Chevrolet Corvette
Manufacturer	General Motors
Production	1953–present
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Platform	FR Y-body (1984-present)
Related	Cadillac XLR

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle An automobile platform is a shared set of common design engineering and production efforts as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of The Y platform, or Y body, designation has been used twice by the General Motors Corporation to describe a series of vehicles all built on the same basic body and The XLR is a Retractable hardtop marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors, assembled in Bowling Green Kentucky. A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Chevrolet (ˌʃɛvroʊˈleɪ - French origin (also known as Chevy) is a Brand of Automobile, produced by General Motors (GM Today it is built at a General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but in the past it was built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri. General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Bowling Green is the fourth-most populous City in the US state of Kentucky after Louisville, Lexington and Owensboro Flint is a city in the US state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km northwest of Detroit. It was the first all-American sports car built by an American car manufacturer. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The National Corvette Museum and annual National Corvette Homecoming are also located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65 's Exit 28 It was 1981 when the National Corvette Homecoming was first held in Bowling Green Kentucky.

Contents 1 Early history 2 C1 (1953-1962) 3 C2 (1963-1967 Sting Ray) 4 C3 (1968-1982 Stingray) 5 C4 (1983-1996) 5.1 B2K Callaway Twin-Turbo 5.2 ZR-1 (1990-1995) 5.3 Grand Sport (1996) 5.4 Collector Edition (1996) 6 C5 (1997-2004) 6.1 Z06 (2001-2004) 6.2 C5-R 7 C6 (2005-2010) 7.1 Z06 (2006-2010) 7.2 ZR1 (2009-2010) 7.3 C6.R 8 C7 (2011-) 9 Oldest surviving unit 10 Awards 11 Corvette as marque 12 Corvette Sedan 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

Early history

While the style of a car may be just as important to some as to how well the car runs, it was not until 1927, when General Motors hired designer Harley Earl, that automotive styling and design became important to American automobile manufacturers. General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. Harley J Earl ( November 22, 1893 – April 10, 1969) was an automotive stylist and engineer and industrial designer What Henry Ford did for automobile manufacturing principles, Harley Earl did for car design. Henry Ford ( July 30, 1863 &ndash April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of Most of GM's flamboyant "dream car" designs of the 1950s are directly attributable to Earl, leading one journalist to comment that the designs were "the American psyche made visible. " Harley Earl loved sports cars, and GIs returning after serving overseas in the years following World War II were bringing home MGs, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, and the like. MG is a British Sports car brand founded in 1924 MG is best known for two-seat open sports cars but MG also produced saloons and Coupés Jaguar Cars Limited is a luxury car manufacturer based in Coventry, England, now operated as part of the Jaguar Land Rover business Alfa Romeo Automobiles SpA is an Italian Automaker founded in 1910 In 1951, Nash Motors began selling a two-seat sports car, the Nash-Healey, that was made in partnership with the Italian designer Pinin Farina and British auto engineer Donald Healey. Also see Kelvinator and American Motors Corporation Nash Motors was an Automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha Wisconsin, in The Nash-Healey Giovanni Battista "Pinin" Farina (later Battista Pininfarina) ( November 2, 1893 - April 3, 1966) was an Italian Donald Mitchell Healey CBE ( 3 July 1898 - 13 January 1988) was a noted English rally driver automobile engineer and speed Earl convinced GM that they also needed to build a two-seat sports car. Earl and his Special Projects crew began working on the new car later that year, which was code named "Opel. " The result was the 1953 Corvette, unveiled to the public at that year's Motorama car show. Motorama was an Auto show staged by General Motors from 1949 to 1961. The original concept for the Corvette emblem incorporated an American flag into the design, but was changed well before production since associating the flag with a product was frowned upon. The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the Flag of the United States.

Taking its name from the corvette, a small, maneuverable fighting frigate (the credit for the naming goes to Myron Scott), the first Corvettes were virtually handbuilt in Flint, Michigan in Chevrolet's Customer Delivery Center, now an academic building at Kettering University. A corvette is a small maneuverable lightly armed Warship, originally smaller than a Frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft, although many For the bird see Frigatebird. A frigate /ˈfrɪgɪt/ is a warship Myron E Scott ( September 16, 1907 - October 4, 1998) was the creator of the All-American Soap Box Derby. Flint is a city in the US state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km northwest of Detroit. The outer body was made out of then-revolutionary fiberglass, selected in part because of steel quotas left over from the war. Fiberglass (also called fibreglass and glass fibre see Spelling differences) is material made from extremely fine Fibers of Glass. Underneath the new body material were standard Chevrolet components, including the "Blue Flame" inline six-cylinder truck engine, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, and drum brakes from Chevrolet's regular car line. An engine is a mechanical device that produces some form of output from a given input The Powerglide is a two speed Automatic transmission designed by General Motors A drum brake is a Brake in which the Friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against the inner surface of a rotating Though the engine's output was increased somewhat, thanks to a triple-carburetor intake exclusive to the Corvette, performance of the car was decidedly lackluster. Compared to the British and Italian sports cars of the day, the Corvette was underpowered, required a great deal of effort as well as clear roadway to bring to a stop, and even lacked a "proper" manual transmission. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in Up until that time, the Chevrolet division was GM's entry-level marque, known for excellent but no-nonsense cars. Nowhere was that more evident than in the Corvette. A Paxton supercharger became available in 1954 as a dealer-installed option, greatly improving the Corvette's straight-line performance, but sales continued to decline. A supercharger is an air compressor used for Forced induction of an Internal combustion engine.

GM was seriously considering shelving the project, leaving the Corvette to be little more than a footnote in automotive history, and would have done so if not for two important events. The first was the introduction in 1955 of Chevrolet's first V8 engine (a 265 in³ {4. 3 L}) since 1919, and the second was the influence of a Soviet emigré in GM's engineering department, Zora Arkus-Duntov. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Zora Arkus-Duntov ( December 25, 1909 &ndash April 21, 1996) was a Belgian -born U Arkus-Duntov simply took the new V8 and backed it with a three-speed manual transmission. That modification, probably the single most important in the car's history, helped turn the Corvette from a two-seat curiosity into a genuine performer. It also earned Arkus-Duntov the rather inaccurate nickname "Father of the Corvette. "

Another key factor in the Corvette's survival was Ford's introduction, in 1955, of the two-seat Thunderbird, which was billed as a "personal luxury car", not a sports car. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various Even so, the Ford-Chevrolet rivalry in those days demanded that GM not appear to back down from the challenge. The "T-Bird" was changed to a four-seater in 1958.

