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The first generation Corvette was introduced late in the 1953 model year and ended in 1962. Often referred to as the "solid-axle" models because the independent rear suspension did not debut until the 1963 Sting Ray.
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The first of the Fuelies came in 1957, boosting the 283 cubic inch V8 to 283 horsepower - and it went quite a bit higher than that before the end, reaching 375 horsepower.
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This radical design borrowed cues from the Q Corvette and predicted the 1963 C2. The flat upper body and curved-under nose and tail were intended to function as an upside-down wing, pressing the car to the pavement at speed, which it sort of did if the rear was jacked up.
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Corvette removed the bubble roof, updated the interior, and freshened up the nose to include a bumper bar on the Xp- 700/755 to make the Mako Shark.
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1963 brought a host of firsts, including the first-ever Corvette coupe - a special one-year model with a split rear window.
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1963 was also the only year in the 1960s for the fire-breathing Z06 - a hint at the monster L88 Corvette that was yet to come.
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Larry Shinoda penned this concept recycling many cues from his Corvair SS and Monza GT concepts. Two GS-IIs were built, one on a steel tube chassis, the other on an aluminum one.
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Its low nose and lift-off center roof section marked a dramatic departure from the Sting Ray and pointed the way to the 1968-1982 C3 Corvette. Reclining the seats enabled the roofline to be three inches lower than the earlier models.
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The most powerful Corvette in history was the 1967-1969 L88 427 - with over 560 horsepower on tap, this car was made for the race track.
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The new C3 body style defined the Corvette for the next 14 years - the longest run of any Corvette generation.
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Chevy R&D's first mid-engine Corvette positioned a big-block V-8 backwards so the starter and ring gear nestled under the reclined seats and the tall accessory drive rode in back.
The finished car weighed 200 pounds less than a stock 427 Corvette, but the transaxle was far too weak. -
This redesign of the Mako Shark II featured a restyled nose and tail. A gunslit vertical window replaced the louvered fastback rear window.
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The 1972 Corvette was essentially a continuation of the 1971 model year, but the cars lost 70 horsepower on paper.
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DeLorean's further development of the XP-882 chassis, but with steel bodywork. The car weighed 3500 1600 kgs. Cost killed the idea once again.
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September 1984 through 1988 Corvettes offered a Doug Nash designed "4+3" transmission — a 4-speed manual coupled to an automatic overdrive on the top three gears. It was designed to help the Corvette meet U.S. fuel economy standards.
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The Indy's less-evil twin was engineered as a fully functional rolling test bed capable of meeting all Federal safety and regulatory standards. The car's extensive high-tech systems, especially its active suspension.
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For the 1992 model year, the 300 bhp (220 kW) LT1 engine was introduced, an increase of 50 bhp (37 kW) over 1991's L98 engine. Also new for 1992 was Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), a form of traction control which utilized the Corvette's brakes, spark retard and throttle close-down to prevent excessive rear wheel spin and possible loss of control.
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The fourth generation Corvette was the first all-new Corvette since 1963. Production was to begin for the 1993 model year but quality issues and part delays resulted in only 44 1993 model prototypes being produced which were never sold. All of the 1993 prototypes were destroyed except one with a white exterior, medium blue interior, L83 350ci, 205HP V8, and 4-speed automatic transmission.
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The Z06 used a much more rigid fixed roof design allowing unprecedented handling thanks to upgraded brakes and much less body flex. It also used of exotic materials such as a titanium exhaust system and a carbon fiber hood.
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Chevrolet used cars like the Nissan 300ZX and Mazda RX-7 as benchmarks for quality and styling due to criticisms the C4 Corvette received when compared to Japanese rivals. The C5 had a top speed of 291 km/h.
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The C6 Corvette retained the front engine - rear transmission design of the C5 but was virtually all new, including new bodywork with exposed headlamps (for the first time since 1962), a larger passenger compartment, a new 6.0 litre engine and reworked suspension.
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The ZR1 was formally announced in a December 2007 press statement by General Motors, where it was revealed that their target of 75 kW per 1 L has been reached by a new "LS9" engine with a supercharged 6.2-litre engine producing a confirmed 638 bhp (476 kW).
