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The Corvette is the result of a project that was born in 1951, when automotive stylist and engineer Harley Earl convinced GM that they needed to add a 2-seat sports car to their line-up in order to compete with several other brands’ similar models. Earl himself worked on such project with a team that was called “Special Projects” and within the following two years the first of all Corvettes was built. The first Chevrolet Corvette was unveiled in 1953 at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria hotel, during that year’s Motorama car show. The first generation of this model, commonly dubbed C1, is also known as the ‘solid-axle’ Corvette, as it was the only Corvette that still hadn’t independent rear suspension. Throughout several body styling revises and technological improvements, the C1 Corvette was produced for nearly a decade – from 1953 until 1962. However, this was a rather limited production model because all the cars were handcrafted and manually built. In fact, only 300 copies were built; therefore, the first generation Corvette is the rarest and most sought after one.
topThe Corvette C1 is front-engined and rear-wheel driven, having been launched with a 3.9-liter engine that produced 150 hp and achieved its top speed at around 100 mi/h (161 km/h). From 1955 onwards, only V8 engines would be powering the Corvettes. In 1957, the car’s engine was updated to a 290 hp 4.6-liter unit and in 1962 it was enlarged once again to a 5.4-liter unit that delivered up to 360 hp. The Corvette began being produced with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission to which a 3-speed manual unit was added as an option in 1955. From 1956, a 4-speed manual transmission was also available and after 1957 it became the only transmission unit offered.
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Platform
Suspension
Rear live axle with leaf springs.
Steering
Brakes
Four-wheel drum brakes.
topThe Corvette C1 was offered in a 2-door convertible-only bodywork style. The car’s most characteristic feature is its curved windshield.
topChevrolet
The Chevrolet factory was founded in 1911 by car designer Louis Chevrolet together with GM founder William C. Durant, who had previously left GM and now felt the urge to regain its lost reputation in the automotive business.
American car giant Ford’s hugely successful Model T was the main rival targeted by Chevrolet’s entry into the automotive markets and the one that the bra... more
