Here is some history of the Corvette!

1951

• General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl takes a Le Sabre to the Watkins Glen sports car race. Earl is impressed with the Jaguars, Ferraris, and Alfas, and decides to begin designing a new American sports car.

1952

• A full-size plaster model of the proposed sports car is completed, and shown to management. Approval is given to produce a show car for the 1953 Motorama show.

• A prototype sports car is built, with fiberglass body, soft top, new chassis design, and beefed-up 6-cylinder engine.

• The sports car is named "Corvette", after a class of light, fast, World War II warship.

1953

• The Corvette show car is displayed at the GM Motorama in several cities in the USA and Canada throughout the year. Based on enthusiastic public support, General Motors' president Harlow Curtice announces that Chevrolet would begin production of the Corvette by midyear.

• The first production Corvette rolls off the assembly line in St. Louis, Michigan, on June 30. All cars are nearly identical, Polo White exterior with Sportsman Red interior, 3-speed automatic transmission, and 150-hp Blue Flame Six 6-cylinder engine. Price is about $3500.

• Chevrolet implements a policy of requiring prospective buyers of 1953 Corvettes to have VIP-status, hoping to make the Corvette more desirable through greater media coverage.

• Zora Arkus-Duntov begins working on the Corvette program.

• By the end of the year, 300 1953 model Corvettes have been built.

• Corvette production shifts from Flint to St. Louis, Missouri.

1954

• At the GM Motorama, Chevrolet shows a Corvette with a removable hardtop, a Corvette Nomad small station wagon, and a Corvair. All share the same front end styling.

• Chevrolet ends its restricted sales policy, offering Corvettes to the general public. However, public demand is low, and complaints about features are high.

• Over 3000 1954 model Corvettes are built, but over 1000 remain unsold by year's end.

1955

• Many complaints about the Corvette are addressed for the 1955 model, led by the addition of a manual 3-speed transmission and a new V-8 engine.

• Production for the year is only 700 cars, primarily due to excess 1954 models, and Ford's introduction of the popular Thunderbird.

1956

• At Daytona Beach, Corvettes finally make their mark in the racing world, setting a Flying-Mile record of 150-MPH, and beating the Ford Thunderbird.

• The 1956 model features a new body, incorporating long side coves in the body behind the front wheels.

• At the 12 Hours of Sebring, four Corvettes are entered, with one finishing 9th overall and first in Modified class. Chevrolet promotes the racing image of Corvette at the Motorama introduction of the 1956 model.

• The Corvette SR-2 racer is built, and raced throughout the year by Richard Thompson, giving Corvette its first national SCCA racing championship title.

• The 1957 model Corvette is the first production car with standard fuel-injection, producing 283-hp on a 283-ci engine.

1957

• At the 12 Hours of Sebring, a Corvette finishes first in GT class, 12th overall. This is the best showing to date for any car in GT class. A specially built Corvette SS is also raced.

• A 4-speed manual transmission is added as a production option for the 1957 Corvette.

• The 1958 model is introduced, featuring a complete redesign of the interior and exterior. Most notable are the dual headlights.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Sports/racing champion.

1958

• Production of the 1958 model is sufficient for the Corvette to turn a profit for GM for the first time.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1959

• The Sting Ray styling/racing car debuts. It will become the basis of the 1963 Corvette style.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1960

• Briggs Cunningham enters three 1960 Corvettes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. One car reaches 151-MPH, and finishes 1st in GT class, 8th overall.

• The TV show "Route 66" features a 1960 Corvette.

• Production finally breaks over 10,000 units, for the 1960 model. This had been GM's initial target for the 1954 model.

• The 1961 model features a redesigned back end, with four taillights.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class C-Sports/Racing champion.

• The CERV (Chevrolet Experimental Research Vehicle) is first shown to the public. It is a single-seat, open-wheel, mid-engined prototype racing car.

1961

• The Sting Ray show car is displayed at the Chicago Auto Show.

• The 1962 model introduces the 327-ci engine, with up to 360-hp.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1962

• The 1963 model Corvette is introduced, carrying the name "Sting Ray". The body is completely redesigned, based on the Sting Ray. The new chassis features an independent rear suspension. Two models area available, a convertible and a coupe. The rear window of the coupe is "split" by a styling line.

• Corvette and Cobra race together for the first time. The Cobra leads until its rear axle breaks; a Corvette takes first place.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

• The Corvette Grand Sport project begins, to build special Corvettes for racing in Europe.

1963

• Production of the 1963 model reaches over 20,000.

• The 1964 model eliminates the split-window on the coupe.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

• Three Corvette Grand Sports race in the Bahamas, beating Cobras but not winning the races.

1964

• The CERV II test car is built, with mid-mounted 500-hp V-8 engine.

