The Corvette debuted in January of 1953 as a show
car in the GM Motorama. It was a stylish two seat convertible, designed to show
the world that GM could create a sports car to compete with European car
manufacturers like Jaguar and MG. At the Motorama there was a great response.
The production of the 1953 Corvette Roadster began in June in Flint, Michigan.
All 1953 Corvettes were Polo White with red interiors; and were hand built. They
were powered by the existing Chevrolet 235-cu.-in. 6 c
cylinder engine that was
modified with a three carburetor design and dual exhaust to give it more sports
car like performance. The engine generated 150 horsepower, and it was teamed
with a2-speed Power glide automatic transmission. However it didn't live up to
the performance of expectations of sports car buyers. Arkus Duntov -an engineer
on the Corvette team since 1954 - was the big man behind the
Chevrolet Corvette. Chevrolet built 3600 but in that year the only sold 600 of
them. In 1955 the sold the rest (although this was very difficult). In 1955
setting off rumors that Corvette might be a short-lived automotive experiment.
Corvette's had a 265-cu.-in. V8 that generated 195 horsepower was offered with a
3 speed manual transmission. In 1956 Corvette got it's first
styling update. Most important changes were an new body with "scooped
out" sides, outside door handles, roll-up windows and an optional removable
hardtop. The 283-cu.-in. V8 was modified with fuel injection to produce an
unprecedented 283 horsepower, and a new 4 speed manual transmission. In 1957
Chevrolet sold his "Vette" with a Fuel Injection motor. The 1956 and
1957 were equal. In 1958 the Corvette body changed a bit. Corvette
got dual Head lights and much more chrome at the front and the back. The base
model futures a fuel injected 283-cu.-in. V8 was now producing up to 290
horsepower. Chevrolet removed in 1959 some of the worst chrome
elements. They also changed a few little things. In 1960 for the
first time Corvette reached a production of 10,000. In each year between 1960
and 1962, performance and styling enhancements made it more and more appealing
to a wide variety of buyers. In 1961 they changed the tail lights
into the famous "duck tail" lights. These "duck tail" lights will
stay forever. You can see them also on the 1998 model. Also the grille changed.
In 1962, engine displacement was increased to 327 cu. in. and top
horsepower was up to 360. The scoops weren't available in other colors.
Chevrolet only option was the same color as the whole body. Gary Hathaway's 1957 Convertible
has style that will always be "in-style".
In 1963, Corvette introduced its all new Corvette
Coupé and Convertible models called the Sting Rays. This was the very first
time Corvette was available as a hardtop coupe model as well as the traditional
convertible. Both cars
featured an all new body design that was more stylish
than the previous generation. It was also the first year for concealed Head
lights. It also features an all new chassis, that includes an independent rear
suspension. The 1963 Sting Ray Coupe featured a Split rear window
design, but it was replaced with a single piece rear window in 1964
because owners complained about visibility. Chevrolet had to build second
assembly plant in St. Louis, Missouri to keep up with demand, and dealers
reported owners waiting months for their cars to be built. At the end of 1964
Corvette produced more than 20,000 units. In 1965, The Corvette
had a 396-cu.-in. "Big Block" V8 under the hood. It delivered 425
horsepower. New was the four wheel disc brakes that become standard, The body
didn't change at all. In 1967, the limited production L88 Corvette
was officially rated at 430 horsepower, although some Corvette historians
believe that figure was artificially low. Only 20 of the L88 Corvettes were
built. George McDowell's 1964 Convertible is perfection in progress - a
totally "Cool" machine.
In 1968 Corvette was totally different in
appearance from any other Corvette. This models where resemblance of the
"Mako Shark II" concept vehicle. The Corvette changed a lot in
different ways. First it's the totally new bold and aerodynamic body. This basic
body design would continued for the next 15 years. It also features hidden
windshield wipers, removable T-Tops. There was an option for the luggage rack on
Coupé models. The 1970 were a time of great change for Corvette.
First there came the oil embargo and increasing government regulations about the
fuel. These two major outside forces were having a lot of impact on Corvette
performance. The original high-performance LT1 engine, a 350-cu.-in. "Small
Block," was introduced in 1970. It generated 370 horsepower.
