16.02.2002, 21:42
1951
(month unknown)
Glasspar, a boat builder, constructs a single prototype Jeep-based fiberglass-bodied sports car.
The Naugatuck Chemical Division of U.S. Rubber acquires Glasspar's fiberglass sports car prototype, and names it the Alembic I.
September
General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl takes a Le Sabre to the Watkins Glen sports car race. Earl is impressed with the Jaguars, Ferraris, and Alfas, and decides to begin designing a new American sports car. (late fall)
(month unknown)
Harley Earl assigns Bob McLean to draw a layout for a sports car for General Motors.
1952
(month unknown)
A prototype fiberglass-bodied Chevrolet full-sized convertible is accidentally rolled during a test run. Because the body survives with little significant damage, the decision is made to adopt fiberglass for the production body material for the upcoming sports car.
March
Naugatuck Chemical presents the Alembic I to General Motors, which encourages Harley Earl to speed-up his own sports car work.
April
Harley Earl's crew completes a full-size plaster model of his sports car project.
Harley Earl's plaster model two-seater convertible goes on display in General Motors' private viewing auditorium.
May
Edward N. Cole becomes chief engineer of Chevrolet.
June 1
Ed Cole and Thomas Keating show the plaster model sports car to Chevrolet research and development chief Maurice Olley, assigning him the task of designing a chassis for the car.
June 2
General Motors executives are formally presented with Harley Earl's proposal for a 2-seater sports car. The project is code-named "Opel Sports Car". General Motors president Harlow Curtice and Chevrolet general manager Thomas Keating approve production of a sports car prototype for the 1953 Motorama. (approved in April)
June 12
Chevrolet's director of research and development, Maurice Olley, creates a sketch for the new sports car frame, showing locations of radiator, wheels, and body mount points.
July
Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole, and Harry Barr set to work on an all-new Chevrolet V-8 engine.
(month unknown)
The EX-122 is named the Corvette, after a fast type of Royal Navy warship, by Myron Scott, of Chevrolet Public Relations. Strong consideration had been given to naming the car "Corvair". (name picked from a dictionary) (Myron Scott was an employee of Campbell-Ewald, Chevrolet's advertising agency) (Harley Earl chose the name)
September 27
General Motors first begins officially using the name Corvette for its new sports car.
1953
January 9
General Motors first begins using the name "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined.
January 17
The prototype Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car" is displayed at the GM Motorama show at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The car is seen by about four million show visitors.
March 23
The Chevrolet plant in St. Louis is notified that they would be expected to deal with long-term volume production of the Corvette from the 1954 model onward.
March 27
General Motors Corporation applies with the US Patent and Trademark office for a trademark on "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined.
April
In Ashtabula, Ohio, Robert Morrison forms The Molded Fiber Glass Body Company to meet the US$4 million order for 12,300 Corvette bodies.
May 1
Zora Arkus-Duntov starts work at Chevrolet as assistant staff engineer to Maurice Olley in Research and Development.
May
The first Corvette advertisement appears.
June
Chevrolet begins production of the Corvette on a tiny assembly line in Flint, Michigan.
June 20
Chevrolet introduces the Corvette.
June 30
The first production Corvette rolls off the assembly line at Chevrolet Plant Number 35, near Flint, Michigan. Sticker price: just over US$3000. Assembly line worker Tony Kleiber has the honor of driving the first Corvette off the assembly line.
(month unknown)
Zora Arkus-Duntov is appointed director of High Performance Vehicle Design and Development.
July
Zora Arkus-Duntov begins working on the Corvette.
September 1
General Motors Corporation trademark application for "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined is registered.
September 29
The automotive press get their hands on a Corvette for test and review, as the Corvette is officially released. Eight Corvettes are made available to the press at the Milford Proving Grounds. (September 27) (September 28)
October 5
Maurice Olley outlines his goals for the Corvette in a paper presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers.
(month unknown)
The windshield washer assembly is changed from foot-operated to vaccuum operated.
December 16
Zora Arkus-Duntov writes a memo to Chevrolet Chief Engineer Maurice Olley, on the subject of "Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet". He writes of the importance of the V8 engine, and getting high performance parts out to the public. (month unknown)
Ed Cole tests his 265 cubic inch V-8 engine in the ex-Motorama prototype Corvette.
December 24
Production of 1953 Corvettes ends, with 300 built in total.
