Chevrolet began production of the first Corvette in 1953, making the Corvette the first truly American-made sports car. Since then, Chevrolet has released six different generations of the ever popular Corvette called the C1 – C6. The C6 is currently in production and is a $100,000 car.
The first generation of Corvettes, the C1, was produced from 1953 to 1962. In 1963 it was replaced by the C2. The C2 was the first generation Corvette to feature a Corvette Sting Ray coupe. This generation was designed by Lawrence Kiyoshi Shinoda – Larry Shinoda – and was styled by Bill Mitchell. This generation of corvettes became an instant classic and the work of Larry Shinoda and Bill Mitchell is responsible for much of the popularity of the Sting Ray, Mako Shark and other classic corvettes.
There are many other reasons why these cars became the classics they are today. There’s the fact that they were the first sports cars made entirely in America, which made them attractive in a patriotic era. There is also the fact that they were truly great sports cars with a lot of power. The 1963 corvette had a 365 hp (272 kW) engine, and that was just the beginning. Each new model became a little more powerful.
However, the C2 corvette was always more than a powerhouse and offered a comfortable ride for a sports car. This was due in part to the C2’s independent rear suspension. Right off the bat, you can also buy the Corvette C2 with a host of extras that further enhance ride comfort, like air conditioning and AM-FM radio.
The C2 was originally designed with a split rear window design, but that design was discontinued in 1964 because it was suspected of being unsafe. In 1965, the C2 corvette made another safety-motivated change when they introduced four-wheel disc brakes that improved stopping ability. This was also the year they introduced the “big block” engine option, the 6.5 L V8 (6.5 L = 396 in³). The 1965 C2 Corvette was the first C2 with side exhaust pipes. This design was used until 1970.
The C2s really came to prominence at this point and the following year’s model, the 1966 Corvette, is one of the most popular and beloved Corvettes of all time. This year’s model still has a strong following and is a favorite among collectors around the world. The 1966 Corvette was the peak of the C2 generation cars and the 1967 Corvette C2 would be the last year before the third generation was introduced.