|
Illustrated
Corvette Series on Parchment
|
<
|
1951
September
- 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.
[79.77] (late fall [115.40])
(month
unknown)
- Harley
Earl assigns Bob McLean to draw a layout for a sports car for General
Motors. [86.55]
1952
(month
unknown)
- A
prototype fiberglass-bodied Chevrolet full-sized convertible is
accidentally rolled during a test run. Because the body survives with
little significant damage, the decision is made to adopt fiberglass for
the production body material or the upcoming sports car. [84.6]
March
- Naugatuck
Chemical presents the Alembic I to General Motors, which encourages
Harley Earl to speed-up his own sports car work. [104.14]
April
- Harley
Earl's crew completes a full-size plaster model of his sports car
project. [104.14] [115.40]
June
2
- General
Motors executives are formally presented with Harley Earl's proposal
for a 2-seater sports car. The project is code-named "Opel Sports Car".
General Motors president Harlow Curtice and Chevrolet general manager
Thomas Keating approve production of a sports car prototype for the
1953 Motorama. [3] [5] [42.11] [86.55] [90] [151.37] (approved in April
[120.59])
(month
unknown)
- The
EX-122 is named the Corvette, after a fast type of Royal Navy warship,
by Myron Scott, of Chevrolet Public Relations. Strong consideration had
been given to naming the car "Corvair". [4] [5] [79.53] [86.55] [90]
[140.82] [151.37] (name picked from a dictionary [40.59]) (Myron Scott
was an employee of Campbell-Ewald, Chevrolet's advertising agency)
(Harley Earl chose the name [104.18])
1953
January
17
- The
prototype Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car" is displayed at the Motorama
show at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. [1] [3] [5] [6] [7] [20.49]
[42.14] [74.72] [90] [111.2] [120.59]
May
- The
first Corvette advertisement appears. [10]
June
- Chevrolet
begins production of the Corvette on a tiny assembly line in Flint,
Michigan. [42.15] [104.19]
June
30
- The
first production Corvette rolls off the assembly line at Chevrolet
Plant Number 35, near Flint, Michigan. Sticker price: just over
US$3000. Assembly line worker Tony Kleiber has the honor of driving the
first Corvette off the assembly line. [1] [5] [6] [7] [42.8] [44.33]
[53.22] [55.62] [69.S3-29] [71.S8-12] [78.54] [97.36] [100.122] [111.3]
[115.42] [123.40] [128.74] [137.40] [142.16] [148.20]
July
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov begins working on the Corvette. [46.32] [104.26]
September
29
- The
automotive press get their hands on a Corvette for test and review, as
the Corvette is officially released. Eight Corvettes are made available
to the press at the Milford Proving Grounds. [1] [5] [79.78] [90]
[111.3] (September 28 [115.42])
December
24
- Production
of 1953 Corvettes stops for the year, with 300 built in total. [115.42]
December
- Corvette
production moves from Flint, Michigan, to a General Motors Assembly
Division plant on Union Boulevard, in St. Louis, Missouri. [1] [6] [7]
[74.73] [104.20] [140.82]
1954
February
20
- The
Ford Motor Company shows the Thunderbird two-seat convertible in
Detroit. The Thunderbird is a major part of General Motors' decision to
continue production of the Corvette. [1] [3] [6] [104.20] (September
[84.7])
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
decides to change its VIP-only marketing policy for the Corvette,
making it available for sale to the general public. [104.20]
September
- A
V8 engine option debuts on the Corvette. [121.56]
October
15
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov writes a memo to Ed Cole and Maurice Olley, noting that
the Corvette appeared to be a failure. He suggests that to drop the
Corvette would be an admission of failure. He urges General Motors not
to cancel the car, but to create a separate department within Chevrolet
to oversee Corvette development. [90] (October 14 [133.31])
December
- Production
of the 1954 model Corvette ends, with 3265 made, and 1076 unsold.
[111.3]
1955
February
- The
basic design of the 1956 model Corvette is completed. [90] [133.35]
(month
unknown)
- Zora
Arkus-Dontov is made chief engineer of Corvette. [152.23]
September
9
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov races a disguised 1956 model Corvette with a V-8 engine at
the Pike's Peak Hill climb, setting the stock car record of with a time
of 17:24.05. [3] [5] [79.67] [133.72] [161.47]
(month
unknown)
- A
3-speed manual transmission option is added to the 1955 model Corvette.
