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Here's the story:
lllustrated Corvette Series No. 51 - 1973 XP-892 Mid-Engine 4-Rotor
Experimental Corvette "Rotor-Motor Wankel Corvette?"
The
XP-892 just flat-out caught everyone short. It didn't "look" like a
Corvette, and used an engine that most of us had never heard of.
"What's a Wankel?" Despite its unusual styling, it was a very well done
prototype. However, due to the Corvette's sales success, GM was in no
hurry to make an all-new car.
GM was hot on the new Wankel rotary engine, and was scheduled to offer
the rotor-motor in the Vega for '75. Since 1953, people inside of GM
have wanted to make the Corvette something else smaller, bigger, a
four-seater, etc. So a Wankel powered prototype was ordered. Actually,
two prototypes were made, the XP-892 two-rotor design, shown here, and
a four-rotor design using the chassis from the '70, mid-engine, V-8
powered XP-882.
The XP-892 was small, about the same size as a Dino Ferrari or a Datsun
240Z. But when pressed for inside information as to the possibility of
this being the next Corvette, the ever cagey Duntov was quoted as
saying, "Maybe, but there are no plans to produce it."
The problem was that at 2,600 pounds, with only 180 to 250-hp,
performance wouldn't be anywhere close to Corvette standards. Since the
Wankel engine had serious heat problems, the XP-892 was more of a study
to see if the engine was feasible for a small sports car.
Power-to-weight ratio aside, everyone was very pleased with the way the
car turned out.
The XP-892 was designed by Chevrolet and built by Pininfarina. Unlike a
production Corvette, the XP-892 was a steel, unit-body construction.
Duntov referred to the McPherson-strut, independent suspension, and
disc brakes as "run of the mill." The 266 cid engine had a single
Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and was mated to a modified
Hydramatic transmission. Duntov clearly wanted more when he said, "Add
three more inches of wheelbase... and maybe a 300-cid engine, and we'd
have a good car." As always, he had "something else" up his sleeve, a
larger, four-rotor version.
For a prototype, the XP-892 had a very well designed and finished
interior. The seats were fixed while the seat backs, steering wheel,
and pedals were all adjustable. Between the engine and interior there
was a 8.1 cubic foot storage space. The spare tire was under the front
hood. It seems that the press never drove the car, as there was never a
mention of how the car performed.
GM privately showed the XP-892 and the V-8 powered XP-882 to potential
Corvette buyers in '72. The test groups wanted to see something in
between. Duntov's opinion was, "When we finally decide what the new
Corvette will be, it will be for our own reasons." The man knew what he
wanted.
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