Auto Shop - Corvette

 

On this day in 1953, Chevrolet unveils the Corvette at the GM Motorama show.

Henry Earl, head designer, wanted a two seat sportscar, as European automakers were dominating the market.

With an all fiberglass body and a red interior, the car ran at 150 horsepower and cost $3,500.  GM initially marketed to VIP customers, but decided to open the floor when sales were disappointing.

In 1954, they only built 3,600 of the planned 10,000, and almost a third remained unsold by 1955.

1955 is the year Ford launched their Thunderbird, so GM decided to keep the Corvette in production and make some performance enhancements.  Once Zora Arkus-Dontov became head engineer, the car would be transformed.

The 1955 Corvette had 195 horsepower.  1956 had 240, and 1957 had 283.  By now, the Corvette was setting speed records on the racing circuit.

In 1963, the second generation was introduced with the Stingray.

In 1977, the 500,000th Corvette was built.