The Chevy Corvette an American Legend
A legend among sports cars, theChevrolet Corvetteis nearing its 60th year of production as one of America’s most iconic automobiles. It has become an important part of the automobile landscape in the United States, and a fixture on roads across the country – particularly on beautiful summer days.
The first generation of the Corvette, labeled C-1, was built from 1953 to 1962 and was strictly a convertible. The vehicle was originally built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri and was named after a small warship which dates back to the late 1600s. While there were cosmetic updates and engine options, the Corvette didn’t receive a major overhaul until the 1963 model year.
The second generation – C-2 – lasted from 1963 to 1967. This was the introduction of the popular Corvette Sting Ray, and the car was available as both a convertible and a coupe. The Sting Ray was slightly smaller than the original Corvette, and among its changes from C-1 were hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents and an independent rear suspension.
C-3, the third generation of the Chevrolet Corvette, was the longest generation, produced from 1968 to 1982, and featured a complete body and interior redesign. This generation of Corvette transformed the line from muscle car back to sports car and included the 25th anniversary edition in 1978; 1978 also marked the first of 10 times the Corvette was used as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500.
1983 was to mark the first year of the C-4 model, but problems with parts and quality of the product led to only 44 1983 Corvettes being produced, and none were sold. Thus, actual production of the fourth generation Corvette began in January 1983, and cars were shipped as 1984 models. The C-4 model was produced from 1984 to 1996 and featured a sleeker, more modern look and less horsepower due to changing emission regulations. The 35th anniversary Corvette, produced in 1988, was known as the “Triple White” – it was a white coupe with white wheels and a white interior.
The fifth generation – C-5 – Corvette was produced from 1997 to 2004 and featured a curvaceous design reminiscent of its more stylish Japanese rivals. Its structural improvements and stylish lines lead to a sixth generation – C-6 – which has been produced since 2005. Among the changes in C-6: exposed headlamps, not seen since 1962; a larger passenger compartment; and a smaller overall length and width in hopes of gaining appeal in Europe.
The next generation – C-7 – was expected to be available in 2011, to coincide with Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary, but now looks likely to be available as a 2014 model year car.
