Most Wanted Classic Cars: Chevrolet Corvette (Part 1)
Posted by Steve White on Apr 22, 2009
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of America’s most beloved cars. Its innovative design and great performance have made it a symbol of American automobile engineering at its best, and it continues to fascinate car enthusiasts until this very day.
The Corvette was introduced in 1953 as the first American sports car. The first 300 Corvettes were produced in a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, and they featured the Blue Flame 6-cylinder engine, which yielded a horsepower of 150. Only 255 of these cars are in existence today, and they are considered some of the rarest classic cars in America.
The 1954 Corvette was the last year model that carried the 6-cylinder engine. In 1955, the V-8 engine was introduced, and the ‘V’ in the Corvette logo was enlarged to give emphasis to this development. Optional fuel-injection was made available in 1957, giving the Corvette a gross hp of 290. 1958 saw major design changes on the body, with extensive use of chrome to make it look flashier. The models of the following two years featured less chrome and more hp, and the rear was changed to a boat-tail rear with 4 round lights in 1961.
A major improvement to the engine was made in 1962. The 283 cubic inch small block of previous models was enlarged to 327 cubic inch to give the car the ability to reach a maximum of 360 hp. This would make the 1962 model the fastest among the first generation Corvettes. This model was also the last Corvette that featured solid rear axle, curved windshield, and convertible-only design.
The oldest Chevrolet Corvette that is in existence today is probably the EX-122, which is a 1953 hand-built pre-production model. It is now on display at the Kerbeck Corvette showroom in Atlantic City.
1985 Toyota celica gt Clinton, MD
1968 Pontiac Conv Spring hill, FL
1960 Mercedes Benz 220 Victorville, CA
1971 Chrysler Newport New castle, PA
1979 Chevrolet ElCamino Pleasant view, TN