[133.35] [28.41]
1956
January
1
- The
1956 Corvette makes its debut at the Waldorf Astoria in New York for
the Motorama show. [5] [37] [104.28]
January
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov, in a modified 240hp V8 powered Corvette, sets a two-way
record-breaking average of 150.583 MPH at the Daytona Beach raceway.
[5] [42.34] [90] [113.28] [151.35] [161.47] (255hp [79.67])
January
- John
Fitch drives a Corvette SR (Sports Racing) at Daytona Speed Week,
setting a production-car record of 145 MPH. [29] [132.27] [23.40]
(Sebring Racer [18.57])
February
18
- John
Fitch drives a stock 1956 Corvette at NASCAR Speed Week in Daytona. He
sets a new Flying Mile record of 145.543 mph. [151.33] [161.45]
March
24
- Four
1956 Corvettes take part in the Florida International 12-Hour Grand
Prix of Endurance, at Sebring, Florida. Car No. 1, with 307-ci engine,
driven by John Fitch and Walt Hansgen, runs in SCCA class C/Modified,
and finishes the race, winning first in its class, and ninth overall.
Car No. 5, with 265-ci engine, high performance Duntov cam and
4.11-to-1 final drive, and driven by Dale Duncan and John Eager, runs
in class B/Production, but breaks an axle shaft 20 minutes into the
race. Car No. 6, with 265-ci engine, 3.70-to-1 final drive, driven by
Ray Crawford and Max Goldman, runs in SCCA class B/Production, and
finishes the race 6th in class and 15th overall. Car No. 7, with 265-ci
engine, 4.11-to-1 final drive, driven by Ernie Erickson and Chuck
Hassan, runs in class B/Production, but blows a piston about 1:20 hours
into the race. [79.67] [84.8] [104.29,151] [111.6] [132.65] [19.39]
[141.52] [161.49]
May
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov builds the Corvette SR-2 Sebring racer. [7] [18.57]
July
- Richard
Thompson races a production Corvette to first place in C class -
Production, in the Seattle Seafair race, the first SCCA National title
for the Corvette. [79.69] [104.151] [133.12] [148.14]
July
- Work
begins on Project XP-64, a sports/racer built for the upcoming race in
Sebring. The car is named the Corvette SS (Super Spyder), or Sebring
SS. A clay model of Zora's design is made, and shown to management. [3]
[25] [7] [110.79] [114.9]
1957
(month
unknown)
- The
310-hp Corvette SR-2 is entered at Speed Weeks at Daytona Beach. The
car wins the standing mile run in modified class, with an average speed
of 93.047 mph. [90]
March
23
- Chevrolet
enters four Corvettes in the 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida. The
Corvette SS (Super Sport), driven by John Fitch and Juan Fangio, runs
only 120 miles before being retired on lap 23 due to erratic brakes and
faulty rear suspension. Richard Thompson and Gaston Andrey in No. 4
finish first in GT Production class, 12th overall. A third Corvette
wins Modified Production class, 15th overall. The fourth Corvette takes
16th overall. 12th place is the best showing for a car in GT class at
Sebring. [90] [120.62] [104.151] [133.12,36] [141] [148.14] [29.78]
[178.78]
May
1
- A
fully-synchronized four-speed transmission is first made available on
the 1957 model Corvette, as a US$188.30 option. [7] [29] [84.8]
[103.23] [104.31] [111.7]
June
4
- The
Automobile Manufacturer's Association passes a resolution that
recommends that member companies (including General Motors) not
participate in auto racing. [42.39] [104.46] (April [3])
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
begins producing the Corvette News magazine. [8] [18.10]
1958
March
- Two
Corvettes are entered in the Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance, with one
finishing first in GT category. [104.151] [133.72] [5]
July
- Bill
Mitchell assembles the XP-700, a highly modified Corvette with a long
oval nose, and twin-bubble plastic roof. The rear design is later
adopted for the 1961 model. [3] [30] [34] [104.136]
August
- Sales
of the 1958 model reach 9168, enough to turn a profit for the Corvette
for the first time. [3] [5] [84.9]
December
- Bill
Mitchell begins work on the Q-Car, or Q-Corvette, with a rear-mounted
transaxle and fully independent suspension. [7] (1957 [159.60])
December
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov, in a Corvette SS, hits 183 MPH on the General Motors
Proving Grounds in Phoenix, Arizona. [12] [25]
1959
April
18
- The
Sting Ray makes its debut at the President's Cup Race at Maryland's
Marlboro Raceway. The car is Bill Mitchell's personal vehicle for style
testing of the Corvette. Richard Thompson races it to fourth place. The
