Chevrolet Corvette (C1)

Chevrolet Corvette (C1)
1954 Corvette Convertible
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1953–1962
Model years	1953–1962
Assembly	United States: Flint, Michigan (1953–early 1954) United States: St. Louis, Missouri (early 1954–1962)
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car
Body style	2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	235 cu in (3.9 L) Blue FlameI6 265 cu in (4.3 L) Small-block V8 283 cu in (4.6 L) Small-block V8 327 cu in (5.4 L) Small-block V8
Transmission	2-speed Powerglide automatic 3-speed manual 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102 in (2,600 mm) (1953–1962)
Length	167.3 in (4,250 mm) (1953–1955) 168 in (4,300 mm) (1956–1957) 177.2 in (4,500 mm) (1958–1962)
Width	69.8 in (1,770 mm) (1953–1955) 70.5 in (1,790 mm) (1956–1957) 72.8 in (1,850 mm) (1958–1961) 70.4 in (1,790 mm) (1962)
Height	51.5 in (1,310 mm) (1953–1957) 51 in (1,300 mm) (1958–1962)
Curb weight	2,886 lb (1,309 kg) (1953–1954, 1956) 2,805 lb (1,272 kg) (1955) 2,849 lb (1,292 kg) (1957) 2,926 lb (1,327 kg) (1958) 2,975 lb (1,349 kg) (1959) 2,985 lb (1,354 kg) (1960–1961) 3,065 lb (1,390 kg) (1962)
Chronology
Successor	Chevrolet Corvette (C2)

The Chevrolet Corvette (C1) is the first generation of the Corvette sports car produced by Chevrolet. It was introduced late in the 1953 model year, and produced through 1962. It is commonly referred to as the "solid-axle" generation, as the independent rear suspension did not appear until the 1963 Sting Ray. The Corvette was rushed into production for its debut model year to capitalize on the enthusiastic public reaction to the concept vehicle, but expectations for the new model were largely unfulfilled. Reviews were mixed and sales fell far short of expectations through the car's early years. The program was nearly canceled, but Chevrolet would ultimately stay the course.

In 1927 General Motors hired designer Harley Earl who loved sports cars. GIs returning after serving overseas in the years following World War II were bringing home MGs, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, and the like. In 1951, Nash Motors began selling an expensive two-seat sports car, the Nash-Healey, that was made in partnership with the Italian designer Pinin Farina and British auto engineer Donald Healey, but there were few moderate-priced models. Earl convinced GM that they needed to build a two-seat sports car, and with his Special Projects crew began working on the new car, "Project Opel" in late 1951. The result was the hand-built, EX-122 pre-production Corvette prototype, which was first shown to the public at the 1953 General Motors Motorama at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on January 17, 1953. Production began six months later. The car is now located at the Kerbeck Corvette museum in Atlantic City and is believed to be the oldest Corvette in existence.