The Corvette debuted in January of 1953 as a show car in the GM Motorama. It was a stylish two-seat convertible, designed to show the world that GM could create a sports car to compete with European nameplates like Jaguar and MG. All 1953 Corvettes were Polo White with red interiors.
1953- The first Corvettes were built by hand and appeared nearly identical to the Motorama car. They were powered by the existing Chevrolet 235-cu.-in. 6-cylinder engine that was modified with a three-carburetor design and dual exhaust to give it more sports car-like performance. was teamed with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. This powertrain, however, did not live up to the performance expectations of sports car buyers.
1955 - Corvette's evolution into a true sports car began in when a 265-cu.-in. V8 that generated 195 horsepower was offered; and by the end of the model year, a 3-speed manual transmission was also available.
1956 - The Corvette received its first major styling update in . Changes included an all-new body with "scooped out" sides, outside door handles, roll-up windows and an optional removable hardtop.
1957 -Corvette got a performance boost to go along with its styling in . The 283-cu.-in. V8 was modified with fuel injection to produce an unprecedented 283 horsepower, and a new 4-speed manual transmission was offered.
1958 -Corvette lit up the streets in in more ways than one. The fuel-injected 283-cu.-in. V8 was now producing up to 290 horsepower, and Corvette's new body design featured four headlights.
1960 - Corvette production topped the 10,000 mark for the first time.
1963 - Chevrolet unveiled its all-new Corvette Coupe and Convertible models -- the Sting Rays. This was the first time Corvette was available as a hardtop coupe model as well as the traditional convertible. Today, a 1963 split-window Coupe is a cherished prize among collectors. The Sting Rays were the automotive success story of the year.
1965 - the 396-cu.-in. "Big Block" V8 was available in Corvette. It was rated at 425 horsepower.
1968 - The all-new Corvette was dramatically different in appearance from any other Corvette. Bearing a striking resemblance to Chevrolet's "Mako Shark II" concept vehicle, it literally changed the way people looked at cars. Along with its bold new look, the 1968 Corvettes introduced hidden windshield wipers and removable T-Tops on Coupe models.
1970 - A time of great change for Corvette. While a late production start for the 1970 model year prevented the first cars from rolling off the assembly line until January.The original high-performance LT1 engine, a 350-cu.-in. "Small Block," was introduced. It generated 370 horsepower. That year, the "Big Block" displacement was increased to 454 cu. in., and was rated at 390 horsepower in the LS5 version.
1971 -Sales rebounded in and continued to climb as a special-purpose "Big Block" V8 was available that produced 425 horsepower.
1975 - The Convertible model was dropped at the end of the model year.
In 1977 - Corvette hit the 1/2-million milestone as the 500,000th car rolled off the assembly line. The next Corvette Convertible would not be available until 1986.
1978 - Corvette celebrated its 25th anniversary in and, in recognition of this event, was selected to be the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500. Two special models were produced for public sale -- a Pace Car appearance edition and a special Silver Anniversary paint package.
1979 - Corvette production hit 53,807 units -- a record that still stands today.
1980 - Sales of Corvette remained strong in the early '80s. It was clearly now a part of the American fabric, attracting buyers with its rich heritage and dramatic styling.
1983 - There were no Corvettes produced for public sale, but 43 pilot models of the new-generation Corvette were built in 1983 for testing purposes. Today, one of those 1983 pilots is on display at the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
1984 - The introduction of the Corvette was one of the most eagerly awaited vehicle announcements in recent history. It was named Motor Trend,s "Car of The Year." For 1986, the Corvette Convertible was back!
1989 - Corvette handling made great strides in with the Performance Handling Package becoming standard equipment, along with new 17-inch wheels and tires.
1990 - ZR-1 roared to life in with an all-new 375 horsepower LT5 engine under its hood. Designed in a cooperative effort between General Motors and Lotus, the LT5's dual overhead cam, 32-valve design made Corvette the talk of the automotive world. To help distinguish the appearance of the ZR-1 from standard Corvette Coupes, it was given an all-new convex rear fascia and quad rectangular taillights. All Corvettes received a new cockpit design that included digital readouts and analog gauges as well as a driver air bag. The maximum horsepower of the standard L98 engine was increased to 250.
1991 - Corvette received styling refinements for that included wrap-around front parking/cornering lamps, new side-panel louvers and a ZR-1 style convex rear fascia on all models.
1992 - Corvette performance continued to grow in with the introduction of the second-generation LT1 -- putting a 300-horsepower engine back in the standard Corvette. The engine was designated LT1 because it was the first Chevy "Small Block" to surpass the horsepower of the original LT1 in 1970.
ZR-1 received a ZR-1 badge on the sides of its clam shell hood. The one-millionth Corvette was built on July 2, 1992 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
1993 - LT5 output was boosted to 405 horsepower, and a special 40th Anniversary package was available on all models. Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) was also added as standard equipment.
The cockpit of Corvette was transformed for 1994 with a new single-piece instrument panel, a front-passenger air bag, and new door panels. Both the standard and Sport seats were also restyled, and leather seats became standard equipment.
1995 - The most noticeable change on the Corvette was the revised gill panel design. This also marked the last year for the ZR-1. Corvette served as the Official 1995 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.
1996 - Two distinctive Corvettes are part of the lineup: the Grand Sport and Collector Edition. Both celebrate the rich heritage of the Corvette, and mark the end of the current style. The new optional LT4 engine is introduced (required on Grand Sport).
To be continued.......