There have been six generations of the Corvette so far, sometimes referred to as C1 through C6.

C1 (1953-1962)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C1

The first generation is most commonly referred to as a "solid-axle", based on the fact that independent rear suspension (IRS) was not available until 1963. Independent suspension is a broad term for any Automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same Axle to move vertically (i The first generation started in 1953 and ended in 1962.

With limited production due to the fact that they were all hand built and assembled, the 1953 Corvette, with a total of only 300 copies produced, is the rarest and most sought after Corvette model year. With few changes except for color choices and production numbers, the 1954 is the last Corvette to have a 6 cylinder engine. In 1955 a milestone was made in Corvette history. It was the introduction of the first V-8 Corvette. With GM almost dropping the underpowered "Blue Flame" in-line 6 Corvette, this was like a new beginning for the car. The easiest way to differentiate the 1955 is the "V" in Corvette is enlarged and gold colored signifying the V-8 engine under the hood. .

In 1956 a new body was designed for the car which changed it from a country club style sports car to a true American hot rod. One noteworthy addition of optional fuel injection in mid-1957 (also available on Chevrolet Bel Air). Fuel injection is a system for mixing fuel with air in an Internal combustion engine. The Chevrolet Bel Air is an automobile series produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1953–75 Fuel injection first saw regular use on a gasoline engine two years prior on the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "gullwing" roadster. The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat closed Sports car with characteristic Gull-wing doors Later it was offered as an open Although the Corvette's GM-Rochester injection used a constant flow system as opposed to the diesel style nozzle metering system of the Mercedes', it nevertheless produced about 290 hp (216 kW) (gross). Rochester Products Division was a division of General Motors that manufactured Carburetors, and related components including Emissions control devices Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury Automobiles Buses coaches and Trucks It is currently a division of the The number was listed by Chevrolet's advertising agency for the 283 hp/283in³ (4. 6L) "one hp per cubic inch" slogan, making it one of the first mass-produced engines in history to reach 1 hp/in³. Other early options included power windows (1956), hydraulically operated power convertible top (1956), four speed manual transmission (late 1957), and heavy duty brakes and suspension (1957). For the mechanical technology see Hydraulic machinery and Hydraulic cylinder Hydraulics is a topic of science and Engineering A convertible is a type of automobile in which the vehicle's roof can retract and fold away converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle

The 1958 Corvette saw another body freshening and more options available. This year had the most exterior chrome and was the heaviest of the C-1s. From its quad headlights and hood louvers to its twin trunk spars and bumper exiting exhaust, it was the flashiest Corvette ever built. 1959-60 saw little changes except ever decreasing chrome and increasing HP. For 1961 a complete change to the rear of the car was made, with hints of things to come. It had a "boat tail" rear with the first year to have 4 tail lights. In 1962, the GM 283 small block was enlarged to 327 CID (5. 4 L) and produced a maximum of 360 hp (268 kW) making it the fastest of the C-1s and by now almost completely devoid of chrome.

1962 was the last year for many things: Curved windshield, solid rear axle, convertible only, 4 wheel drum brakes, open headlights only (brought back for the C-6), A trunk, until 1998

C2 (1963-1967 Sting Ray)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C2

The second generation, or mid-year, was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous unproduced design called the "Q Corvette" by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann, and under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell, started in 1963 and ended in 1967. For an outline of all the Chevrolet Corvette generations see See also Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette C2 is a Sports car Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry Shinoda ( March 25 1930 &ndash November 13 1997) was a noted automotive designer who was best known for William L Mitchell ( July 2, 1912 — September 12, 1988) was an important General Motors designer from the late 1930s to 1977 per Introducing a new name, Corvette Sting Ray, the 1963 model year Corvette was the first year for a coupé with its distinctive split rear window and non-functioning hood vents as well as an independent rear suspension. Independent suspension is a broad term for any Automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same Axle to move vertically (i The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns. Because they made the design too busy, the hood vents were also cut. Power for 1963 was at 360 hp (268 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964.

Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, as was a "big block" engine option (the 396 in³ (6. The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a Wheel. The cylinder block or engine block is a machined casting (or sometimes an assembly of modules containing cylindrically bored holes for the Pistons of a multi-cylinder "Big block" is the term used to describe the large displacement V8 engines that were developed in the USA during the 1950s and 1960s 5 L) V8). Side exhaust pipes became optional on the 1965 Sting Ray and persisted through 1967, then again for 1969. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger 427 in³ (7 L) version, creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. "Big block" is the term used to describe the large displacement V8 engines that were developed in the USA during the 1950s and 1960s 1967 saw an L-88 version of the 427 introduced which was rated at 430 hp (321 kW), but unofficial estimates place the actual output at 550 hp (410 kW) or more. Only twenty such engines were placed in the 1967 Corvette, and the cars can fetch US$1,000,000 or more in auction today. From 1967 to 1969, the 1282 ft³/min Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427. From 1955 to 1981 the Pontiac Division of General Motors manufactured its own unique V8 engines distinct from Buick, The 1967 Corvette originally was going to be the first of the C3 generation; however, due to delays the C3 had to be put off until 1968. This was also the first year to introduce the L-88 motor option with 560 bhp (420 kW). Other early options available on the C2 included an AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (1963), a telescopic steering wheel (1965) and headrests, presumably to prevent whiplash (1966).

The 1965 introduction of the 425 hp 396 in³ big block was ultimately the harbinger of doom for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396 in³ option cost $292. 70 while the fuel injected 327 in³ engine cost $538. 00. Few people could justify spending $245 more for 50 hp (37 kW) less. When only 771 fuel-injected cars were built in 1965, Chevrolet stopped the program.

In 2004, Sports Car International named the Sting Ray number five on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. Sports Car International is an Automobile Magazine in the United States focused on Sports cars It is unabashedly enthusiast-oriented Sports Car International magazine compiled a list of the Top Sports Cars of the last few decades

The design of this generation had several inspirations. The first was the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, one of which Mitchell owned and enjoyed driving frequently. The Jaguar E-Type' (UK or XK-E (US is a British Automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1974 Bill Mitchell also sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Sting Ray" in 1959, because Chevrolet no longer participated in factory racing. This vehicle had the largest impact on the styling of this generation, although it had no top and did not give away what the coupe would look like. The third inspiration was a mako shark that Mitchell had caught while deep-sea fishing.

