Little Red Corvette Part 1

This week, we celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, and there is perhaps no greater symbol of that American spirit of freedom and independence than the Chevrolet Corvette. The first Corvette rolled out of General Motors’ Flint, Michigan assembly plant on June 30, 1953, just in time for the July 4th festivities. This year is the 65th anniversary of Chevrolet’s flagship sports car, and it’s a perfect time to explore what has made the Corvette such an enduring part of American automotive history.

Initially unveiled at New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel in January of 1953, the vehicle was the dream car of legendary car designer Harley Earl. Earl was the first designated car designer at GM and was later promoted to vice president. He introduced to the world the notion of a ‘concept car’ as a marketing and promotion device to excite and inspire consumers. The Corvette concept was the culmination of his vision, and the introduction of the fiberglass body was crucial to the realization of his dream of a lightweight American sports car that could compete with and outperform the burgeoning European race car market.

Initial sales of the Corvette were disappointing due to the severely underpowered six-cylinder and two-speed Powerglide transmission. However, in 1955, Earl righted the ship with the introduction of a powerful V8 that was dubbed the Thunderbird-killer after its major performance gains over the recently-introduced Ford competitor.

The Corvette has undergone many iterations over the years, including the first mid-engine redesign that is up for release in 2020. Next week, we’ll explore some of the most famous Corvettes to ever tear up the pavement, including some of the most powerful production vehicles ever built.

-Trey Fennell

Chevrolet Corvette Coco #53 Black & Grey