A brief history of the Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette may not be very popular on this side of the Atlantic, but it is an undeniable icon. A good time to keep this story alive in the spotlight by delving into its history.

Corvette C1
The story of Chevrolet Corvette begins in 1953 with the beautiful C1. If you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t say it’s the same model. The stylish two-seater convertible initially produced less than 160 hp from its six-cylinder engine. It doesn’t take long for the Corvette to find its feet; From 1955 it was powered by several variants of the small-block V8, with the flagship being the 360 hp model from 1962.

Corvette C2
What a name change can do. The addition of the ‘Sting Ray’ transforms the Corvette into a true icon. The striking design – inspired by the 1959 racing car of the same name – complete with split rear windows and a menacing, upturned nose, perfectly matches the car’s playful driving character. It’s light, challenging and real power. In its most refined form, the massive 7-liter V8 sends no less than 435 hp to the rear wheels. And that was in 1967.

Corvette C3
It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if the C3 Corvette had been given a mid-engine. Chevrolet really wanted to create a direct rival to the Ford GT40, but on second thoughts decided to create an evolution of the C2. With its arched wheel arches and pointed nose, the Stingray (now a single word) captures the imagination. The C3 appeared during its 15-year lifespan with a laundry list of V8 engines, including the 466 hp ZL1.

Corvette C4
There is a two-year period where the world has to do without the Corvette, but then, in 1984, there is the C4. This revolutionary style brings the Corvette into the modern era. It has a completely new unmanned chassis, sharp design, digital instruments and big brakes. Chevrolet received input from Lotus during design, which means that this Corvette performs at least through bends as in a straight line. This is best seen in the 405 hp ZR1.

Corvette C5
The C8 Corvette is loaded with technology and safety systems, while the chassis has been significantly strengthened. The Stingray has a 497 hp V8 as standard, but the Z06 even produces 679 hp. The fastest ‘Vette is the all-new E-Ray, a hybrid. An electric monster of 654 hp that flies from 0 to 100 km / h in 2.5 seconds.

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