Description
The Chevrolet Corvette is an icon of American automotive history and one of the most recognised and revered cars in the world. The first-generation Corvette (commonly known as the C1) was introduced for the first time in 1953 at General Motors’ Motorama event at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. The C1 Corvette was produced for nine years before being replaced by the second-generation Corvette, or C2, in 1962. Designed by the legendary automotive designer Harley Earl, the Chevrolet Corvette draws inspiration from many sources. Earl wanted to create a true American sports car, and he noticed all the European sports cars that American GIs brought home after their service in the Second World War. He was also inspired by the Nash-Healy, a two-seater sports car from Nash Motors. Earl and his team created the “Opel Project” in the early 1950s, which became the Corvette we know today. Another notable member of the Corvette team was Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette’s chief engineer, commonly known as the “father of the Corvette.” Duntov joined the team after seeing the original car at Motorama, and he became the man responsible for many of the car’s innovations, its early racing successes, and the implementation of the Grand Sport programme, which proved successful. Among Duntov’s numerous achievements with the Corvette, one of the most important is turning it into a proven sports car. Duntov and his team set a stock car record at the Pike’s Peak hill climb in 1956, and also set a new Daytona Beach record by reaching 150 mph in the flying mile. Duntov’s Grand Sport programme was launched in the final year of the C1 Corvette, in 1962. This programme aimed to create a lightweight race-ready Corvette capable of competing with established marques. Only five original Grand Sport cars were built with a 550 horsepower small-block aluminium V8. These incredibly rare cars were not officially allowed to race by GM and ended up in the hands of private collectors. 1953: First attempt The very first Chevrolet Corvette C1 off the assembly line was produced on an improvised line in Flint, Michigan, in June 1953. The first batch of cars, limited to 300 units, was entirely covered in a black canvas and sported the now-iconic exterior Polo White, as well as an equally iconic red interior. Under the hood, they were fitted with a 3. 8-litre inline-six (no V8 yet) with three Carter carburettors, mechanical lifters and a high-lift camshaft. Nicknamed “Blue Flame,” this engine produced 150 horsepower and was paired with a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. Earl’s design for the C1 Corvette is magnificent and instantly recognisable. The convertible Corvette’s styling is slim and compact, characterised by fluid lines from the headlights to the rear wings, white-wall wheels, outward pop-out rear lights in the classic 1950s style, and a unique chrome grille. Instead of steel bodywork, GM used fibreglass to shape the Corvette; it was one of the earliest, more extensive uses of a lightweight revolutionary material of the time. 1954: Production expands The year 1954 saw a significant rise in Corvette production, with around 3, 640 cars produced. General Motors also broadened the Corvette colour choices (Sportsman Red, Black and Pennant Blue) and increased engine power to 155 horsepower. In 1955, the Corvette undoubtedly received the most important update of its history, an improvement that would serve as a template for all future Corvettes. It was in this year that GM installed under the Corvette’s bonnet a small-block 4. 3-litre Chevrolet V8, which significantly increased the power of the six-cylinder to reach 195 horsepower. GM equipped the Corvette with a three-speed manual gearbox, the first time the car was fitted with anything other than an automatic. These improvements were well received and helped bolster the Corvette’s reputation as a sports car. Chevrolet built 700 Corvettes for the 1955 model year. Further improvements were made in 1956, notably a removable hardtop, exposed headlights, a redesigned bodyshell now featuring the famous “coves” or sculpted side air intakes, and manual roll-up windows. Power was again increased – the small-block V8 now reached 240 horsepower – and the inline-six engine of the...