In 1961 the Corvette finally sold over 10,000 vehicles per year, hitting a number of 10,947 in that production year.

In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov came up with a lightweight version of the C2. Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, GM planned 100 Grand Sport Corvettes. The plans never came about and only five were built. They were driven by historic drivers such as Roger Penske, A. J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. Roger Penske (born February 20, 1937 in Shaker Heights Ohio) is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr (born January 16, 1935, in Houston, Texas) is a retired American Automobile racing driver Jim Hall (born July 23, 1935 in Abilene Texas) is a former Racecar driver and constructor from the United States. The Grand Sports, however, had many issues; the aero package made for a very frightful driving experience to say the least. Delmo Johnson said it was "the only car I ever drove that would lift the front wheels off the ground in all four gears. " Dick Thompson was the only driver to drive the Grand Sport to victory. Dr Dick Thompson (born in 1920 or 1921 is a retired American racecar driver He won a Sports Car Club of America race at Watkins Glen. The Sports Car Club of America ( SCCA) is a club and sanctioning body supporting Road racing, rally, and Autocross in the United States Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen" is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. Today there are only five left, cars 001-005 all held by private owners. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built.

The popular Z06 performance package on the C5 and C6 model Corvettes is named after a Z06 performance option dating back to the 1963 model year. ^[1]

C3 (1968-1982 Stingray)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C3

The third generation, patterned after Chevrolet's "Mako Shark II" (designed by Larry Shinoda), started in 1968 and ended in 1982. For an outline of all the Chevrolet Corvette generations see See also Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette C3 is a Sports car The XP-755 Mako Shark show car was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of GM Design head Bill Mitchell in 1961 as a concept for future Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry Shinoda ( March 25 1930 &ndash November 13 1997) was a noted automotive designer who was best known for This generation has the distinction of being introduced to the motoring public in an unorthodox — and unintended — fashion. 1968 marked the introduction of Mattel's now-famous Hot Wheels line of 1/64-scale die cast toy cars. Mattel Inc ( is the world's largest Toy importing company based on revenue MycarsJPG|thumb|right|250px|Some 2008 models the Audi R8, the Porsche Carrera GT, the Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Dodge Challenger General Motors had tried their best to keep the appearance of the upcoming car a secret, but the release of the Hot Wheels line several weeks before the Corvette's unveiling had a certain version of particular interest to Corvette fans: the "Custom Corvette", a GM-authorized model of the 1968 Corvette.

In 1969, the 350 CID (5. 7 L) engine became available in the Corvette, and in 1970, the 427 big block was enlarged to 454 CID (7. 4 L). Power peaked in the 1970 and 1971 models, with the 1970 LT-1 small block putting out 370 hp (276 kW) and the 1971 454 big block having its last year of big power with 425 hp (317 kW). In 1972, GM moved to the SAE Net measurement for power (away from the previous SAE Gross standard), which resulted in lower values expressed in HP. Along with the move to unleaded fuel, emission controls, and catalytic converters, power continued to decline and bottomed out in 1975 — the base ZQ3 engine put out 165 hp (123 kW), and the optional L82 engine put out 205 hp (153 kW). Power remained fairly steady for the rest of the C3 generation, ending in 1982 with the 200 hp (149 kW) L83 engine.

Styling changed subtly over the generation. Minor trim changes occurred through the 1972 model. In 1973, the Corvette dropped the front chrome bumpers for a urethane-compound "5 mph" bumper but kept the rear chrome bumpers. In 1974, the rear chrome bumpers became urethane as well, resulting in the first ever chrome-less production Corvette. 1975 saw the last year for the convertible, which did not return until 1986. In 1968 the "Sting Ray" name was not used, but returned in 1969 as a single word "Stingray" until 1976, the last year in which the name was used. 1978 saw a 25th "Silver Anniversary" edition, the first Corvette Indy Pace Car, the introduction of a "fast back" glass rear window, and the highest production number until the C-5. In 1980, the Corvette got an integrated aerodynamic redesign that resulted in a significant reduction in drag. In 1982, an opening rear hatch was offered for the first time on the Corvette available on the Collectors Edition model only. A new engine featuring cross fire injection, a fuel injection carburator hybrid, was also introduced that year as the L83. It was the only engine available in 1982, and was not offered with a manual transmission.

C4 (1983-1996)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C4

The fourth generation Corvette began production in March 1983 as a 1984 model. For an outline of all the Chevrolet Corvette generations see See also Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette C4 is a Sports car introduced This page is about the sport as practiced in the United States The 1983 model year was skipped due to production problems, although 44 prototype 1983 models were completed. All 44 1983 model year prototypes assembled were crushed except for one (the 23rd produced), which is displayed at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The C4 production started in 1984 and ended in 1996.

This first year model of the C4 carried over the L83 engine from the previous generation of Corvette. The L83 engine had a unique fuel delivery method, named "Crossfire", a dual-throttle-body injection system. The C4 was praised for its sleek styling and its groundbreaking aerodynamic design. With the first major body, chassis and suspension change since 1963, the new C4 coupe incorporated a rear glass hatch for much improved cargo access, all new brakes with aluminum calipers, all aluminum frame and suspension for weight savings and rigidity, and the first one piece targa top with no center reinforcement . The Corvette C4 came standard with an electronic dashboard with digital liquid crystal displays for the speedometer and tachometer. The 1984 C4 was a complete and total redesign except for its engine, and the emphasis was on handling with the introduction of the front transverse composite leaf spring (still used today on new Corvettes). This handling focus came with the penalty of a harsh, uncompromising ride. ^[2]

The 1984 and 1985 were the only C4's to lack the third brake light (CHMSL, Center High Mounted Signal Light) which was required by federal law beginning in 1986. From 1984 through 1988, the Corvette used an unusual "4+3" transmission — a 4-speed manual coupled to an automatic overdrive on the top three gears. It was designed to help the Corvette meet U. S. fuel economy standards. The transmission was problematic and was eventually replaced by a much more modern ZF 6-speed manual gearbox in 1989. ZF Friedrichshafen AG is a leading worldwide supplier of driveline and Chassis technology This new transmission was also the first to feature Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS), which used a solenoid to lock out 2nd gear during certain driving conditions. This allowed the Corvette to maintain EPA fuel economy ratings high enough to avoid the "gas guzzler" tax. Beginning in 1985, the 230 horsepower (170 kW) L98 engine with tuned port fuel injection was installed in most Corvettes, replacing the throttle body fuel injected powerplant.

