Corvette History & Trivia Page
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Before there were Corvettes. | Prior to start of production. |
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Early Production. | First year of production 1953. |
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Adding some color. | 1954 Production Year. |
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I could have had a V8. | 1955 Production Year. |
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Lost in the Fifties. | 1956 to 1959. |
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Swinging into the sixties. | 1961 and 1962. |
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The Mid-Years. | 1963 to 1967. |
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Fins to the left, fins to the right - The Sharks | 1968 to 1982. |
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The TPI (Tweaked People's Interest) Years. | 1983 to 1996. |
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The C5 Era | 1997 to 2004. |
Before there were Corvettes...
The concept of what was to later become the Corvette was begun in 1951 in Harley Earl's Special Projects workshop.
Bob McLean designed the original general layout for a GM sports car.
The project car originally was called 'The Opel'.
While Myron Scott, a photographer with General Motors, is officially credited with naming the Corvette the truth is that the name did not actually originate with him. An advertising agency for General Motors approached the professor of marketing at the University of Alabama in 1952 and challenged his classes to come up with an innovative name for a sleek new sports car to premiere the following year. A whopping $25 savings bond would be the prize for the one who came up with the best name. A young man from Ensley, Alabama by the name of Al Propst just back from the Korean War had become familiar with a highly maneuverable warship known as a corvette and thought the name would be perfect for the new sports car. He submitted the name along with an essay and won the coveted prize but he was also required to sign a form relinquishing all rights to the name.
The Corvette name is taken from a group of small and fast warships know as the 'Corvette Class' of ships.
The Jaguar XK120 is said to be the original inspiration for the first Corvette design.
The Corvette was the first production car with a true wrap-around windshield. Interestingly enough it was also the last.
While Corvettes were not the first car to be made with a fiberglass body they were the first regular production car to use molded (instead of hand laid) fiberglass.
The original plans to manufacture Corvette bodies of sheet Aluminum never made it to production because of an Aluminum strike.
Corvette (as a concept car) first made it's appearance as part of the Autorama / Motorama Show on January 17, 1953 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.
In the beginning GM had planned a full line of body styles for the Corvette including a swept roof hatch back coupe, a sports station wagon and of course the convertible.
While all 3 body styles appeared in the Autorama show only the convertible ever made it to production. The concept car hatch back coupe which traveled with the Autorama show was one of the most stylish cars of it's day but it was felt to radical for the market at that time.
The current whereabouts of these original Autorama show cars is unknown and they may have be destroyed.
The front emblem of the original Autorama Corvettes featured an American flag but it was discovered that it was against the law to use a representation of the flag in this way and the emblem was changed.
The first actual Corvette (serial number E53F001001) ever manufactured was literally rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953 ( it didn't run).
The June 30th date was to become know as the Corvette's unofficial birthday.
The first civilian to drive a production Corvette was Susan Coleman - Susan was 16 at the time.
All 1953 Corvettes were assembled by hand and are nearly identical to the original Motorama concept car in appearance. One subtle difference is the hash mark on the front fenders; the Motorama cars had this hash pointing upward but actual production Corvettes have the hash facing down.
Where are the first 2 Corvettes ever produced ? The lowest serial numbered Corvette existing today is #3. No records exist to indicate that the first 2 Corvettes were either sold to the public or stored / destroyed by GM.
The early production Corvettes came off the assembly line without an outside rear view mirror.
The first couple of dozen Corvettes were delivered without full wheel cover and only had the small center caps found on the passenger cars.
The beginnings of the assembly line production did not provide for the cars to be started and the cars where actually 'rolled off' the assembly line by hand.
All 1953 Corvettes were manufacture in Flint Michigan and although production moved in 1954 to St. Louis Missouri; Flint is still know as the birthplace of the Corvette.
Except for the body and the interior the early Corvettes were essentially a stock Chevrolet with almost all the same frame components and running gear.
The only options available of the 53 Corvette were the radio and the heater although these really weren't options and all '53 Corvettes had both installed at the factory.
Based on the overwhelming favorable response to the Motorama Corvette; Oldsmobile created a Corvette spin-off named the F-85 Starfire. The car was powered by a 324 CI V8 but due to slow initial sales of the Corvette the F-85 Starfire never made it to production.
The car was originally intended to be delivered with a 3 speed manual transmission with the Powerglide automatic being an option but for reasons unexplained all early Corvettes came with the automatic.
