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Some Very Interesting Corvettes.
black mamba
Registered Users Posts: 8,321 Major grins
This 1954 was sold to a member of the General Motor's design team and used as a special project car. It has a host of features not found on any other '54 Vette. There are numerous interior details that are different. It has a prototype steering wheel, a second-generation soft top, and unique treatment to the headlight covers. This was the only Corvette of the times that left the factory painted any color other than white.
This is the infamous 1957 Corvette SS. Built specifically for the international sports car racing scene, this car, unfortunately, never realized its potential. The Automobile Manufacturers Association ( American ) withdrew from formalized racing in 1957. This car had already been completed and was sent to race at The Sebring event. There had been little time for practice to shake out the bugs. The car had problems with handling and braking and, after overheating issues, was retired from the race after 23 laps. Plans to develop it further and send it on to the Le Mans race were canceled.
This 1963 design exercise was built by Bill Mitchell ( GM's design chief ) specifically for Harley Earl and is known, thus, as the Harley Earl Corvette. This car has been invited to the Bloomington Gold Special Collection more than any other Corvette.
This 1976 model was built for Bill Mitchell for his personal use after he retired. He had it built to his own specs....special interior and exterior appointments, and, most importantly, a special drive train. When it was determined that the aluminum Can Am engine would not pass government regulations, Mitchell had it and the rest of the drive train replaced with stock items. Miraculously, at some later date, the special engine, transmission, and rear end were put back into this car by " Smoky " Yunick's " Best Damn Garage In Town " in Daytona Beach.
This is the infamous 1957 Corvette SS. Built specifically for the international sports car racing scene, this car, unfortunately, never realized its potential. The Automobile Manufacturers Association ( American ) withdrew from formalized racing in 1957. This car had already been completed and was sent to race at The Sebring event. There had been little time for practice to shake out the bugs. The car had problems with handling and braking and, after overheating issues, was retired from the race after 23 laps. Plans to develop it further and send it on to the Le Mans race were canceled.
This 1963 design exercise was built by Bill Mitchell ( GM's design chief ) specifically for Harley Earl and is known, thus, as the Harley Earl Corvette. This car has been invited to the Bloomington Gold Special Collection more than any other Corvette.
This 1976 model was built for Bill Mitchell for his personal use after he retired. He had it built to his own specs....special interior and exterior appointments, and, most importantly, a special drive train. When it was determined that the aluminum Can Am engine would not pass government regulations, Mitchell had it and the rest of the drive train replaced with stock items. Miraculously, at some later date, the special engine, transmission, and rear end were put back into this car by " Smoky " Yunick's " Best Damn Garage In Town " in Daytona Beach.
I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
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reading. The photos are, as usual, sharp and well done.
http://tonycooper.smugmug.com/
GaryB
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
Thanks for looking in, Tony. I appreciate your support.
Tom
Thank you, Gary, for the kind words. I do have a bunch of stuff on GTP cars from the 80's, including the Lowenbrau car. I'll see what I can dig up for you.
Tom
Lauren Blackwell
www.redleashphoto.com
Hi Lauren,
The Corvette was first introduced in 1953. They were all painted white and they all had red interiors. I clearly remember the first one I saw. The local Chevy dealer that lived in our neighborhood brought one home and gave a bunch of us rides in it. That dealer must have had some real pull in Detroit because there were not many '53 models made....I believe the actual number is only 300.
Tom
GaryB
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
Lauren Blackwell
www.redleashphoto.com
And, on top of that, they all had a sorry-ass two-speed automatic transmission. It wasn't until 1955 when they stuffed the 265 C.I. V-8 into the Vette that the car began to have some real performance.
Tom
I sometimes wonder, Lauren, how it is that I've never owned a truck. I can yell you, though, when I make the full-time move to the mountains, one of the first things I buy will be a full-size truck.
Tom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21695902@N06/
http://500px.com/Shockey
alloutdoor.smugmug.com
http://aoboudoirboise.smugmug.com/
I have always said that as long as I own a house, I will own a truck; I figure there is always something to tote around. Of course, this is Texas so every other vehicle is a pick-up truck. You should get a classic truck whenever you buy one--I could definitely see you tooling around the mountains in a shiny old truck!
Lauren Blackwell
www.redleashphoto.com
www.Dogdotsphotography.com
Thanks for looking in. I appreciate the kind words.
Tom
Another wonderful series of images and history on some stunning Cars.
I have to say, I'd never heard of any of these, so the history and story's were
doubly exciting.
Hope all is well with D and the Mouser's!!
Craig
Burleson, Texas
I can see you there too, Mary.
The last Corvette I owned was a 1967 427 big-block roadster that I bought new. I kept it about a year and one-half before getting rid of it. Some of the time I owned it, it was my only car and it could be a real pain in the butt ( no pun intended ) as a daily driver. It had no AC ( couldn't order it ) and it would literally cook you in the Florida summer heat. There was no room in the thing....had to carry my golf clubs in the passenger seat. On wet roads...keep in mind that the tires back then were nowhere near the performance tires we have today...that car was just plain frightening. No traction to match the prodigious power. It was rough riding and LOUD. Needless to say, I'd love to have it today....probably worth a couple of hundred thousand dollars, or more. Who knew?
Tom
Hey Amigo,
I'm glad you enjoy seeing these cars. I'm telling you, when you're at a show of this caliber, you just don't know where to look next. Wait to you see a post I'll do soon about some very special Ferrari's.
Say hi to KK and take care,
Tom
If you come up to Auburn (down, over, yonder....) there was or use to be a corvette museum near Fort Wayne. The guy owns every model produced....... i think.
Sorry, I've not been on the forums that much. My newest reason is we're adopting a baby. She's been keeping us pretty busy these past few months. And no car photos because... well, Indiana. Cars are all in storage and just coming out...
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Hi David,
Thanks for looking in. I've wondered where you've been. It's easy for us Florida boys to forget that Winters can slow some of you folks down.
Take care,
Tom