car was made from the last Corvette SS mule chassis, and rebodied by
Bill Mitchell and Larry Shinoda. [1] [5] [12] [34] [49.122] [79.60,70]
[90] [29.80]
(month
unknown)
- Jim
Jeffords wins SCCA B-Production with his 1959 Corvette dubbed the
Purple People Eater Mk III. [133.74] [148.14]
(month
unknown)
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov begins work on the CERV I (Chevrolet Experimental Racing
Vehicle). [17] [21] [30] [58.53]
End
of
1951-1959
1960
March
- A
Corvette finishes first in class at the 12 Hours of Sebring race. Two
Corvettes of the Camoradi racing team, driven by Jim Jeffords and Fred
Gamble, finish second and third in GT class. [104.151] [133.72]
[154.89]
June
- Briggs
Cunningham takes three white Corvettes to France to compete in the 24
Hours of Le Mans race. One car reaches 151 mph, and finishes 8th
overall, and 5th in GT class. The drivers are John Fitch and Bob
Grossman. [79.70] [84.10] [104.151] [107.21] [133.72] (four Corvettes
[1]) (1st in GT class [162.166])
October
7
- The
CBS TV show, "Route 66" debuts, with two young men driving a 1960
Corvette around the US in search of adventure. [50.725] [51.554]
November
- The
CERV I (which now means Chevrolet Experimental Research Vehicle) is
first shown in public at the Riverside International Raceway. It is a
mid-engine, open wheel, single-seat prototype racing car. [58.53] (1959
[113.30])
1961
March
- At
the 12 Hours of Sebring race, Corvette drivers Delmo Johnson and Dave
Morgan finish 1st in GT class and 11th overall. [104.151] [133.72]
[155.29]
June
- The
Corvette Shark showcar makes its first appearance, at Road America in
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. [5] [104.136]
1962
February
11
- At
the Daytona Continental race, Dick Thompson and Don Yenko race a 1962
Corvette of the Gulf Oil racing team to first in A/Production class,
and seventh overall. [104.151] [132.69] [133.72] [175.30] (February 14
[181.29])
March
27
- At
the 12 Hours of Endurance race at Sebring, Florida, M.J.R. Wylie and
Duncan Black drive Gulf Oil's 1962 Corvette to 2nd in A/Production
class, and 18th overall. [132.69] [175.30] [181.29]
July
- Production
begins on the Grand Sport, designed for racing in World Championship
races. Production is intended to be 125. [3] [7]
October
13
- 1963
model production Corvettes make their racing debut at the Los Angeles
Times Three-Hour Invitational Grand Prix in Riverside, California. The
Ford-powered Shelby Cobra also makes its debut. Four Z06-equipped
Corvettes enter, but only one finishes, driven by Doug Hooper. The lone
Cobra breaks its rear axle one hour into the race. Hooper's Corvette
wins the race. [79.70] [104.151] [90] [5] [31] [36] [106.82] [111.79]
[131.55] [133.83] [140.55]
1963
January
21
- General
Motors' Chairman Frederic Donner issues a policy memo, re-iterating the
company's compliance with 1957 AMA company-sponsored racing ban. This
officially cancels production plans for the Corvette Grand Sport, with
only 5 of the intended 125 cars built. [1] [3] [30] [55.77] [79.70]
[106.5] [131.84] (February [7]) (halt called first week, 5 cars built
after that [133.92]) (December 1963 [152.39])
(month
unknown)
- Ralph
Eckler founds Eckler's Corvette Parts. [106.74]
(month
unknown)
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov begins work on the CERV II. [21] [30] [58.53] (1964 [17])
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
decides to unofficially support the entry of Grand Sport Corvettes at
the Bahamas Speed Week race (Nassau Race Week). [106.6]
August
24
- The
Corvette Grand Sport records its first victory, at Watkins Glen. Driver
Richard Thompson achieves an overall win. [30] [106.6] [181.32] [182.8]
December
6
- At
the International Bahamas Speed Week races in Nassau, the 112 mile
Governor's Trophy race is held. The Corvette Grand Sport driven by
Richard Thompson blows its engine, ending its participation. Grand
Sport No. 003, driven by Roger Penske, takes first in prototype class
and third overall. Grand Sports No. 004 and 005 take second and third
in class, and fourth and sixth overall. [106.8] [133.94] (Governor's
Cup race [152.35])
December
8
- At
the International Bahamas Speed Week races in Nassau, the 252-mile
Nassau Trophy race is held. Two Corvette Grand Sport cars are entered,
No. 004 and No. 003. No. 004 takes first in prototype class and fourth
overall. No. 003 takes third in class and eighth overall. [106.8]
[133.94] [152.35]
1964
March
- A
Corvette finishes first in GT category at the 12 Hours of Sebring race.