December
Corvette production moves from Flint, Michigan, to a General Motors Assembly Division plant on Union Boulevard, in St. Louis, Missouri.
December 29
Production of 1954 model Corvettes begins, in St. Louis.
December 31
By the end of the year, 15 1954 model Corvettes have been built.
1954
(month unknown)
Engine starters are changed from two-field to four field coils.
Routing of brake and fuel lines is changed from outside of to inside the chassis frame.
Radios installed in Corvettes now have 640-kilocycle and 1240-kilocycle Conelrad national defence emergency markings.
The dual interior hood release levers are changed to a single release lever which activated both hood latches.
February 20
The Ford Motor Company shows the Thunderbird two-seat convertible in Detroit. The Thunderbird is a major part of General Motors' decision to continue production of the Corvette. (September)
March
A new styling model is completed, proposing minor cosmetic changes to the existing body. But due to poor sales, the styling changes are abandoned.
(month unknown)
The camshaft on the 1954 Corvette is changed, increasing horsepower from 150 to 155.
Exhaust extensions are changed to be longer, with built-in baffles.
Air cleaner inlets are changed from "bullet" style to a dual "pot" apparatus.
McCulloch completes building their first supercharged 1953 Corvette. The system reportedly boosts horsepower from 87 to 117.
June
Corvette production at the St. Louis facility reaches 50 cars per day.
(month unknown)
Joe Pike founds the first Corvette club.
Chevrolet decides to change its VIP-only marketing policy for the Corvette, making it available for sale to the general public.
October 15
Zora Arkus-Duntov writes a memo to Ed Cole and Maurice Olley, noting that the Corvette appeared to be a failure. He suggests that to drop the Corvette would be an admission of failure. He urges General Motors not to cancel the car, but to create a separate department within Chevrolet to oversee Corvette development. (October 14)
(month unknown)
Tubeless tires begin to be used on 1954 model Corvettes.
December
Production of the 1954 model Corvette ends, with 3265 made, and 1076 unsold. (3640 made, over 1100 unsold)
Chevrolet begins offering a small block 265-ci V8 engine as a Corvette option, for US$135. (September)
1955
(month unknown)
The Biscayne prototype is displayed at the General Motors Motorama show. The Biscayne employed many Corvette design ideas, and is presented to management as a new direction for the Corvette.
January
Production of 1955 model Corvettes begins.
January 29
General Motors first begins officially using a circular emblem with "CHEVROLET" at top, "Corvette" at bottom, and flags in center.
(month unknown)
Brake lining material is changed to reduce fade and wear.
The interior rearview mirror of the 1955 model Corvette is changed, slightly larger, and allowing vertical adjustment via a thumbscrew mechanism.
Vinyl-coated fabric material is introduced for soft tops, in addition to canvas tops used previously.
February
The basic design of the 1956 model Corvette is completed.
April
The color Pennant Blue is discontinued in use on 1955 Corvettes.
April 16
A fiberglass model of the restyled Corvette is shown to Chevrolet management.
(month unknown)
The exterior paint color red is first made available to 1955 model Corvettes.
Three-speed manual transmissions are first offered in 1955 model Corvettes, only on the V8 engine model.
Zora Arkus-Dontov is made chief engineer of Corvette.
Zora Arkus-Duntov begins experimenting with suspension modifications, on a 195bhp engine.
September 9
Zora Arkus-Duntov races a disguised 1956 model Corvette with a V-8 engine at the Pike's Peak Hill climb, setting the stock car record of with a time of 17:24.05.
(month unknown)
Zora Arkus-Duntov gains Ed Cole's approval to prepare a Corvette for speed tests at Daytona in January. Zora's target speed is 150-MPH.
Chevrolet begins preparing a Corvette for running at the Daytona Speed Weeks in February.
A 3-speed manual transmission option is added to the 1955 model Corvette.
November 2
Speed tests of the current Corvette indicate that a top speed of 150-MPH is not possible with the existing engine. Zora Arkus-Duntov designs a new camshaft, to gain 35-40 horsepower.
December
A team from Chevrolet, including Zora Arkus-Duntov, takes a prototype mule Corvette to Daytona Beach, to attempt a 150-mph run.
John Fitch writes to Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole, suggesting he become a sports car consultant, to help develop the Corvette as a world-class sports car.
Production of 1955 model Corvettes ends.