In 1986 Corvette saw its 2nd Indy Pace Car, this time a convertible. First drop top since 1975, the pace car was available in several colors, but not in a coupe. It was also touted as the first pace car not to be modified for Indy Pace duty.

1988 saw the 35th Anniversary Edition. A limited production of cars were made, each with an ID number on a special badge next to the gear selector. These Corvettes were easily identified as they were all white on white on white, with white wheels, T-tops, and exterior trim. Inside, seats, rugs, shifter and steering wheel etc. were all white.

For the 1992 model year, the 300 horsepower (220 kW) LT1 engine was introduced, which significantly improved the performance of the base C4 cars. General Motors ' Generation II LT small block V8 engine debuted in 1992 on the 1992 Chevrolet Corvette. Also introduced in 1992 was Acceleration Slip Regulation (ASR), a form of traction control which utilized the Corvette's brakes, spark retard and throttle close-down to prevent excessive rear wheel spin and possible loss of control. The traction control device could be switched off if desired.

1993 became the Corvette's 40th anniversary. This time the C4 had a special commemorative Ruby Red color, badges and embroidered seat backs, it was available in any body style and option level. The 1993 Corvette also marks the introduction of GM's first Passive Keyless Entry System.

In 1996, the final year of C4 production had a few special Corvettes and options. The Grand Sport, Collector Edition, OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics) run flat tires, and the LT-4 engine. The 330 hp (246 kW) LT4 V-8 was installed in all manual transmission equipped Corvettes. General Motors ' Generation II LT small block V8 engine debuted in 1992 on the 1992 Chevrolet Corvette. All 1996 Corvettes with automatic transmissions still utilized the LT1.

The C4's handling characteristics and cornering ability allowed it to dominate SCCA events and races during the 1980s and 1990's.

The C4 had plenty of firsts: EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection), transverse front leaf spring, ABS, Airbags, traction control, aluminum frame suspension and engine, digital gauges, highest HP engine, overhead quad-cams, 6-speed transmission, computer controlled; climate control, seats, windows, locks, gauges etc. The C4 was the last Corvette with a centrally located fuel filler (1963), opposing windshield wipers (1953), cast iron engine block (1953), 4 round taillights (1961), fiberglass body panels (1953), distributor ignition (1953).

B2K Callaway Twin-Turbo

In 1987, the factory B2K option became available from the factory.

The Callaway Corvette was a Regular Production Option (RPO B2K), the only time in Chevrolet's history a specialist manufacturer was entrusted with a technically advanced high performance RPO. Callaway Cars Inc is an engine design company who is notable for their modification of Chevrolet cars the Corvette Sport cars in particular especially A Regular Production Option (RPO is a General Motors standard coding for vehicle configuration options The B2K option was eventually replaced by the ZR1 option, though they coexisted from 1990-1991. The early B2K's produced 345 hp (257 kW) and 450 ft·lbf (610 N·m) of torque. ^[3] The later B2K's produced 450 hp (336 kW) and 613 ft·lbf (831 N·m) of torque. ^[4]

ZR-1 (1990-1995)

In 1986, the Corvette team approached Lotus, then a GM subsidiary, with the idea of developing an ultra-high performance vehicle based on the C4 Corvette. Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. With input from GM, Lotus designed a new engine to replace the traditional pushrod L98 V-8 that powered the standard C4. Introduction Chevrolet 's Small-block V8 is a famous Automobile engine The result was the LT5, an aluminum-block V-8 with the same bore centers as the L98, but with four overhead camshafts and 32 valves. Lotus designed a unique air management system for the engine to provide a wider power band by shutting off 8 of the 16 intake runners and fuel injectors when the engine was at part-throttle, while still giving the ZR-1 375 hp when at wide open throttle. Wide open throttle (WOT refers to an Internal combustion engine's maximum intake of air and fuel that occurs when the Throttle plates inside the carburetor or throttle Lotus also aided in the development of the ZR-1's standard "FX3" active suspension system.

A 1990 ZR-1 set a 24 hour speed endurance record at the Firestone test track in Fort Stockton Texas using a relatively stock LT5 engine with modification that included removal of catalytic converters. The Tommy Morrison racing team averaged 175 MPH, including time for re-fueling and several driver changes.

In 1991, all Corvettes received updates to body work, interior, and wheels. The convex rear fascia that set the 1990 ZR-1 apart from the base model was now included on L98 Corvettes, making the styling of the expensive ZR-1 even closer to that of the base cars. The most obvious difference remaining between the base and ZR-1 models besides the wider rear wheels was the location of the CHMSL (center high mounted stop lamp), which was integrated into the new rear fascia used on the base model, but remained at the top of the rear-hatch on the ZR-1's.

Further changes were made in 1992: ZR-1 badges were displayed on both front fenders and traction control was added as a standard feature. In 1993, Lotus redesigned the cylinder heads and valvetrain of the LT5, resulting in a horsepower increase from 375 to 405. In addition, a new exhaust gas recirculation system improved emissions control. Production of the ZR-1 ended in 1995, after 6,939 cars had been built.

Grand Sport (1996)

Chevrolet released the Grand Sport version in 1996 at the end of C4 Corvette production. The "Grand Sport" moniker was a nod to the original Grand Sport model produced in 1963. A total of 1,000 Grand Sports were produced. The 810 coupes and 190 convertibles were produced with a special VIN sequence to differentiate them from the other 1996 C4 models. The 1996 Grand Sport was equipped with the LT4 engine, which produced 330 hp (246 kW) and 340 lb·ft (461 N·m) of torque. General Motors ' Generation II LT small block V8 engine debuted in 1992 on the 1992 Chevrolet Corvette. All LT4-powered Corvettes included a Grand Sport nameplate on the engine's throttle body. The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white center stripe, distinctive black five spoke wheels, and two red hash marks on the hood above the left front wheel. Interior colors were black and red only. A hardtop option was not available with Grand Sport convertibles. They also added rear wheel arch extensions on the body, as the Grand Sport utilized the same rear wheels as a ZR-1.