[104.151]
(month
unknown)
- General
Motors design staff prepare for the next major body changes, producing
a full-size clay mockup of what would be the 1968 model. [1]
(month
unknown)
- The
CERV II four-wheel drive vehicle is completed. Some test results
include 210 mph, and 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. [35.10]
December
- Roger
Penske races Jim Hall's Grand Sport Corvette #005 at Nassau against
vast and powerful Cobra opposition, winning the race. His win
establishes the last General Motors victory over the Ford-powered
Cobras for years to come. [1] [133.94] (November [106.8]
1965
April
- The
Mako Shark II (project XP-830), formerly called the Mako Shark, makes
its debut appearance at the New York International Auto Show. The
non-running full-size model cost nearly US$3 million to create. [1] [3]
[5] [6] [90] [104.66] [104.138] [140.8] [155.82] [156.59]
October
5
- The
second Mako Shark II show car debuts at the Paris Auto Show in France.
This version is fully drivable, with a 427ci engine. [104.68,138]
[140.8] [155.82]
1966
February
- At
the Daytona Continental endurance race, Roger Penske's 1966 Corvette
with 427 ci engine finishes first in GT class. [104.151] [140.79]
[162.195]
March
- Roger
Penske, in his 1966 Corvette with 427 ci engine, finishes first in GT
class at the 12 Hours of Sebring race. [104.151] [140.79]
1967
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
quietly makes the L88 engine option available for the Corvette. The 427
cubic inch engine delivers 500 hp with open exhausts, and features a
12.5:1 compression ratio. [56.54] [90] [107.45] [140.71] [155.73]
March
- At
the 12 Hours of Sebring race, Dave Morgan and Don Yenko compete in a
1967 L88 Corvette, finishing 1st in GT class and 10th overall. [155.29]
[175.84]
June
- Dick
Guldstrand and Bob Bondurant race a 1967 Corvette coupe with an L-88
427 ci engine at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in Paris, France. Dick
Guldstrand sets a new record speed of 171.5 mph on the Mulsanne
straight. In the 13th hour, the engine fails, ending the race for the
lone Corvette. [34] [132.13] [138.38]
(month
unknown)
- The
December 1967 issue of Car and Driver magazine attacks the 1968
Corvette, with editors refusing to give it a road test due to "the
car's shocking lack of quality control". [90]
1968
February
- At
the 24-hour Daytona Continental race, Sunray DX Oil Company enters
three Corvettes. Jerry Grant and Dave Morgan race a 1967 L88 Corvette
(car No. 31). Revson/Yenko race 1968 L88 Corvette (No. 29).
DeLorenzo/Thompson race 1968 L88 Corvette (No. 30). This is the racing
debut of the 1968 model Corvette. The Grant/Morgan car finishes first
in GT class and 10th overall. [7] [147.21] [155.30]
March
- At
the 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida, Yenko/Rodriguez race 1968 L88
Corvette (No. 2), Thompson/DeLorenzo race 1968 L88 Corvette (No. 4),
and Morgan/Sharp race 1968 L88 Corvette (No. 3). One finishes first in
GT class. [104.151] [147.21]
(month
unknown)
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov is named Chief Engineer of the Corvette. [5] [113.30]
(1969 after February [6]) (late 1967 [90])
1969
(month
unknown)
- The
Mako Shark II is remodeled and renamed the Manta Ray. [104.138]
(month
unknown)
- Tony
DeLorenzo and Lang of the Owens-Corning Fiberglas racing team run a
Corvette to first place in GT class at the Watkins Glen Six Hours of
Endurance race. [104.151] [35.37]
November
7
- The
250,000th Corvette rolls off the production line, a gold convertible.
