Cyrus Smith, the wartime deputy commander of the Air Transport Command during World War II, and CEO of American Airlines, was also Secretary of Commerce under LBJ, bought a '53 Corvette from GM, serial number #100

 

This particular car was built in October of 1953 and delivered to Tom Hoskins Chevrolet in Chicago, Illinois, its engine number is 535454 and there are many original elements to the car too, including valve cover (one of 305 produced), 3836066 special Corvette cylinder head, body, and specially engineered open drive shaft two-speed power glide automatic transmission, which was all-new for the Corvette only. The ’53 also retains its original vacuum bag molded fiberglass body made by Lunn Laminates of Huntington, New York

https://www.carlisleevents.com/media/press-releases/2023/03/06/PR20231953Corvette