Collector Edition (1996)

To commemorate the final year of the C4, Chevrolet reissued a Collector Edition. Also produced in low numbers, all CE's were painted Sebring Silver, a color reminiscent of the 1963 Sting Ray and later retained for the C-5 color lineup. A near mirror image of the Grand Sport, if properly equipped, it also got the 5 spoke "A mold" wheels in matching silver, bigger ZR-1 brakes, and a myriad of standard features. Like all production 1996 Corvettes, the LT-4 received the ZF 6-speed gearbox thought by many to be the strongest GM transmission ever. Automatics were an option, and still retained the LT-1. CE's were also available in a convertible with 3 interior color choices, red, silver and black. On all four sides of the car, a special set of "Collector Edition" flags were appointed, and also embroidered in the seat backs.

C5 (1997-2004)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C5

Production of the C5 Corvette began in 1997 and ended with the 2004 model year. See also Chevrolet Corvette The Chevrolet Corvette C5 is a Sports car which went on sale in 1997 and ended with the 2004 model year The C5 was a major change from the long-running C4. The transmission was moved to the rear of the car to form an integrated rear-mounted transaxle assembly and was connected to the engine by a driveshaft. A transaxle, in the Automotive field is a component that combines the functionality of the '''trans'''mission, the differential and the drive Gone were most of the squeaks and rattles of the C4. The new C5 was judged by the automotive press as improved in nearly every area over the previous Corvette design.

Also introduced with the C5 was GM's new LS1 small block. The LS series is a new design intended as the only V-8 engine utilized in General Motors ' line of RWD cars and trucks This third-generation small block was a completely new design, including a distributor-less ignition and a new cylinder firing order. It was initially rated at 345 horsepower (257 kW) and 350 ft·lbf (470 N·m) torque, but was increased to 350 horsepower (260 kW) in 2001.

For its first year, the C5 was available only as a coupe, even though the new platform was designed from the ground up to be a convertible. The convertible returned to the lineup in 1998, followed by the predecessor to the Z06, the fixed-roof coupe (FRC), in 1999.

The Corvette's 50th Anniversary was celebrated June 20-21, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee. The venue provided a bonanza of flawlessly restored Corvettes. Also, a worldwide caravan of over 10,000 Corvettes gathered at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65 's Exit 28 with every model year of the Corvette along with engineering and restoration seminars. Automobile restoration is the process of repairing a car to return it to essentially the same or better condition than it was in when it left the factory at time of manufacture Participants were also invited to visit the factory located across from the museum, with special tours not provided to the general public. The anniversary also brought some Chevrolet Concept Vehicles into focus including the approved-for-production Chevrolet SSR. The Chevrolet SSR ( S uper S port R oadster was a retractable hardtop convertible Pickup truck manufactured by Chevrolet between Also on hand were several Corvette race cars, including the Corvette SS built by Zora Arkus-Duntov and the C5-R that won its class at Le Mans. Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Among the many displays were examples of the 2003 50th Anniversary Edition as well as a few 2004 "Commemorative Edition" and Indy Pace Car Corvettes.

Recently, the factory has expanded to build the Cadillac XLR roadster, which shares its platform with the sixth-generation Corvette. Cadillac is a Brand of Luxury vehicles owned by General Motors. The XLR is a Retractable hardtop marketed by the Cadillac division of General Motors, assembled in Bowling Green Kentucky. The Y platform, or Y body, designation has been used twice by the General Motors Corporation to describe a series of vehicles all built on the same basic body and Bowling Green is also home to the Corvette Museum, which celebrates this American automotive icon by displaying in chronological order the various regular production models as well as some unique one-off versions created by Chevrolet. Bowling Green is the fourth-most populous City in the US state of Kentucky after Louisville, Lexington and Owensboro The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, off Interstate 65 's Exit 28 Bowling Green is also the home of the National Corvette Homecoming, a large annual gathering of Corvettes and their owners. It was 1981 when the National Corvette Homecoming was first held in Bowling Green Kentucky.

The building in Flint in which the first cars were assembled was spun off with GM's Delphi Electronics division and later donated to GMI/Kettering University in the late 1990s. The building has since been remodeled and is now the C.S. Mott Engineering and Science Center, housing the Mechanical Engineering and Chemistry programs. The name Charles Mott can also refer to Charles James Mott (1880-1918 English baritone singer Charles Stewart Mott ( June 2, 1875 — In the garage housing the school's Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) club is a plaque commemorating it as the place where the first Corvette was built. SAE International (SAE is a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in the Aerospace, Automotive, and commercial Vehicle industries

Z06 (2001-2004)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06

A successor to the FRC C5 made its debut in 2001 as the Z06, a nod to the high performance Z06 version of the C2 Corvette of the 1960s. General The successor to the ZR-1 made its debut in 2001 as the Z06, giving a nod to the high performance Z06 version of the C2 Corvette of the The Z06 models replace the FRC hardtop (1999-2000) models as the highest performance C5 Corvette. Instead of a heavier double-overhead cam engine like the ZR-1, the Z06 used an LS6, a high-output version of the standard LS1 Corvette engine producing 385 hp (287 kW). Although the Z06's total power output was less than that of the last ZR-1's, the Z06 was lighter and therefore quicker than the ZR-1. Despite these specifications, the ZR-1 still had a higher top speed, thus maintaining its "King of the Hill" status.

As with the ZR-1, Chevrolet found that added power output did the Z06 little good without platform modifications to bring the rest of the car up to par. A hardtop body, upgraded suspension, larger wheels and tires, a new six-speed manual transmission, along with improved gearing and functional brake cooling ducts, all became part of the total package. The Z06 is 38 lb (17. 3 kg) lighter than the previous hardtop C5 thanks to a titanium exhaust (from the catalytic converter back), thinner glass, lighter wheels, and a lighter battery. From 2002 onward, the Z06 produced 405 hp (302 kW) thanks to minor engine modifications including a more aggressive camshaft profile, lightweight sodium filled exhaust valves, stiffer valve springs, and deletion of the precats. Many dynamometer test have proven that Chevrolet underrated the engine by 20 hp (15 kW) giving it a total of 425 hp. For the dynamometer used in railroading see Dynamometer car. A dynamometer or "dyno" for short is a machine used to measure ^[5]

The 2002 Z06 also received revised rear shock valving and steel links to replace plastic ones of the 2001 model. An Electron blue color replaced Speedway white. The HUD became standard, and the previous forged wheels were replaced by lighter spun cast ones. The fender Z06 badges bear "405 hp" on them. The 2003 models received special silver 50th anniversary badges and revised headliner. Later 2003 models received a more durable steel shift fork instead of aluminum.