(month unknown)
Glasspar, a boat builder, constructs a single prototype Jeep-based fiberglass-bodied sports car.
The Naugatuck Chemical Division of U.S. Rubber acquires Glasspar's fiberglass sports car prototype, and names it the Alembic I.
September
General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl takes a Le Sabre to the Watkins Glen sports car race. Earl is impressed with the Jaguars, Ferraris, and Alfas, and decides to begin designing a new American sports car. (late fall)
(month unknown)
Harley Earl assigns Bob McLean to draw a layout for a sports car for General Motors.
1952
(month unknown)
A prototype fiberglass-bodied Chevrolet full-sized convertible is accidentally rolled during a test run. Because the body survives with little significant damage, the decision is made to adopt fiberglass for the production body material for the upcoming sports car.
March
Naugatuck Chemical presents the Alembic I to General Motors, which encourages Harley Earl to speed-up his own sports car work.
April
Harley Earl's crew completes a full-size plaster model of his sports car project.
Harley Earl's plaster model two-seater convertible goes on display in General Motors' private viewing auditorium.
May
Edward N. Cole becomes chief engineer of Chevrolet.
June 1
Ed Cole and Thomas Keating show the plaster model sports car to Chevrolet research and development chief Maurice Olley, assigning him the task of designing a chassis for the car.
June 2
General Motors executives are formally presented with Harley Earl's proposal for a 2-seater sports car. The project is code-named "Opel Sports Car". General Motors president Harlow Curtice and Chevrolet general manager Thomas Keating approve production of a sports car prototype for the 1953 Motorama. (approved in April)
June 12
Chevrolet's director of research and development, Maurice Olley, creates a sketch for the new sports car frame, showing locations of radiator, wheels, and body mount points.
July
Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole, and Harry Barr set to work on an all-new Chevrolet V-8 engine.
(month unknown)
The EX-122 is named the Corvette, after a fast type of Royal Navy warship, by Myron Scott, of Chevrolet Public Relations. Strong consideration had been given to naming the car "Corvair". (name picked from a dictionary) (Myron Scott was an employee of Campbell-Ewald, Chevrolet's advertising agency) (Harley Earl chose the name)
September 27
General Motors first begins officially using the name Corvette for its new sports car.
1953
January 9
General Motors first begins using the name "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined.
January 17
The prototype Chevrolet Corvette "Dream Car" is displayed at the GM Motorama show at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The car is seen by about four million show visitors.
March 23
The Chevrolet plant in St. Louis is notified that they would be expected to deal with long-term volume production of the Corvette from the 1954 model onward.
March 27
General Motors Corporation applies with the US Patent and Trademark office for a trademark on "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined.
April
In Ashtabula, Ohio, Robert Morrison forms The Molded Fiber Glass Body Company to meet the US$4 million order for 12,300 Corvette bodies.
May 1
Zora Arkus-Duntov starts work at Chevrolet as assistant staff engineer to Maurice Olley in Research and Development.
May
The first Corvette advertisement appears.
June
Chevrolet begins production of the Corvette on a tiny assembly line in Flint, Michigan.
June 20
Chevrolet introduces the Corvette.
June 30
The first production Corvette rolls off the assembly line at Chevrolet Plant Number 35, near Flint, Michigan. Sticker price: just over US$3000. Assembly line worker Tony Kleiber has the honor of driving the first Corvette off the assembly line.
(month unknown)
Zora Arkus-Duntov is appointed director of High Performance Vehicle Design and Development.
July
Zora Arkus-Duntov begins working on the Corvette.
September 1
General Motors Corporation trademark application for "CORVETTE" in stylized script with all letters joined is registered.
September 29
The automotive press get their hands on a Corvette for test and review, as the Corvette is officially released. Eight Corvettes are made available to the press at the Milford Proving Grounds. (September 27) (September 28)
October 5
Maurice Olley outlines his goals for the Corvette in a paper presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers.
(month unknown)
The windshield washer assembly is changed from foot-operated to vaccuum operated.
December 16
Zora Arkus-Duntov writes a memo to Chevrolet Chief Engineer Maurice Olley, on the subject of "Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders and Chevrolet". He writes of the importance of the V8 engine, and getting high performance parts out to the public. (month unknown)
Ed Cole tests his 265 cubic inch V-8 engine in the ex-Motorama prototype Corvette.
December 24
Production of 1953 Corvettes ends, with 300 built in total.