• The 1965 model introduces standard four-wheel disc brakes.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1965

• The Mark IV 396-ci 425-hp V8 engine debuts on the 1965 Corvette.

• The Mako Shark II show car debuts at the New York International Auto Show. This will be the basis of the style of the 1968 Corvette.

• The 1966 model introduces the 427-ci engine, at up to 450-hp.

1967

• The 427-ci L88 engine with about 500-hp debuts on the 1967 Corvette. Only 20 are sold this year; price for the engine alone is almost $1000.

• At the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Dick Guldstrand races a 1967 Corvette L88, setting a record 171.5-mph on the Mulsanne straight, before the engine blows in the 13th hour.

• The 1968 model Corvette debuts, with styling based on the Mako Shark II. The coupe has removable T-top roof sections, and a removable rear window.

1968

• The 1969 model adds the name "Stingray" to the Corvette. Side-mounted exhausts are available for the first time.

• The 350-ci engine debuts. This displacement will remain standard for the Corvette well into the future.

• The ZL1 engine debuts, an all aluminum version of the L88. At a price of over $4,000, only two are built.

1969

• The 250,000th Corvette is built, a Riverside Gold 1969 model convertible.

• Production for the 1969 model reaches close to 39,000.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1970

• Engine size reaches its peak of 454-ci for the 1970 model.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1971

• A Corvette finishes fourth in the 24 Hours of Daytona race, the highest showing to date for a Corvette.

• A Car & Driver reader poll votes the Corvette the Best All-around Car.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1972

• A Corvette finishes fourth in the 12 Hours of Sebring race, the highest showing to date for a Corvette.

• At the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in Paris, a Corvette reaches a record 211-MPH on the Mulsanne straight.

• The 1973 model introduces a new front bumper, using a flexible body-colored material instead of chrome.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1973

• The 1974 model completes the transition to soft bumpers at both ends.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1974

• The Corvette 2-Rotor and 4-Rotor show cars are publicly displayed. They incorporate Wankel rotary engines.

• The 1975 Corvette is introduced with no big-block 454-ci engine option, and all models include catalytic converters.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

• Zora Arkus-Duntov resigns from Chevrolet.

1975

• David McLellan takes over as chief engineer of the Corvette.

• A Car & Driver reader poll votes the Corvette the Best All-around Car.

• The 1976 model is introduced as a coupe only, due to decreased interest in the convertible model.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Trans-Am Series champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

1976

• Record model year production jumps again, to over 46,000 for 1976.

• The 1977 model loses the "Stingray" emblem.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1977

• The 500,000th Corvette is built, a Classic White 1977 model.

• The 1978 model introduces a new rear design, featuring a large "fastback" window allowing greater storage space. The interior console area is extensively redesigned.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

1978

• A 1978 Corvette is the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. Limited Edition Pace Car Replica Corvettes are made available to the public, for about $6,000 over the regular model.

• The base price of the 1979 model hits $10,000 for the first time.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Trans-Am Series Category II champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class A-Production champion.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Class B-Production champion.

1979

• Record model year production jumps again, to over 53,000 for 1979. This record still holds.

• A Corvette driver wins first overall in the SCCA Trans Am Series Category I.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA B-Production champion.

1980

• For the first time since 1954, there are no engine options. All 1981 Corvettes come with a 190-hp 350-ci L81 engine.

1981

• Production of Corvettes moves from St. Louis to a new facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

• Production of 1982 Corvettes begins. For the first time since 1954, all Corvettes are built with an automatic transmission. A special Corvette Collector Edition Hatchback is offered for $22,538, the most expensive Chevrolet car to date.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Trans-Am Series champion.

1982

• Chevrolet builds 61 1983-dated Corvettes; 18 are prototypes, the other 43 are pilot-line cars built with production tooling. All but one are destroyed; none are sold to the public.

1983

• Production of 1984 model Corvettes begins, the first all-new Corvette since 1963. The manual transmission is again available as an option. Base price is now over $20,000.

• Motor Trend magazine names the 1984 Corvette "Domestic Car of the Year" for 1984.

1984

• The 1985 Corvette introduces the 230-hp L98 engine (25-hp more than for 1984), with fuel injection returning for the first time since 1965.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Showroom Stock/GT champion, the first national title for the new model.

• Car & Driver declares the Corvette America's fastest production car at 150-mph.

1985

• The 1986 model introduces standard anti-lock brakes.

• A Corvette driver is SCCA Showroom Stock/GT champion.

1986

• At the Detroit Automobile Show, Chevrolet displays the Corvette Indy show car. It features 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering, active suspension, CRT cockpit screens, and a transverse midship Chevrolet racing engine.

• A Corvette convertible is the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. All 1986 Corvette convertibles are designated Pace Car Replicas. Base price of the convertible passes $30,000.

• At the first annual vintage races at Riverside Raceway in California, Bob Paterson races his Grand Sport Corvette #003 to first place, among eight powerful Cobras.

