince was a avid sports car fan. Prince Bertil, standing to the right side of the photo. The Prince received a new sports car. The manufacturer presented the kids a replica toy pedal car to match.
24 Keep Going PLEASE CLICK "SHOW ALL" (below/right) TO CONTINUE & VIEW 300 PLUS PHOTOS
Have 65 fuel injected Corvette purchased from Harry Hood. - Robert Atkins, Mon, 21 Nov 2011 5:50PM
Great job on your export website. I enjoyed reviewing some of the neat cars that were sold overseas.
Regards, Dave Gray Carlisle, Pa. - David Gray, Mon, 22 Aug 2011 4:20PM
Nice pictures and stories.Would anybody know where I can find details of my 1957 Chevrolet that starts his live on the Antwerp plant.Have the original tagplate on the firewall but couldn't find any details about it on the Chevrolet forums and sites in the USA.Need as much info as possible to get the car registrated and roadlegal in Holland because of new rules here since august this year.Thanks a lot - Peter, Wed, 1 Dec 2010 11:22AM
The gold Camaro with sunroof,is from Sweden.Not Norway.It was me who took the pic,so i should know:)).Its a 67 model sold new in Sweden i think. - Arild Guldbrandsen, Sat, 22 May 2010 8:27AM
Very nice! I have the dates of the Prince Bertil Tech Center visit and Buick drive with Zora photos and the circumstances surrounding who alsois in the photo and why if you are interested. - Ken Kayser | www.tachometerpress.com, Sun, 20 Dec 2009 1:22PM
Thanks for the pics! Great gallery and info! I think we have discussed something like 7-8 years ago about this subject? Send me e-mail! I'd love to have update on your latest discoveries!