December
Corvette production moves from Flint, Michigan, to a General Motors Assembly Division plant on Union Boulevard, in St. Louis, Missouri.
December 29
Production of 1954 model Corvettes begins, in St. Louis.
December 31
By the end of the year, 15 1954 model Corvettes have been built.
1954
(month unknown)
Engine starters are changed from two-field to four field coils.
Routing of brake and fuel lines is changed from outside of to inside the chassis frame.
Radios installed in Corvettes now have 640-kilocycle and 1240-kilocycle Conelrad national defence emergency markings.
The dual interior hood release levers are changed to a single release lever which activated both hood latches.
February 20
The Ford Motor Company shows the Thunderbird two-seat convertible in Detroit. The Thunderbird is a major part of General Motors' decision to continue production of the Corvette. (September)
March
A new styling model is completed, proposing minor cosmetic changes to the existing body. But due to poor sales, the styling changes are abandoned.
(month unknown)
The camshaft on the 1954 Corvette is changed, increasing horsepower from 150 to 155.
Exhaust extensions are changed to be longer, with built-in baffles.
Air cleaner inlets are changed from "bullet" style to a dual "pot" apparatus.
McCulloch completes building their first supercharged 1953 Corvette. The system reportedly boosts horsepower from 87 to 117.
June
Corvette production at the St. Louis facility reaches 50 cars per day.
(month unknown)
Joe Pike founds the first Corvette club.
Chevrolet decides to change its VIP-only marketing policy for the Corvette, making it available for sale to the general public.
October 15
Zora Arkus-Duntov writes a memo to Ed Cole and Maurice Olley, noting that the Corvette appeared to be a failure. He suggests that to drop the Corvette would be an admission of failure. He urges General Motors not to cancel the car, but to create a separate department within Chevrolet to oversee Corvette development. (October 14)
(month unknown)
Tubeless tires begin to be used on 1954 model Corvettes.
December
Production of the 1954 model Corvette ends, with 3265 made, and 1076 unsold. (3640 made, over 1100 unsold)
Chevrolet begins offering a small block 265-ci V8 engine as a Corvette option, for US$135. (September)
1955
(month unknown)
The Biscayne prototype is displayed at the General Motors Motorama show. The Biscayne employed many Corvette design ideas, and is presented to management as a new direction for the Corvette.
January
Production of 1955 model Corvettes begins.
January 29
General Motors first begins officially using a circular emblem with "CHEVROLET" at top, "Corvette" at bottom, and flags in center.
(month unknown)
Brake lining material is changed to reduce fade and wear.
The interior rearview mirror of the 1955 model Corvette is changed, slightly larger, and allowing vertical adjustment via a thumbscrew mechanism.
Vinyl-coated fabric material is introduced for soft tops, in addition to canvas tops used previously.
February
The basic design of the 1956 model Corvette is completed.
April
The color Pennant Blue is discontinued in use on 1955 Corvettes.
April 16
A fiberglass model of the restyled Corvette is shown to Chevrolet management.
(month unknown)
The exterior paint color red is first made available to 1955 model Corvettes.
Three-speed manual transmissions are first offered in 1955 model Corvettes, only on the V8 engine model.
Zora Arkus-Dontov is made chief engineer of Corvette.
Zora Arkus-Duntov begins experimenting with suspension modifications, on a 195bhp engine.
September 9
Zora Arkus-Duntov races a disguised 1956 model Corvette with a V-8 engine at the Pike's Peak Hill climb, setting the stock car record of with a time of 17:24.05.
(month unknown)
Zora Arkus-Duntov gains Ed Cole's approval to prepare a Corvette for speed tests at Daytona in January. Zora's target speed is 150-MPH.
Chevrolet begins preparing a Corvette for running at the Daytona Speed Weeks in February.
A 3-speed manual transmission option is added to the 1955 model Corvette.
November 2
Speed tests of the current Corvette indicate that a top speed of 150-MPH is not possible with the existing engine. Zora Arkus-Duntov designs a new camshaft, to gain 35-40 horsepower.
December
A team from Chevrolet, including Zora Arkus-Duntov, takes a prototype mule Corvette to Daytona Beach, to attempt a 150-mph run.
John Fitch writes to Chevrolet chief engineer Ed Cole, suggesting he become a sports car consultant, to help develop the Corvette as a world-class sports car.
Production of 1955 model Corvettes ends.