While watching motorcar racing, including the likes of M.G's and Jaguar's. A then Mr. Harley Earl the chief stylist of the General Motors Corporation conceived the idea of a 2 seatersports car for the American car market back in 1951. After a couple of years of incubation, the CORVETTE as we know of it today was born on the 30th June 1953. Although Harley Earl was the inspiration for his dream, it was in 1953 that a Mr. Zora Arkus-Duntov began working on the Corvette project, and within 2 years is made up to chief engineer, from this Zora Arkus-Duntov has been credited as the father of the Corvette. Before production
ever began however, the test cars were then made of a new type of resin, and it was within the testing period that when one of the cars crashed it was found that the test car stood up very well to the impacts that it had received. A decision was made from this, that the production cars are to be made from this resin. From then up to this present day that the Corvette's are made from a steel lined fibreglass body, with separate chassis.
The first year of production saw poor sales for the Corvette, with only 300 models made, and with a price of $3513, primarily aimed at the younger generation was this over priced for that era. This was not so, as a sports car the Corvette was quite slow in comparison to other makes and models of that time. Fitted with a straight 6 OHV 235.5ci (3.8ltr) engine producing 105 BHP, made the Corvette sluggish. The next year to follow saw a change within it's power output, still keeping the original engine the power was increased to 150 BHP. 1955 saw a big change when a new 265ci (4.3ltr) V8 engine was introduced producing 195 BHP, a more free revving engine weighing 40 pounds less than the old straight 6, makes it worthy for the Corvette. With this engine option 674 models were made that year, and the "Vette" begins to take off.
Every year since the launch of the Corvette body styles or engine sizes have changed, some go unnoticed, some more dramatic, in the 1958-59 models Fuel Injection was introduced.
The biggest change however came in 1962 with the introduction of the "STING RAY". This Corvette comes fitted with a 327ci (5.3ltr) V8 with a power output of 250 BHP, but with the Fuel Injection option the power increases to a massive 360 BHP, making the Sting Ray no slouch. This '62 model is the turn around for General Motors and the Sting Ray takes America by storm. The '62 has a more sophisticated appearance than before, and with a larger engine capacity is this the American Dream? It seems so, as this particular model is sought after by collectors and enthusiasts the world over.
1963 comes with the introduction of a split rear screen (funnily enough known as the split screen), with the introduction of the pop-up headlights, synonymous of the Corvette of today. Keeping the power options of the previous year, this Corvette style, the split screen only saw one year of manufacture. The 1965 model saw yet another change within it's power, a 396ci (6.4ltr) V8 425 BHP keeps the "Vette" from slowing down.
Another body alteration occurs in the 1968 model, we now see the styling of the traditional "Coke Bottle" look, this styling lasts well into the late 1970's early 80's. The Sting Ray makes a dramatic change in 1969, we lose the name "Sting Ray" and is now known as the "STINGRAY", with the two words now being spelled out as one. From this period body stylings altered little, with engine options from 350ci (5.7ltr) 350 BHP up to a 454ci (7.4ltr) option producing an incredible 460 BHP.
The early 1970's saw a dramatic change, not only for the Corvette, but for other makes and models as well. With changing policies within American law, emission controls were introduced for the so called gas guzzlers. We now see catalytic convertors required by law, engine out put lowered, meaning that a 350ci 350 BHP was de-tuned to 210 BHP. The brakes so to speak were put on by Government, but the "Vette" still drives on.
The biggest influential change however came within 1979, the Chevrolet Corvette STINGRAY is dropped altogether, but not forgotten. The "STING RAY" or the "STINGRAY" remains in peoples hearts. I don't want to sound my own trumpet here, but when people find out that I own a Corvette, the question that's asked the most is, what one? When I answer a Stingray, the expression on their faces with the accompined WOW! Tells me that I must own the American Dream.
O.K the Sting Ray or the Stingray might have gone, maybe forever, who knows, but one thing is for certain, and that is that the Corvette legend still lives on.
This op is a brief description of the Corvette, and the Sting Ray or Stingray. I'm sorry if it bored you but to go into detail might have bored you even more, for now let's keep at this. So it's detail that you want. Well the Corvette sszzZZZZZ.
Thanks for your patient read, happy motoring. Tazracer
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