[6] [133.27] (November 19 [133.67])
End
of 1960-1969
1970
(month
unknown)
- The
Owens-Corning Fiberglas team Corvette finishes first in GT class and
sixth overall at the Daytona Continental race. [104.151] [35.37]
April
- Chevrolet
unveils the experimental mid-engined XP-895 Corvette at the New York
Auto Show. The car is the restyled XP-882 prototype. [42.88] [47.57]
[36] [58.53] [28.58] (1971 [104.139]) (XP-880 [5]) (XP-882 is shown
[104.76] [158.32])
(month
unknown)
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov presents Bill Mitchell with the idea of a four-rotor
engined Corvette show car. Zora gives him the chassis from the 1970 New
York show car. [28.59]
(month
unknown)
- General
Motors chairman Gerstenberg tells Zora Arkus-Duntov that because the
present Corvette is selling so well, the mid-engined Corvette project
will not continue. [28.59]
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
signs a deal with holders of the Wankel patents for US$50 million, and
begins building two-rotor and four-rotor Corvette test cars. [5]
[42.90] (work begins in early 1971 [104.139])
1971
(month
unknown)
- Tony
DeLorenzo's Corvette finishes first in GT category and fourth overall
at the 24 Hours of Daytona race. This will stand as the Corvette's best
placing at this race. [104.151] [35.37] [175.84]
June
- A
full-size fiberglass model of a Wankel-engined Corvette prototype is
completed, and shown to top management of General Motors. General
Motors President Ed Cole approves construction of a complete running
car. [47.57]
(month
unknown)
- Car
and Driver magazine's Readers' Choice Poll votes the Corvette "Best
Sports/GT Car (Category III)", and "Best All-around Car". [43.61]
(month
unknown)
- General
Motors' president anticipates the upcoming Clean Air Act by ruling that
all of General Motors' cars should be designed to run on no more than
91-octane gas, which would be lead-free. [6]
1972
(month
unknown)
- An
L88-equipped Corvette driven by Heinz/Johnson finishes first in GT
category and fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Daytona race. [104.151]
[172.51]
March
- At
the 12 Hours of Sebring race in Florida, Dave Heinz and Bob Johnson
race Toye English's 1969 L88 convertible to first in GT class.
[104.151] [147.19]
(month
unknown)
- Dick
Gerstenberg puts a final stop to current mid-engine Corvette projects,
on the basis that the car is selling well enough without need for such
a radical change. [5]
(month
unknown)
- John
Greenwood races Corvettes at the Le Mans race in Europe, setting a
Mulsanne straight-away record of 211 mph. [79.72]
(month
unknown)
- General
Motors donates the CERV I and CERV II research cars to the Briggs
Cunningham Museum, in Costa Mesa, California. [11] [17]
1973
March
- The
driving team of John Greenwood, Ron Grable, and Mike Brockman drive a
Corvette to a win in its class at Sebring, and taking third place
overall, the best ever showing for a Corvette at Sebring. [79.72]
June
- Corvette
Corral, forerunner to Bloomington Gold, is first held, in Bloomington,
Illinois. [131.77] [167.65] [169.36] (1972 [103])
September
13
- General
Motors show a 266ci two-rotor Wankel-engined test Corvette at the 45th
German Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The car is called Corvette
2-Rotor, (code name XP-897GT) with a steel body. [5] [45.34] [104.139]
October
4
- General
Motors premieres the 390ci mid-engined Corvette Four-Rotor prototype at
the Paris Automobile Salon in France. The Corvette Two-Rotor is also
shown. Both use rotary engines based on Wankel technology. [5] [90]
[117.55] [147] [158.32]
1974
(month
unknown)
- Chevrolet
contracts Reynolds to build an all-aluminum show car, code-named
XP-895. [88.49]
(month
unknown)
- Jerry
Palmer is given responsibility for all production Corvette design
starting with the 1976 model. [152.29]
September
24
- General
Motors president Ed Cole announces that the company is postponing the
introduction of a Wankel-based rotary engine, due to difficulties in
meeting proposed emissions standards. [52.53] [65.53]
1975
January
1
- Zora
Arkus-Duntov officially resigns from Chevrolet; David McLellan takes
over as chief engineer. [3] [5] [6] [104.81,84] [152.27] [173.73]
(December [48.39])
May
- A
Car and Driver Reader's Choice Poll names the Corvette as "Best
All-around Car". [16]
July
- The
last 1975 model-year convertible Stingray rolls off the assembly line.
