Mecum Auctions will be offering this ’53 Corvette at the Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction on June 22-23, 2012. 

Billed as number 83 of approximately 300 units for 1953, the first year of production, the Corvette is described by Mecum as original and unrestored. However, the Polo White paint and red upholstery coverings are obviously more recent. According to the auction house, the odometer reading of 4300 miles is believed to be accurate. A blue ribbon winner at the National Corvette Concours, this car might also have some celebrity appeal — it was formerly owned by country singer and car collector Alan Jackson.

The sIx-cylinder, straight-axle Corvettes might be described as for history buffs only. The ride and handling are terrible by modern standards, while the drivetrain, a genuine Stovebolt-era six-banger coupled to an early cast-iron Powergilde, offers no sporting pretenses at all. The cabin is less than roomy and taller drivers will find they ride on these cars rather than in them. America’s sports car wouldn’t become a real sports car until the 265 CID V8 arrived in 1955.

Still, these early Corvettes, especially in unrestored condition, offer tremendous appeal to a certain type of buyer, and well, you know who you are. The ’53 is listed as lot S96 at Mecum Auction’s website, with more info available here.