Description
The Chevrolet Corvette, colloquially known as the Vette[1] or Chevy Corvette, is a historically front engine, rear drive, two-door, two-passenger sports car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet across more than 60 years of production and seven design generations—with GM confirming in early 2019 an eighth generation Corvette in a rear-mid-engine configuration. With its generations noted sequentially from C1-C8, the Corvette serves as Chevrolet's halo vehicle and is widely noted for its performance and distinctive plastic—either fiberglass or composite—bodywork.
Third generation (C3; 1968–1982)
The third generation Corvette, patterned after the Mako Shark II concept car, was introduced for the 1968 model year and was in production until 1982. C3 coupes featured the first use of T-top removable roof panels. It introduced monikers that were later revived, such as LT-1, ZR-1, Z07 and Collector Edition. In 1978, the Corvette's 25th anniversary was celebrated with a two-tone Silver Anniversary Edition and an Indy Pace Car replica edition of the C3. This was also the first time that a Corvette was used as a Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500.
1972 (Aug. 1971 prod) was the last model year for chrome bumpers at both front and rear, the vacuum actuated pop-up windshield wiper door, as well as the removable rear window common to all 1968-72 coupes. The key activated anti-theft alarm system became standard. The increasingly popular choice of an automatic transmission was installed in most Corvettes for the first time, with nearly 54 percent so equipped.