• For the 1987 model, buyers can select "Callaway Twin Turbo" for an extra $20,000. Callaway Engineering installs 345-hp twin-turbo engines with a top speed of 178-mph. 184 buyers select this $48,000+ car.

• Corvette drivers win all seven SCCA races during the year.

1987

• The 1988 Callaway Twin Turbo option creates a 382-hp Corvette for $55,000+, for 124 buyers.

• Corvette drivers win all SCCA races during the year.

1988

• Chevrolet builds 50 street-legal Corvettes for the SCCA Corvette Challenge races. Engines are carefully certified to have matching power. The cars also have roll cages and other racing options added.

• The 1989 model features a new, optional, six-speed manual transmission.

1989

• Chevrolet builds 30 special Corvettes for the SCCA Corvette Challenge races. Higher horsepower engines are switched in for the duration of the race season.

• Chevrolet builds 84 1989-dated ZR-1 Corvettes for testing and press reviews, but none are sold to the public.

• Chevrolet introduces 1990 model Corvette ZR-1. It features a new 350-ci 375-hp LT5 engine, with four overhead camshafts and 32 valves. Over 3,000 ZR-1 Corvettes are sold, at a minimum price of $59,000.

1990

• In Texas, near-stock ZR-1 and L-98 Corvettes set a dozen land speed records. Average speed for all runs is 170-175-MPH.

1991

• The 1992 Corvette features a new standard engine, the LT1, rated at 300-hp (compared to 1991's 245-hp L98). A traction control is standard for all Corvettes. The base convertible now reaches over $40,000. Adding the ZR-1 option produces a $72,000+ Corvette.

• A Corvette driver finishes first in the SCCA World Challenge Series.

1992

• Chevrolet debuts the Sting Ray III show car.

• The 1-millionth Corvette is built, an Arctic White LT-1 1992 roadster with red leather interior.

• The 1993 model includes an optional 40th Anniversary Package, specifying Ruby Red metallic exterior, Ruby Red leather seats, and other refinements. Horsepower of the ZR-1 increases to 405.

• Corvette drivers win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the SCCA World Challenge Series.

1993

• A Corvette driver is SCCA GT-1 champion.

• Car & Driver magazine declares the 1993 Corvette ZR-1 the fastest production car at 179-mph.

1994

• The National Corvette Museum opens in Bowling Green. 118,000 people and 4,000 Corvettes visit over the weekend.

1995

• The last ZR-1 optioned Corvette is built. Total production since 1990 is 6,939.

• A 1995 Corvette is the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. Limited edition special pace car replicas are offered for sale to the public.

• A new engine is available as an option on the 1996 Corvette, the 330-hp LT4. A Grand Sport Package is available, limited to 1,000 Corvettes, with distinctive Admiral Blue exterior with white center stripe. With a new Corvette coming for 1997, a Collector Edition is available for the 1996 model, with Sebring Silver exterior and many refinements.

1996

• The last of about 300,000 fourth-generation Corvettes is built.

1997

• Chevrolet unveils the 1997 Corvette, the first complete redesign since the 1984 model. The new LS1 5.7-litre V-8 delivers 345-hp to the rear transaxle.

• Chevrolet unveils the 1998 Convertible Corvette. For the first time since 1962, this Corvette has an externally-accessed trunk, larger than most soft-top two-seater cars.

• Motor Trend magazine selects the 1998 Corvette as its Car of the Year.

1998

• At the North American International Auto Show, the automotive media vote the Corvette the North American Car of the Year.

• A 1998 Corvette is the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. An Indy Pace Car Replica option is available for over $5,000.

• Chevrolet unveils the 1999 Hardtop Corvette. An optional Head Up Instrument Display projects various instrument readings onto the windshield.

1999

• The Corvette C5-R race car debuts at the 24 Hours of Daytona. It finishes 3rd in GT2 class.

2000

• At the 24 Hours of Daytona, a Corvette C5-R finishes 2nd overall, 31 seconds behind the leading Viper, the closest finish in Daytona history.

• Chevrolet introduces the 2001 Z06 Corvette, with 385-hp LS6 engine, and titanium exhaust systems. Base price of any Corvette now exceeds $40,000.

• Two Corvette C5-R race cars enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They place 3rd and 4th in GTS class, 10th and 11th overall.

2001

• At the 24 Hours of Daytona, a Corvette C5-R finishes first overall.

• At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two Corvette C5-R cars finish 1st and 2nd in GTS class, 8th and 14th overall.

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Sources:

1. Polsson, K.R. 2002. Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes. http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/vettehis/

2. Antonick, M. 2000. The Corvette Black Book 1953-2001. Michael Bruce Associates, Inc.

Corvette Timeline Last updated: January 14. 2002
Copyright © 2002 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com).