That year, the "Big Block" 
displacement was increased to 454 cu. in.,
and was rated at 390 horsepower in the LS5 version. In 1971, a
special purpose "Big Block" V8 was available that produced 425
horsepower. But 1971 was the last year for "gross" horsepower ratings.
The industry changed to a "net" rating system that accounted for the
exhaust system, vehicle accessories and other components. It provided a truer
measure of an engine's performance and is still used today. In 1973Chevrolet
introduced the "soft nose". In 1974the front and back
chrome bumpers were removed. And this was the last year that the Corvette had a
Big Block motor. 1975 was the last year that Corvette produced a
convertible. In 1977, Corvette produced over 1/2 million
Corvettes. When the 500,000th car rolled off the assembly line, Leather seats
were standard for the first time. From this type there were build 49,213 units.
In 1978 Corvette celebrated its 25th anniversary and. For this
event the Corvette was selected to be the official Pace Car of the Indianapolis
500. Two special models were produced for public sale a Pace Car edition and a
special Silver Anniversary paint package. The Pace Car had a standard interior
the normal Corvettes not. The "round" back window was introduced. In 1979,
Corvette production hit 53,807 units -- a record that still stands today. This
year the interior of the Pace Car from last year became a standard interior for
all models. In 1980 the Vette got a new styled hood, back and
nose. In 1981 Chevrolet produced a "lighter" version of the
Corvette especially for California. This was because of the tight emission
rules. This was also the first year that there was a computer management on the
Vette. 1982 Chevy introduced a new cross fire engine. The new
injection system was standard on all models. There was only one motor that Chevy
build in the Vette. To celebrate the end of the "shark generation"
(the 3rd generation) the produced a collectors edition with specials colors and
a tail window that you can open. There were no 1983 Corvettes
produced for public sale. True to form John Crowder's 1972 Convertible is
the cleanest and meanest Stringray in the Mid South.
Chevrolet introduced in 1984 the first all new
Corvette since 1968. They produced 510000 Corvettes. It featured an all new body
design. This was a totally different body design. It also features a double
wishbone front suspension and five link independent rear suspension teamed with
Goodyear Gator back unidirectional tires. The suspension was very strong. This
84-er drive very stiff. Inside, the cockpit surrounded the driver and featured
advanced
electronic instrumentation. For 1986 Chevy build a Tuned
Port Injection in the motor. For 1987 , the Corvette Convertible
was back! To celebrate the convertible's return, Corvette again paced the Indy
500 and all convertibles were designated Pace Car replicas. The evolution of
Corvette as a world class performance car also continued with the addition of
new standard 4 wheel ABS, an increase in maximum horsepower to 230 from its 5.7
Liter V8 and continued suspension fine-tuning. The PASS-Key theft deterrent
system was also added as standard equipment. Because of the rules that all cars
must have an 3rd tail light it became a standard for the Vette too. In 1988
Corvette celebrated his 35th anniversary. It produced a all white Corvette with
better handling. And it made great strides with the Performance Handling Package
along with new 17 inch wheels and tires. This pack was not standard; the normal
model had 16" wheels. The Selective Ride Control adjustable
suspension system was also introduced; allowing drivers to choose between three
different operating modes: "Touring," "Sport" and
"Performance." A new 6 speed manual transmission was also offered,
giving drivers added ability to maximize the Corvette power range. ZR-1
roared to life in 1990 with an all new 375 horsepower LT5 engine
under its hood. Designed in a cooperative effort between General Motors and
Lotus, the LT5's dual overhead cam, 32 valve design made Corvette the talk of
the automotive world. To help distinguish the appearance of the ZR-1 from
standard Corvette Coupes, it was given an all new convex rear fascia and quad
rectangular tail lights. All Corvettes received a new cockpit design that
included digital readouts and analog gauges as well as a driver air bag. The
maximum horsepower of the standard L98 engine was increased to 250. Corvette
received styling refinements for 1991 that included wrap-around
front parking/corning lamps, new side panel louvers and a ZR-1 style convex rear
fascia on all models. To help differentiate the look of the ZR-1, its center
high mounted stop lamp remained on the roof, while it was integrated into the
rear fascia on both Coupe and Convertible. Corvette performance continued to
grow in 1992 with the introduction of the second generation LT1 --
putting a 300 horsepower engine back in the standard Corvette. The engine was
designated LT1 because it was the first Chevy "Small Block" to surpass
the horsepower of the original LT1 in 1970. The Acceleration Slip Regulation
(ASR) system and Goodyear GS-C asymmetrical tires were also introduced as
standard equipment. ZR-1received a ZR-1 badge on the sides of its clam shell
hood. The Corvette was built on July 2, 1992 in Bowling
Green, Kentucky. For 1993, LT5 output was boosted to 405
horsepower, and a special 40th Anniversary package was available on all models.
Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) was also added as standard equipment. The cockpit of
Corvette was transformed for 1994 with a new single piece
instrument panel, a front passenger air bag, and new door panels. Both the
standard and Sport seats were also re styled, and leather seats became standard
equipment. The most noticeable change on the 1995 Corvette was the
revised gill panel design. This also marked the last year for the ZR-1. Corvette
served as the Official 1995 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. Two distinctive Corvettes
are part of the 1996 lineup: the Grand Sport and Collector
Edition. Both celebrate the rich heritage of the Corvette, and mark the end of
the current style. The new optional LT4 engine is introduced (required on Grand
Sport). Special Note: Johnny Biffle has the "Badest"
ZR-1 on the road - so watch out!!
The new 1997 is totally different from the fourth
generation. A start-from- scratch aluminum push rod V-8. it's 
lighter, more
powerful, more fuel efficient than theV-8 it replaces (1996). The V-8 delivers
344 horsepower. A sophisticated process called hydroformingcreates frame rails
from a continuous steel tube. It makes the '97 sturdier and stiffer. The
interior is roomier and the cockpit is handier. The frame takes up less room so
it's easier to get in and out. The most desirable of the C5's is Doug
Turner's 1998 Fairway Green - one of only 123 made - with a throaty sound from
zero to 175 that will raise the pulse of anyone within ear shot.
Above history borrowed from T H E C O R V E T T E P I T S T O P W W W . C O R V E T T E . 8 M . C O M
When
50,000 Corvette fans gathered in
What you couldn't find was the C6, shorthand for
the sixth-generation Corvette, that was originally supposed to be unveiled
at the
| That began to change with the debut of the fifth-generation Corvette, in 1997, which had lots more to offer than just a badass V-8. And you knew it, just by looking at the C5, clearly a car transformed, the dramatic changes in its appearance underscoring what had been done under the skin. While the C5 came temptingly close, it had not quite chinned the bar. And so, despite his disappointment at the delay, Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill relished the opportunity to put a little more effort into the C6. The Corvette team pored over virtually every detail of the car, addressing everything from interior refinement to off-the-line acceleration. |  |
Evolution or revolution? What they've wrought may not be apparent immediately. Unlike the revolutionary C5, the new car is what designers like to call an "evolutionary" update. At casual glance, there are plenty of folks who might not even realize they're looking at a C6. But spend just the briefest time behind the wheel and you'll recognize this as an entirely new automobile - Hill likes to point out that 85 percent of it has been changed, at least if you measure by weight. Even the little things make a big difference. And so, for the first time, the new Corvette is absolutely ready to take on all comers.
We took delivery of our C6 one recent summer's morning,
product manager Harlan Charles handing us the keys to what was just the 20th car
to come off the line in
Many folks in our little enclave of
Not all were sure what they were seeing. At first glance, the C6 bears a strong similarity to the outgoing, fifth-generation 'Vette. But closer inspection reveals some significant changes, such as the more elegantly sculpted tail, which resolves one of the old car's biggest visual weaknesses. The most controversial? The decision to abandon Corvette's classic pop-up headlights, but the new High-Intensity Discharge lamps offer several distinct advantages. There's more light, for one thing, and HIDs fit into a tighter package. [C6 information borrowed from TheCarConnection.com]
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