| The Chevrolet Corvette is often known as "America's | | | | improved the performance of the Corvette but was |
| Sports Car" due to the fact that it is the first | | | | still behind its counterparts. |
| all-American sports car built by the American | | | | The Corvette underwent major changes by 1963 and |
| manufacturing company General Motors. The | | | | marked the start of the second generation of |
| Corvette has maintained its reputation as a very | | | | Corvettes that was also known by the acronym C2. |
| powerful yet affordable car for more than 50 years | | | | There were several body designs made by Larry |
| now. The car first came out in 1953 and was | | | | Shinoda, which were released from 1963 till 1968. The |
| manufactured in a GM assembly plant in Bowling | | | | development of the Corvette Stingray sporting |
| Green, Kentucky, USA. What sets the Corvette apart | | | | split-rear windows and fake hood vents also started in |
| from its European counterparts is its emphasis on | | | | 1968. A 6.5 L big-block engine option also became |
| simplicity. Most competing brands depend on smaller | | | | available and an even larger 7L big-block engine came |
| displacement and a complex engine. The Corvette on | | | | by 1966.The Third generation (C3) Corvette's design |
| the contrary, uses a larger displacement and a simpler | | | | made by Larry Shinoda was inspired by a Mako |
| overhead valve that often resulted in a lighter, cheaper | | | | Shark. The C3 lasted until 1982 and in each passing |
| and physically smaller engine. This same philosophy is | | | | year, various improvements were added to the |
| also reflected in the type of suspension used by the | | | | Corvette especially on its engine. In 1973, |
| Corvette where GM opted to use the transverse leaf | | | | Urethane-compound bumpers replaced the chrome |
| springs. | | | | bumpers of the Corvette. |
| The name for Chevrolet's entry-level sports car back | | | | There are several notable variants of the C4 model of |
| in 1953 comes from a highly maneuverable frigate | | | | the Corvette namely the B2K Callaway Twin Turbo |
| class warship of the same name. The person | | | | (1987), ZR-1 also known as King of the Hill (1990) and |
| responsible for choosing the name of GM's sports car | | | | the Grand Sport Corvette (1996). They paved the way |
| was Myron E. Scott, who happens to be the creator | | | | for the development of the C5, C5 Z06, C5-R (1997 to |
| of the Soap Box Derby. The early Corvettes have | | | | 2004) Corvettes. The major changes to these models |
| fiberglass for their outer body due to the steel quotas | | | | are the hydrofoamed box frame; transmission was |
| left over from the war. The engine used back then | | | | placed at the rear of the car and the LS1 small-block |
| was the "Blue Flame" inline 6-cylinder truck engine with | | | | engine with a rated horsepower of 345 hp. The Z06 |
| two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and | | | | model is the successor of the ZR-1 and inherited most |
| drum brakes that are similar to any Chevrolet car line | | | | of its good traits. The Z06 comes with the LS6 engine |
| of that time. Compared with its European counterparts, | | | | and a lighter frame that makes it quicker than the ZR-1 |
| the Corvette was an underpowered vehicle. It was | | | | but has a lower power output than the |
| only in 1954 that a Paxton supercharger became | | | | double-overhead cam engine of the ZR-1, which |
| available as a dealer-installed option. This significantly | | | | makes it slower than its predecessor. |