GM claimed that 405 hp (302 kW) versions of the Z06 could make the 0-60 run in 3. 9 seconds and through the quarter mile in 12. 4 seconds. In the hands of experienced drivers the 2002-2004 Z06 has made 11 second passes. ^[5] The current quarter mile record is 11. 7. The car's top speed of 176 mph (283 km/h) was achieved in 5th gear at 6,500 rpm(redline), as 6th gear was an overdrive/economy gear. It proved to be a well rounded track vehicle as well, with the ability to do more than simply accelerate. Thanks in part to its upgraded suspension system, the Z06 is capable of holding its own against contemporary versions of the Dodge Viper, Ford Mustang Cobra R, and even the Porsche 911 around a road track. The Dodge Viper is a V10 -powered Sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon The Porsche 911 (pronounced as Nine Eleven, Neunelfer is a Sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany

The 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition came with a carbon fiber hood which saved some weight and also received polished aluminum wheels. In addition it was equipped with a Nürburgring-tested suspension tuning to improve handling, along with an exclusive Le Mans blue color.

C5-R

The C5-R racer was built by Pratt & Miller for GM Racing. Pratt & Miller Engineering and Fabrication is a company formed by Gary Pratt and Jim Miller in 1989. It was based on the C5 road car but had a longer wheelbase, a wider track, an enlarged engine and more aerodynamic bodywork with a rear wing and exposed headlamps. It took part in the American Le Mans Series in the GTS Class and competed in five 24 Hours of Le Mans races as a Corvette Racing entry. The American Le Mans Series ( ALMS) is a Sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe,

• 1999 The car's debut racing season. Initially it was powered by a 6000 cc version of the 5700 cc Corvette V-8 engine but after four races the engine capacity was increased to 7000 cc.
• 2000 The car's first victory and first year at Le Mans.
• 2001 The racing season produced eight victories in ten races, including an overall win in the 24 Hours of Daytona and a 1-2 finish in the GTS class at Le Mans. The Rolex 24 at Daytona (frequently referred to by its historical title the 24 Hours of Daytona) is a 24-hour sports car Endurance race held annually at
• 2002 In 2002 the C5-R repeated its 1-2 victory in the GTS class at Le Mans and also dominated the GTS class in the American Le Mans Series. A new transaxle unit replaced the previous year's separate transmission and differential. Corvette faced stiff domination from the new Privateer Non-Ferrari backed Prodrive-built Ferrari 550, which led many laps at Le Mans, but the Ferraris suffered problems late in the race, resulting in another Corvette GTS class victory. Prodrive Ltd is a Motorsport and automotive Engineering group based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. Specifications Engine The 550 Maranello is a front-engined car
• 2003 In 2003, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest placed additional restrictions on all 24 Hours of Le Mans competitors, reducing power by 10% in an attempt to slow the cars. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (Automobile Club of the West - referring to the western region of France sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest Automotive group The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, At the 2003 season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring, the C5-Rs remained in winning form, with one of them finishing first in class and eighth overall. Also in 2003 a special red, white, and blue color scheme was introduced to celebrate the Corvette's 50th anniversary. At Le Mans the Prodrive Ferraris took first place and spoiled the anniversary and GM's effort for a three-peat in the GTS class.
• 2004 The C5-R was again victorious in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, One of the Privateer Prodrive Built Ferraris led most of the race. About halfway into the event, both Prodrive cars suffered mechanical problems, causing them to pit and lose laps. The Corvettes went on to finish 1-2 in their class.

In 2005, the factory Corvette Team began racing the C6. R to coincide with the new sixth generation (C6) Corvette being released to the public. Private teams, primarily in Europe, continued to race the C5-R.

• 2005 In the FIA GT Championship, the GLPK-Carsport team won races at Imola, Italy and Zhuhai, China, and finished on the podium on several occasions. The FIA GT Championship is a Sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de In the ALMS, Pacific Coast Motorsports scored several podium finishes behind the new factory C6-R cars. SRT fielded a C5-R in the Belcar series in Belgium, and PSI Experience did the same in the FFSA GT Championship in France. Belcar is the national Grand Touring racing championship of Belgium. The FFSA GT Championship ( Championnate de France FFSA GT) is a French Grand Touring -style Sports car racing series that began in 1997
• 2006 The C5-R returned to Le Mans for the first time as a non-factory entry, run by Le Mans regular Luc Alphand. Luc Alphand (born August 6 1965) is a French former alpine skier, who is now a race car driver. It finished 3rd in the GT1 class behind the C6. R and Prodrive Aston Martin. C5-Rs were run in Belcar and FFSA GT once more.
• 2007 GLPK-Carsport and SRT run C5-Rs in FIA GT, while Luc Alphand runs a Corvette for the Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Le Mans Series (LMS is a European Sports car racing endurance series based around the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest

C6 (2005-2010)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C6

The new C6 gets an overhaul of the suspension geometry, all new bodywork with exposed headlamps (for the first time since 1962), a larger passenger compartment, and a larger 6. Model details Compared to the fifth generation the "C6" gets an overhaul of the suspension geometry all new bodywork with exposed headlamps (for the first time since 1962 0 L engine. Overall, shorter and narrower than the C5, in response to criticism that the C5 Corvette looked too wide. The 6. 0 L LS2 V8 produces 400 hp (298 kW) at 6000 rpm and 400 ft·lb (542 N·m) of torque at 4400 rpm. Its redline is increased to 6500 rpm.

The C6 retains the relatively good fuel economy of the C5, due in part to its relatively low drag coefficient and low weight, achieving 18/27 mpg (city/highway) when equipped with an automatic transmission. Fuel economy in automobiles is the amount of Fuel required to move the Automobile over a given Distance. The drag coefficient ( Cd, Cx or Cw) is a Dimensionless quantity that describes how streamlined an The manual version is slightly better at 18/28, and is fitted with Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS), has been included in all manual transmission Corvettes since 1989 to improve fuel economy by requiring drivers to shift from 1st gear directly to 4th when at lower RPM's.