[141.42] [148.64] (June [42.72])
(month
unknown)
- Jerry
Palmer's Chevy Three design studio proposes a mid-engine Corvette
design, using a V6 engine. [86.45]
1976
(month
unknown)
- The
Four-Rotor Corvette is given a small-block V-8 in place of its rotary
engine, and renamed Aerovette. [79.60] (1975 [104.140])
1977
March
14
- The
500,000th Corvette drives off the assembly line. [4] [53.22] [79.55]
(March 15 [5] [84.13])
July
- Bill
Mitchell resigns from General Motors. [3] [6] [32] [34]
(month
unknown)
- General
Motors' Chevy 3 Studio begins sketching an all-new Corvette. [137.44]
1978
March
27
- The
Wall Street Journal runs a front-page article about the 1978 Corvette
Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars, indicating they would be excellent
investments. [9]
May
28
- The
62nd Indianapolis 500 race begins, with a 1978 Corvette as official
pace car. [26] [61.22] [140.81]
June
- The
movie "Corvette Summer" premieres, in Maumee, a suburb of Toledo, Ohio.
Terry Michaelis, of T. Michaelis Corvette Supplies, Inc. arranged to
have the world premiere there, and raffles off a 1978 Corvette Indy
pace car replica. Plus, every Corvette in the country was invited to
the party. The Corvette parade set a new mark in the Guiness Book of
Records, at somewhere between 5000 and 7000 Corvettes. [9] [63.53]
[130.95] (May 20 [135.9]) (1973 [177.41])
June
- The
first Bloomington Gold Corvette show is held. It was formerly called
Corvette Corral. [27.B63]
1979
(month
unknown)
- At
the Bonneville Speed Week on the Utah Salt Flats, Duane McKinney's 1968
Corvette takes B/GT Class with a record 210.762 mph, with a 468ci
big-block engine. With its single four-barrel normally aspirated
carburetor, this speed record makes it the fastest carbureted car in
the world. [129.100]
End
of 1970-1979
1980
(month
unknown)
- At
the Bonneville Speed Week on the Utah Salt Flats, Duane McKinney's 1968
Corvette takes AA/GT Class with a record 240.728 mph, with a
dual-turbocharged 430ci big-block engine. This speed makes it the
world's fastest stock-bodied car. [129.101]
1981
June
1
- Production
of Corvettes begins at a new plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The
first Corvette is a beige 1981 model. [2] [3] [5] [7] [104.91] [139.46]
[148.18,76] [150.42]
August
1
- The
last Corvette built in the St. Louis plant rolls off the assembly line.
[3] [104.91] [148.18,76] [150.42] (July 31 [2] [5] [7])
1982
(month
unknown)
- The
first Corvettes at Carlisle meet is held. [151.46]
December
- At
the Riverside Raceway in California, Chevrolet previews the 1983 model
Corvette, where the automotive press tests the car. [148.80] (January
1983 [42.114])
1983
March
- The
1984 Corvette goes on sale in the US, except for California. [5]
[76.51] [104.96,148] [148.18,80] [171.71] (February [3] [7]) (April
[90])
(month
unknown)
- Motor
Trend magazine names the 1984 Corvette "Domestic Car of the Year" for
1984. [81.43]
1984
(month
unknown)
- The
L98 engine with Tuned Port Injection is introduced as a replacement to
the Cross-Fire throttle body injection system. [108.6]
1985
June
- Group
Lotus in Norfolk, England, proposes building a new engine for
Chevrolet, who quickly approves the project. The engine would become
the LT5 for the ZR1 Corvette. [99.43] [157.34]
June
- Chevrolet
Chief Engineer Don Runkle and Lotus' Tony Rudd discuss creating a new
show car to show off their engineering expertise. The project would
become the CERV III. [36] [168.40]
August
- Chevrolet
calls Reeves Callaway, ultimately resulting in Callaway building the
Twin Turbo Corvette as a Chevrolet dealer option. [32.23]
1986
January
- Chevrolet
introduces the Corvette Indy prototype car, the CERV III, at the
Detroit Automobile Show. It has 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering, and
CRT cockpit screens. [3] [36] [37] [104.141] [168.40]
January
- Chevrolet
announces that the Corvette has been chosen to be the Official Pace Car
for the Indianapolis 500 race. [104.102]
May
25
- The
70th Indianapolis 500 race begins, with a 1986 convertible Corvette as
pace car. [26] [61.22]
May
- 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. [106.82]
1988
May
1
- The
first round of the SCCA Corvette Challenge race series is held in
Dallas, Texas. Mark Dismore wins the race. [18.43] [139]
(month
unknown)
- The
National Corvette Museum Foundation is established. [156.63]
October
26 | |
