homepage_btn.gif (1491 bytes)
showroom_btn.gif (1479 bytes)
services_btn.gif (1460 bytes)
order_btn.gif (1495 bytes)
history_btn.gif (1478 bytes)
location_btn.gif (1461 bytes)
guestbook_btn.gif (1484 bytes)
links_btn.gif (1488 bytes)

 

    logobar.gif (11923 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

logo1.jpg (17811 bytes) 

check.gif (1151 bytes)

prototypes.gif (2894 bytes)

check.gif (1143 bytes)

  Click on thumbnail to see larger image....

Before Chevrolet or any car manufacturer puts a car into production they will build prototype models to evaluate it's styling and mechanical features. Sometimes these prototypes were presented as "show cars",  first at the GM Motoramas and later at International Car Shows. We'd like to present for your enjoyment an overview of the Corvette prototypes that were offered during the 1950s and 1960s. Some you may recognize as production Corvettes, others never made it into production but some of their styling and engineering elements did influence later production models.

check.gif (1143 bytes)

52Corv_small.jpg (3484 bytes) Probably the first and most recognizable of these prototypes has to be the one that started it all. The 1953 Corvette was the result of Harley Earl's desire for a 2-seater sports car to compete with the models offered from Europe. Code name for this project  was "Opel Sports Car".
sr2_small.jpg (1963 bytes) Rumor has it that Harley Earl had a son that wanted to race a sports car. In 1956, Earl had his designers come up with a souped up model of the Vette that was known as the SR-2. The model shown is actually a second model built by Bill Mitchell (Earl's successor).
57ss_small.jpg (2241 bytes) In 1957 a Corvette show car called the Super Sport debuted at the GM Motorama. The car featured twin racing windscreens and was dressed with a blue racing stripe over it's white finish.  This show car invoked images of the Sebring racer.
ss-1957_small.jpg (1867 bytes) Speaking of the Sebring racer, here is a photo of the 1957 Sebring SS. Zorz Arkus-Duntov convinced GM to produce a racer to compete with the sports cars racing at Sebring.
58xp700-corvette_small.gif (2768 bytes) The XP-700 was a show car made for Bill Mitchell. The metallic gold painted car was fitted with Dayton wire wheels and traveled the show circuit. The twin bubble tops were a Harley Earl influence.
cerv-one_small.jpg (1910 bytes) Not all prototypes were produced for their styling features. The CERV I (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) was produced to evaluate engineering components sure as rear suspension configurations and anti-lock brakes.
mako1_small.jpg (3555 bytes) Another on of Bill Mitchell's concepts was the Mako Shark I. Released in 1961 it carried over the bubble tops of the XP-700 model. Mitchell had it painted with a scheme of the shark that hung in his office.
63grand_sport_small.jpg (2429 bytes) In 1963 Duntov tried to convince GM to return to sports car racing with his Corvette Grand Sport model. GM wasn't convinced and only five models were produced.
mako2_small.jpg (1975 bytes) In 1965 Mitchell had the Mako Shark II built. Depending on which model you saw the engines ranged from the Mark IV 427 to the ZL-1.
xp819_small.gif (4113 bytes) But Bill Mitchell wasn't the only person influencing the design of Corvettes.  A rear engine model called the XP-819 was designed by Shinoda.
68astro_small.jpg (1896 bytes) In 1968 the Astro-Vette  was touted on the show car circuit. It's sleek aerodynamic design turned a lot of heads.
xp880_small.jpg (1931 bytes) The XP-880 was an update to the XP-819. It offered the engine mounted amidships. While never intended as a production car it to traveled the show circuit as the Astro II.
69MANTA_small.JPG (1345 bytes) The 1969 Manta Ray  was a redesign of the 1969 Mako Shark II.  It's design would influence the Corvettes of the 1970s.

check.gif (1143 bytes)

We hope you enjoyed our brief overview of the Corvette prototypes and show cars of the 1950s and 60s. Chevrolet continues to produce other expermental models even today, testing inovations for tomorrow's Corvettes.

check.gif (1143 bytes)

Note: This document is not sponsored or endorsed by Chevrolet or General Motors in any way. No infringement of copyrights is intended, and it is acknowledged that the product names mentioned within this document are trademarks of Chevrolet and General Motors.

check.gif (1143 bytes)

VettPro International
119 Mechanic St., Bellingham MA 02019
(508) 966-2029 or toll free 1 (888) VETTPRO
Hours of operations are:
Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm    Sat. 9am to 4pm
Sun and evenings by appointment only.

check.gif (1143 bytes)

left_turn.gif (1186 bytes) right_turn.gif (1177 bytes)

check.gif (1151 bytes)