For 2008, the Corvette received a mild freshening: a new LS3 engine with displacement increased to 6. The LS series is a new design intended as the only V-8 engine utilized in General Motors ' line of RWD cars and trucks 2 liters, resulting in 430 hp (321 kW) and 424 lb·ft (575 N·m) of torque (436HP and 428 TQ if ordered with the optional performance exhaust). The 6-speed manual transmission also has improved shift linkage and a 0-60 time of 4. 0 seconds, while the automatic is set up for quicker shifts giving the C6 Automatic a 0-60 time of 4. 3 seconds, faster than any other production automatic Corvette. The interior was slightly updated and a new 4LT leather-wrap interior package was added. The wheels were also updated to a new five-spoke design. ^[6]

Z06 (2006-2010)

The new Z06 arrived as a 2006 model in the third quarter of 2005. It has a 7. 0 L (7,008 cc/427. 6 in³) version of the small block engine codenamed LS7. The LS series is a new design intended as the only V-8 engine utilized in General Motors ' line of RWD cars and trucks Officially certified output is 505 hp (377 kW). Its performance is significantly better than the Ford Mustang and comparable to the Dodge Viper SRT-10. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon The Dodge Viper is a V10 -powered Sports car manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler LLC. Official performance figures indicate that the Z06 can reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3. 7 seconds from a standing start in first gear, hitting 0 - 100 in about 7. 7 - 8. 2, with a quarter mile time of 11. 5 and a top speed of 198 mph (electronically limited). In the summer of 2005, GM and Corvette Racing driver Jan Magnussen brought the new Z06 to the Nürburgring in Germany. Jan Magnussen (born July 4 1973 in Roskilde) is a race car driver from Denmark and a GM factory driver The Nürburgring, known as simply " The Ring " by enthusiasts is a Motorsport Race track in Nürburg, Germany. Magnussen drove the Z06 to a time of 7:40. 99. In their March 2007 comparison, Car and Driver selected the Corvette Z06 as the winner of their three-way comparison test of performance cars, with the Porsche 911 GT3 finishing second and the Lotus Exige S third. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. The Porsche 911 GT3 was introduced in 1999 as a high performance version of the first Water-cooled version of the Porsche 911, the 996, to continue The Lotus Exige (pronounced ex-seej is a two-door two-seat Sports car made by Lotus Cars. ^[7]

In addition to the larger engine, the C6 Z06 has a dry sump oiling system, ensuring proper engine lubrication during periods of high (lateral) acceleration and allowing the engine to be mounted low inside the chassis. A dry sump is a lubricating oil management method for four-stroke and large Two-stroke piston Internal combustion engines that uses a secondary external Connecting rods made out of titanium further lighten the reciprocating mass of the engine while being stronger than the steel rods they replace. In a reciprocating Piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the Piston to the crank or Crankshaft. Titanium (taɪˈteɪniəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Ti and Atomic number 22

In a radical departure from anything Chevrolet has ever done before, the primary structural element of the C6 Z06 is aluminum instead of steel as on the non-Z06 cars. WikipediaNaming Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The hydroformed aluminum frame remains dimensionally identical to its steel brethren but is significantly lighter. Hydroforming (or hydramolding) is a cost-effective way of shaping malleable Metals such as Aluminum or Brass into lightweight structurally The front fenders are made of carbon fiber to reduce weight, while wider rear fenders allow for the wider tires necessary to deal with the engine's increased power. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic ( CFRP or CRP) is a very strong light and expensive Composite material or fiber reinforced plastic. For an additional mass savings of 6Kg, the Z06 replaced the base model's aluminum engine cradle with one made from high pressure die cast magnesium. Die casting is the process of forcing molten Metal under high pressure into mold cavities (which are machined into dies Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 The Z06 officially weighs 3132 lb (1421 kg), giving it a power to weight ratio of 6. 2 lb/hp (3. 8 kg/kW or 361 bhp (269 kW) per tonne). The C6 Corvette Z06 is the first 500+ hp production car to avoid the U. S. government Gas Guzzler tax. The Energy Tax Act (, enacted November 9[[ 978]] is a law passed by the U

The Z06 was the official pace car for both the 2006 Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 race. In Motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as "The 500" is an American The special Pace Car edition Z06 was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January. The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual Auto show that takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It was also awarded to St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein as his prize for being the 2006 World Series MVP, although Eckstein does not know how to drive a stick. The St Louis Cardinals (also referred to as "the Cards " or "the Redbirds " are a professional Baseball team based in St David Mark Eckstein (born January 20, 1975 in Sanford Florida) nicknamed " X Factor " is a Major League Baseball The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball 's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and The 2007 Z06 was also one of Automobile Magazine's "Automobile All-Stars" for 2007. An automobile magazine is a Magazine with news and reports on Automobiles and the Automobile industry. ^[8]

2007 Z06 had minor changes including retuning of the suspension after some magazine test drivers announced the suspension did not perform up to their original estimates. Chevrolet announced the models were pre released, and for 2007 they would retune the damping. In more recent tests the Corvette has shown improved driveability and track manners.

2008 Z06 received the new TR6060 six speed manual transmission which replaces the T-56. The steering rack was improved, and the interior plastic bezel was improved. An optional full leather interior (option 3LZ) also became available in limited quantities due to constraints.

ZR1 (2009-2010)

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1

The Corvette variant now officially known as the ZR1 was first reported by several print and online publications who were speculating that Chevrolet was developing a super high performance production version of the Corvette and were internally calling it "Blue Devil" (named after GM CEO Rick Wagoner's alma mater, Duke University). The ZR1 is a high performance version of the Chevrolet Corvette. Duke University is a private Research University located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Wagoner is quoted as saying, "I wonder what they can do for 100,000 dollars?" during a GM board meeting speaking about Chevrolet designers. The production version is expected to debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show and be available as a 2009 model. The North American International Auto Show (previously called the Detroit Auto Show and often abbreviated NAIAS) is an annual Auto show held in

The ZR1 was formally announced in a December 2007 press statement by General Motors, where it was revealed that their target of 100 horsepower/liter has been reached by a new "LS9" engine, an Eaton-supercharged 6. A supercharger is an air compressor used for Forced induction of an Internal combustion engine. 2-liter engine producing a confirmed 638 hp (476 kW) and 604 foot-pounds force (819 N·m) of torque with a sticker price of about US $100,000. ^[9] Top speed is 205 mph (330 km/h). Along with an improved motor, the ZR1 also comes with extensive carbon-fiber body parts, including (but not limited to) wider fenders, the hood, roof panel, roof bow, front fascia splitter and rocker moldings. However, the car is heavier and more front weight biased than the Z06 because of the supercharger, with a weight distribution of 52% at the front and 48% at the rear. Tires were also increased in diameter and width, along with bigger and stronger brakes, adjustable suspension, and optional chrome wheels and a premium interior package. ^[10]. Spy photos from recent hot laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, following the 2007 American Le Mans Series final race, show the ZR1 to have carbon-ceramic brakes, extensive carbon fiber (front quarterpanels, A- and B- pillars, as well as the roof and possibly other body panels), and a full-width rear lip spoiler.

