Chevrolette Corvette C1
Highlights
Data & Facts
This Automobile
Model History
The Chevrolet Corvette C1 is the first generation of the Corvette, which was introduced in 1953. The response was very positive – because Chevrolet had managed to develop a sports car that could compete with European models in terms of concept and appearance. The design of the roadster goes back to Hearly Earl, the inventor of the tail fin. The C1 was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.
At the beginning, the C1 had a straight-six engine with 3.8 liters of displacement and only 150/155 hp. This power was insufficient, especially by US standards, and the driving performance did not match that of a sports car, even by the standards of the time. Measured against this, the C1 was also too expensive – other brands had more attractive offers. And so, despite its great success at the presentation, sales were initially very limited.
A successful relaunch of the C1 came in 1955 with the new “small-block” V8 engine. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the engineer responsible, who was also a racing driver, adapted the Corvette to this engine and ensured that disc brakes, fuel injection and a hotter camshaft were installed. The V8 now produced 195 hp from 4.3 liters of displacement and delivered appropriate performance for a sports car. The most important visual overhaul took place in 1956. The implied tail fins were dropped, but there were side indentations behind the front wheels and the first two-tone paintwork. The hardtop was supplied ex works. The headlights, previously integrated into the body, were now exposed and protruded slightly. From 1958, there were twin headlights.
In the following years, the power of various engines with injection or carburetors was steadily increased. The most powerful version in 1962 had a displacement of 5.3 liters and barely up to 360 hp. Various manual and automatic transmissions were available, with a significant proportion of the manual transmission having a considerable share, which was unusual for the USA.
From 1953 to 1962, a total of 69,015 units were produced and during this time, they were visually and technically revised several times. In 1963, the successor C2 was introduced, which was available as a coupé and open roadster.
This Automobile
Model History
The Chevrolet Corvette C1 is the first generation of the Corvette, which was introduced in 1953. The response was very positive – because Chevrolet had managed to develop a sports car that could compete with European models in terms of concept and appearance. The design of the roadster goes back to Hearly Earl, the inventor of the tail fin. The C1 was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.
At the beginning, the C1 had a straight-six engine with 3.8 liters of displacement and only 150/155 hp. This power was insufficient, especially by US standards, and the driving performance did not match that of a sports car, even by the standards of the time. Measured against this, the C1 was also too expensive – other brands had more attractive offers. And so, despite its great success at the presentation, sales were initially very limited.
A successful relaunch of the C1 came in 1955 with the new “small-block” V8 engine. Zora Arkus-Duntov, the engineer responsible, who was also a racing driver, adapted the Corvette to this engine and ensured that disc brakes, fuel injection and a hotter camshaft were installed. The V8 now produced 195 hp from 4.3 liters of displacement and delivered appropriate performance for a sports car. The most important visual overhaul took place in 1956. The implied tail fins were dropped, but there were side indentations behind the front wheels and the first two-tone paintwork. The hardtop was supplied ex works. The headlights, previously integrated into the body, were now exposed and protruded slightly. From 1958, there were twin headlights.
In the following years, the power of various engines with injection or carburetors was steadily increased. The most powerful version in 1962 had a displacement of 5.3 liters and barely up to 360 hp. Various manual and automatic transmissions were available, with a significant proportion of the manual transmission having a considerable share, which was unusual for the USA.
From 1953 to 1962, a total of 69,015 units were produced and during this time, they were visually and technically revised several times. In 1963, the successor C2 was introduced, which was available as a coupé and open roadster.