1953 Corvettes were produced in one color combination only Polo White with Red interior. Polo White was to remain the base color of all Corvette until 1957.
Although the Chevrolet V8 engine was already in testing by GM by the time of production all 53 Corvette came with the six - denoted as the Blue Flame Six.
It is reported that one car (A gold 1953 with wires wheels) was remanufactured for the Autorama show scheduled to tour Canada in 1953/1954 and was equipped with the Chevy V8 265 CI engine.
In spite of the overwhelming response to the Autorama cars; the sales of the 1953 Corvette were very poor. Of the 314 (some claim 300) cars produced only 183 were sold during the model year.
It is believed that sales were low for several reasons. The car with the 150 HP six was under-powered for a sports car. The lack of options including the lack of the fast back coupe model and the high price.
The price for a 1953 Corvette was $3,513 and the more powerful Jaguar XK120 was less expensive than the Corvette.
It is reported that sales were so bad that several of the 1953 Corvette were given to movie stars in the hope of increasing public sales.
The only color top available on the 1953 Corvette was Black.
As of 1997 only 255 of the original 314 1953 Corvettes were accounted for - were are the rest?
One was remanufactured for the Autorama Canadian tour and it is reported that one was given to the Oldsmobile design staff for their F-85 project but that still leaves about 57 unaccounted for - have you looked in Grandpa's barn ?
The base price for the 1954 Corvette was $2,774; which was the one and only time in Corvette history that the price was less than the prior year. (Base price in 1953 was $3,498)
For the 1954 model year production was relocated to a new plant in St. Louis.
The St. Louis plant was designed to produce 10,000 Corvettes per year; yet only 3,640 were built in 1954.
By the end of production in 1954 over a third of the 54 Corvettes were still sitting on the GM lot or in Dealerships - things looked pretty grim.
A new camshaft in 1954 raised the horsepower from 150 to 155.
GM had learned from the 1953 model year and now offered at least a few options (you know - like directional signals - yes they were optional - but all cars were manufactured with them).
In 1954 you could actually purchase a Corvette in a color other than Polo White.
GM now offered the Corvette in Black, Blue and Red and you could also get the interior in Beige instead of Red.
Black was the least popular color with only 4 of the 3,640 cars manufactured painted black.
Once again the Automatic was supposed to be an option but all the 1954 Corvettes were delivered with the Powerglide transmission.
Still no V8 engine available and the 1954 Corvette was except for the colors pretty much the same as the 1953.
One of the important factors which may have saved the Corvette from being written off as a failed experiment was that in February of 1954 Ford exhibited it's proto-type Thunderbird in Detroit - it had a V8!
The long promised V8 made it's first debut in a 1954 Corvette in September prototype but no 1954 Corvette were ever delivered with the V8.
1955 brought some real changes to the Corvette.
We actually may have to thank Ford for getting the GM brass off the dime.
Originally GM had not planned to produce the 1955 Corvette with the 'still in testing' Chevrolet V8 and there were some early 1955 Corvettes manufactured with the same old grossly underpowered (155 HP) and overweight Blue Flame Six.
In 1955 Ford introduced the Thunderbird another 2 seater American made sports car equipped with a V8 engine.
GM took the competition seriously and finally after years in testing the V8 engine was made available in the Corvette.
The 265 CI 195 HP V8 gave the Corvette some punch and for the first time people were beginning to consider the Corvette as a true sports car.
It is interesting to note that the new 265 CI V8 engine was actually 30 odd pounds lighter than the previous 235 CI blue flame six. More horsepower and less weight made a good combination.
The 1955 Corvette was the lightest Corvette ever to be produced with a weight of only 2,805 lbs when equiped with the V8.
The "Corvette" scripted on the front fenders for the 1955 changed from 54 and had an enlarged "V" to denote the new V8.
No records are available to indicate if the few six cylinder '55 Corvettes had this enlarged "V" side script.
The exterior color Black was dropped as an paint option.
GM had to not only match the V8 of the Thunderbird but had to offer more.
They did this by finally offering the manual transmission (as standard equipment) and making the automatic a $178 option - most '55 Corvettes were still delivered with the automatic - exact counts are not available.
Reportedly one of the most unusual Corvettes in 1955 was the base model with the six cylinder engine combined with the standard 3 speed manual transmission.