C6. R

• 2005 The C6. R was unveiled for its first race at the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race of the American Le Mans Series. The American Le Mans Series ( ALMS) is a Sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. Later, in the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans, it made up for Sebring by placing first and second in the GT1 car class (5th and 6th overall) after a lengthy duel with the Aston Martin team's DBR9 racers. The 24 Hours of Le Mans ( 24 Heures du Mans) is a sports car endurance race held annually since near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, Corvette C6. R went on to win its class at every race it entered in the 2005 ALMS season. The American Le Mans Series ( ALMS) is a Sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada.
• 2006 In 2006 Corvette C6. R won both American Le Mans GT1 Championships: Teams and Manufacturers.
• 2007 On March 17, 2007 the C6. R won the GT1 class in the 12 Hours of Sebring. For Le Mans 2007, there were four C6. R's on the entry list, as the two Corvette Racing entries were joined by single entries from the Luc Alphand Adventures and PSI-Motorsport teams. However, the Corvettes could not equate their increased numbers into a GT1 class win, as Corvette Racing finished second in class, one lap behind the class-winning DBR9 entered by Aston Martin Racing.

C7 (2011-)

According to several issues of Motor Trend magazine, a C7 Corvette will debut in the 2010 calendar year. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. ^[11]

Oldest surviving unit

The oldest surviving production Corvette^[12] is serial number E53F001003. This historic, one-time GM "test mule" is the third 1953 Corvette to ever come off the Flint assembly line and is known as "double-o-three" to Corvette enthusiasts. A development mule or a test mule in the automotive industry is a vehicle equipped with experimental or Prototype components for testing Flint is a city in the US state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km northwest of Detroit. It was sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction on January 21, 2006 in Scottsdale, AZ, for US$1,000,000. The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is a collector car auction and exposition company started in 1960 Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Scottsdale ( O'odham Vaṣai S-vaṣonĭ; Yaqui Eskatel) is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States.

However, the oldest Corvette in existence is believed to be the EX-122, a pre-production prototype that was hand built and first shown to the public at the 1953 GM Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on January 17, 1953. Pre-production cars are vehicles that allow the Automaker to find problems before a new model goes on sale to the public Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[13] That car can now be seen at the Atlantic City Showroom and Museum of Kerbeck Corvette.

Another noteworthy 1953 Corvette belonged to actor John Wayne. John Wayne ( May 26, 1907 &ndash June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning American Vin #51 was delivered to Wayne on October 7, 1953. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[14] It is currently on display at the National Automobile Museum (formerly the Harrah's Collection) in Reno, Nevada.

Awards

The Corvette was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year for 1984 and 1998. Motor Trend is one of the oldest Automobile magazines still publishing. Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile It has also been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list eleven times: the C4 from 1985 through 1989 and the C5 in 1998, 1999, and 2002 through 2005. Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast Magazine. Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks The new C6 was also named to that list and was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2005. The North American Car of the Year is an Automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The C6 Z06 was named "Most Coveted Vehicle" in the 2006 Canadian Car of the Year contest. Canadian Car of the Year winners as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada: Canadian Car of the Year 1987 Car of the Year

Automobile Magazine called the Sting Ray the "coolest car in history", and Sports Car International placed it at number 5 on their list of the Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. An automobile magazine is a Magazine with news and reports on Automobiles and the Automobile industry. Sports Car International is an Automobile Magazine in the United States focused on Sports cars It is unabashedly enthusiast-oriented Sports Car International magazine compiled a list of the Top Sports Cars of the last few decades

The 1999 Corvette Convertible, along with the Mercedes-Benz S500, were named Best Engineered Car of the 20th century by the Society of Automotive Engineers publication Automotive Engineering International. SAE International (SAE is a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in the Aerospace, Automotive, and commercial Vehicle industries ^[15]

A Corvette has been selected as the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 ten times: 1978, 1986, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. The Indianapolis 500 auto race has used a Pace car every year since 1911. The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as "The 500" is an American

See also the John Lingenfelter Memorial Trophy.

Corvette as marque

With the move toward rebadging Daewoo cars as budget-priced Chevrolets in Europe, Corvette became a marque in its own right in 2005. GM Daewoo Auto & Technology ( GM Daewoo or GMDAT) was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu Incheon, South Korea. Chevrolet (ˌʃɛvroʊˈleɪ - French origin (also known as Chevy) is a Brand of Automobile, produced by General Motors (GM A marque ( French for "brand" ˈmɑrk is a Brand name especially in the Automobile industry The brand is sold separately from Korean-built Chevrolets, usually by dealers with the premium Cadillac range. Cadillac is a Brand of Luxury vehicles owned by General Motors. Corvette is also marketed as a separate marque in Japan. The rumor that Corvette would become its own brand has been circulating since the late 1980s.

Corvette Sedan

In May 2007, Bob Lutz stated he is not at all opposed to the idea of a Corvette sedan. Bob Lutz may refer to Bob Lutz (tennis, American tennis player of the 1970s Robert Lutz Vice Chairman at General Motors This would follow in the footsteps of the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. The Porsche Panamera is a four-door four-seat sedan, currently in design stage set to be launched in 2009 The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door high-performance sport sedan, which British luxury marque Aston Martin plans to introduce in late 2009 to compete ^[16] In subsequent statements however, Lutz has clarified that this statement was made merely as an option, denoting that Chevrolet considers all possibilities during the design process.

See also

• Chevrolet Corvette CERV
• Corvette Mako Shark (Concept car)
• Corvette Stingray (Concept car)
• Chevrolet Aerovette
• Chevrolet Corvette GTP
• Head-Up Display

References

• Mueller, Mike. Corvette Milestones. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing Co. , 1996. ISBN 0-7603-0095-X.
• Nichols, Richard. Corvette: 1953 to the Present. London: Bison Books, 1985. ISBN 0-86124-218-1.

External links

• Chevrolet Corvette — Official site
• Corvette Europe
• Chevrolet Corvette at the Open Directory Project

The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory

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