Convertible · 265 cu in dual-four-barrel high-lift-cam V8 (approximately 240 hp; unofficial estimate)

1956 Chevrolet Corvette 240 Convertible — 3-speed manual


The 1956 Corvette high-lift-cam combination paired dual four-barrel carburetors with a three-speed manual. Its commonly quoted 240 hp is an unofficial estimate, not a Chevrolet factory rating.

1956 Chevrolet Corvette, C1 first generation — red convertible, front three-quarter view
Exact 1956 Corvette reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: Charles / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
Corvette 240
Body style
Convertible
Engine
265 cu in dual-four-barrel high-lift-cam V8 (approximately 240 hp; unofficial estimate)
Transmission
3-speed manual

The Corvette Black Book pages reprinted in GM's 1956 archive describe RPO 449 as requiring RPO 469 and call the accepted 240 hp output unofficial. The factory AMA specification sheet revised July 9, 1956 lists 210 hp and 225 hp; it does not certify a 240 hp rating.

Compare related 1956 configurations

Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.

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Compare 5 related configurations — current car marked
1956 Chevrolet Corvette: documented configuration differences
ConfigurationEngineTransmissionBody
Corvette 210 Convertible — 3-speed manual265 cu in small-block V8 (210 hp)3-speed manualConvertible
Corvette 210 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic265 cu in small-block V8 (210 hp)2-speed Powerglide automaticConvertible
Corvette 225 Convertible — 3-speed manual265 cu in dual-four-barrel V8 (225 hp)3-speed manualConvertible
Corvette 225 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic265 cu in dual-four-barrel V8 (225 hp)2-speed Powerglide automaticConvertible
Current carCorvette 240 Convertible — 3-speed manual265 cu in dual-four-barrel high-lift-cam V8 (approximately 240 hp; unofficial estimate)3-speed manualConvertible

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1956 Chevrolet Corvette 240 Convertible — 3-speed manual. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
9
Scheduled topics
7
Applicability stated
9
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Chassis and driveline lubrication — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Chassis and driveline lubrication — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Chassis lubrication fittings — lubricate

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 1,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Universal joints — disassemble, clean, and repack

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 25,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Rear-axle lubricant level — check and add as necessaryView intervals, applicability and sources

    Rear-axle lubricant level — check and add as necessary

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 1,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Transmission lubricant or fluid — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Transmission lubricant or fluid — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    3-speed manual or overdrive — check lubricant level

    Applies to: 1956 · 3-speed manual, Manual with overdrive · United States

    Published interval: 1,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Battery — inspect and serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Battery — inspect and service

    Fitment must be confirmed

    Check twice monthly; supporting text calls for checking electrolyte frequently and oiling the terminal washers every 1,000 miles.

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Tires and brakes — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Tires and brakes — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Tire inflation pressure — check

    The schedule calls for a check every two weeks.

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Tires — inspect for puncturing objects

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 1,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Tires — rotate

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 5,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Brakes — check adjustment

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 5,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Air cleaner and crankcase breather — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Air cleaner and crankcase breather — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Standard air cleaner — wash and re-oil

    Applies to: 1956 · United States · Only when equipped with the standard oil-wetted cleaner identified by the manual.

    Published interval: 2,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Oil-bath air cleaner — wash and refill

    Applies to: 1956 · United States · Only when equipped with the optional oil-bath cleaner identified by the manual.

    Published interval: 2,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Crankcase breather cap — wash and re-oil

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 2,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Engine tune-up and ignition — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine tune-up and ignition — service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Engine tune-up

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 5,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Spark plugs — remove, inspect, and regap to 0.035 inch

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 5,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

    Fan belt — inspect and adjust

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 5,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Front wheel bearings — remove, clean, and repackView intervals, applicability and sources

    Front wheel bearings — remove, clean, and repack

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1956 · United States

    Published interval: 10,000 mi

    Source: Chevrolet — 1956 Passenger Car Owner's Manual, maintenance schedule and guide · Mechanical Maintenance Information, printed pages 16–22; mileage schedule on page 21 and itemized guide on page 22 · checked

  • Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter — catalog fitment

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin P53

    This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; the service interval comes from the separately cited Chevrolet schedule.

    Applies to: 1956 · United States · Baldwin's exact 1956 Corvette application row assign P53 to every cataloged engine family; confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.

    Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 786, Chevrolet 1956 Corvette 265-cu-in V8 rows — Lube — P53 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.

Sources

  1. General Motors Heritage Archive — 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Vehicle Information Kit
  2. Chevrolet — 1956 Corvette official heritage vehicle-information kit
  3. GM archive — reprinted Corvette Black Book, 1956 options (PDF p. 4; unofficial output attribution)

Other 1956 configurations

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