The 1956 Chevrolet Corvette represented the first complete redesign of this line of cars; only the instrument panel remained unchanged. The windows could be rolled up and down for the first time, allowing the trim-name change from "roadster" to "convertible."

Three engines were available, with the most popular being a 265-cubic-inch, dual four-barrel carburetor V8 rated at 225 horsepower. Approximately half of all buyers chose manual transmissions, the first year the Powerglide received this kind of competition.