Automotive Recyclers Association - Archive

Online Resources:

• Chevrolet.com/corvette
• Corvette Fan Site

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Corvette Cars

Corvette was the ultimate chick magnet. It was the dream car of single guys whose Friday night desires were showing off their assets. It was the car of the male mid-life crisis. It was the envy of many automobile owners and it translated into hot, raw sex appeal. Lastly, it was the car built by the common people's company, Chevrolet, and it was a domestic brand.

Unlike the luxury sports cars imported from Europe, Corvette's price was attainable, albeit not for everyone, but still nonetheless more affordable than a Mercedes-Benz, Maserati or a Lamborghini. And that was the selling point of the original Corvette. Built on a bare bones budget, the car used parts from other Chevy models and was made in fiberglass as opposed to steel since the material was so much cheaper. The first model, launched in 1953, was all white with a black canvas convertible top, but by the next year, Black, Pennant Blue, and Sportsman Red had been added as well as a beige top.

Although the first years' models are now classics and have sold at auction for as high as four-hundred and forty-thousand dollars, the first couple of years, the Corvette was not popular at its price tag of thirty-eight hundred dollars. It was not the budget car, it set out to be. Aside from being too pricey in the beginning, it seems that while consumers liked the appearance of the car, they were unhappy that it did not deliver the same powerful performance of other vehicles. Reviews were mixed but the general consensus was the car was too slow in acceleration.

General Motors would have to do something dramatic if it wished to continue producing the Corvette because, in addition to poor sales, the pressure was on from the competition. Ford has just launched their Thunderbird and the appeal and popularity of that car were instant. By 1955, the new and improved Corvette was created featuring Chevy's historical innovation, a small-block V8 engine. And by 1956, coupled with the new engine, improved styling that included fancier parts and accessories, and a manual transmission, the car was now a hit. In fact, so impressive was the new model, the Vette became a serious contender as a racing vehicle.

Interesting Tidbits in the Corvette's History:

• 1955 models housing the V8 engine used a large V in the Chevrolet name
• Legend says that the name was taken from Corvette navy warships because the executives wanted something people could identify with power.
• The original logo was two American flags crossing but was changed to two checkered flags when the car became a race contender.
• Up until 1955, the automatic transmission was standard. As part of the new model, a three speed manual transmission became standard equipment.
• In 1959, the company offered black as an interior color.
• Up until 1961, the exhaust system was placed through the rear bumpers. In this year, it was changed to exit from underneath the car.
• 1963 saw a complete make-over for the Vette's exterior styling and frame. For example, features such as the headlights were changed to increase the aerodynamics of the car. The new model's headlights were kept behind an electronically controlled panel.
• Corvette held the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) B-Production title from 1957 until 1964.
• The 1980 Corvette became much lighter as a result of the energy crisis. Some estimates state that the car lost between one-hundred and fifty to two-hundred and fifty pounds.
• 1989 promotional material claimed the ZR1 “was the world's fastest production vehicle”.
• Today, a new 2009 Corvette in the US costs between fifty-thousand and one-hundred and five thousand dollars depending on the model. The ZR1 is the most expensive.
• The National Corvette Museum is on Corvette Drive in Bowling Green, Kentucky across the street from the GM Corvette Assembly Plant. The museum is a not-for-profit organization, however, and is not an entity owned by General Motors.

Models and Years Introduced:

• 1955 – 1962 C1
• 1956 SR-2
• 1956 Sebring SS
• 1956 Super Sport
• 1963 C2 Sting Ray
• 1968 C3 replacing the Mako Shark
• 1984 C4
• 1990 ZR1
• 1997 C5
• 1997 Hatchback Coupe
• 1998 Convertible
• 1999 C5-R race car
• 2001 Z06
• 2003 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette
• 2005 C6
• 2005 C6.R race car
• 2009 Corvette Coupe
• 2009 Corvette Convertible
• 2009 Corvette Z06
• 2009 Corvette ZR1