During some point in the production year of 1955 dealers were instructed that they should no longer take orders for Corvettes with the 6 cylinder engine. While the V8 was originally listed as an option in reality the customers had little choice.
The combination of the new more powerful V8 and the 3 speed manual transmission in the Corvette began to attract the people in the sports car market.
Zora Duntov set a new record at the Dayton "Measured Mile" at just over 150 MPH driving a prototype 1955 V8 Corvette.
In spite of the improvements made to the 1955 Corvette it was to be the lowest production year since 1953 and until 1983 with only 700 units manufactured.
In 1956 Corvette got it's first face lift and lost the tail fins as well as the 'eggcrate' headlight grills leading to what many though of as a much cleaner appearance.
Wow - windows that actually roll-up instead of snapping into place !
The first factory hardtops were produced in 1956.
Tow-tone paint first appeared in 1956 and Black came back strong.
Option code 469 was for the 225HP Engine with 2 4BBL carbs and 4 out of 5 - 1956 Corvettes were deleived with this option installed.
Did you know that in 1956 some racers considered the Corvette to be unlucky because the toothed grill had '13' vertical bars?
In spite of these racers opinion the toothed grill was to become a trademark which lasted until 1961.
In 1956 the optional engines had 9 fins on the valve covers. The 9 fin covers would be gradually phased out in 1957 and by 1958 all fined covers had only 7 fins.
The only external difference between the 1956 and 1957 models was the thumb screw on the dash mounted rear view mirror. The 1956 had the thumb screw the 1957 did not.
In 1957 Corvette became the first mass produced American car to break the 1 horse power per cubic inch barrier with the 283CI / 283HP engine.
In 1957 the limited slip differential (posi-traction) was first offered as an option. Three different ratio's were available.
The 4 speed manual transmission was introduced as an option in 1957.
Fuel injection was first made available in 1957.
1957 was the last year for the tradional Corvette color of Polo White.
Black was the top color choice for 1957 with 2,189 units built as compared to 4 in 1954.
1958 was the first year with four headlamps. The front and rear bumper assemblies also were changed from the 1957 model.
In 1958 the one and only 'Rectractable Hardtop' Corvette concept car was developed by GM stylists. Reportedly this car still exists in the collection of a private owner.
1958 was the last year for the tachometer to keep track of engine revolutions. In reality not all 1958 Corvettes were equipped with this feature and many people contend that 1957 was the last full year for the engine revolution counter.
1958 was the first Corvette to feature a passenger side grab rail in the dashboard which quickly became know as the "sissy bar". (I've grabbed a few in my time.)
Prior to 1958 the only Acrylic lacquer paint used on Corvettes was the Inca Silver color.
For the very first time in 1958 Corvettes could be ordered with factory installed seat belts. As early as 1956 dealers had been installing seat belts but they were not available from the factory.
Turquoise soft tops were available only one year - 1959.
The most popular exterior color in 1959 was Snowcrest White.
In 1959 a new option appeared - sunvisors (then called sun-shades).
1959 marked the last year for the use of cotton ply tires on the Corvettes, as of 1960 the standard tires became Nylon belted.
1960 was the first year production was to go over 10,000.
The 1960 Corvette was the first American production car to provide sway bars both front and rear.
In 1961 the rear end was redesigned for the first time since 1956 and was to remain essentially the same until 1968.
1961 was the last year for wide whitewall tires.
The 1961 Corvette was the first to produce over 300 HP from the fuel injected 283 CI V8. The engine (RPO 354) produced 315 horsepower.
In 61 the round Corvette nose emblem disappeared in favor of the word Corvette spelled out in individual letters.
The chrome tooth grill; long a trademark of the Corvette, was replaced by wire mesh with the 1961 model.
1961 Was the last year for optional two tone paint.
1961 was the first year of the trademark quad taillights.
The base price of a new 1961 Corvette (in 1961) was $3,934.00 (I'll take 3 at that price).
1961 was the last year for the 283CI engine they start in 1962 with the 327CI engine.
1962 was the last of the solid rear axle models and also the last Corvette for many years to have an actual trunk.
The power assisted convertible top would disappear after 1962.
1962 saw the introduction of the 327CI engine which was to remain the mainstay of the Corvette over the majority of the next decade.
1962 top horsepower rating with the 327CI engine reached 360.
In 1962 stiffer springs were offered as an option which did much to help improve handling.
The Corvette for '63 for the first time since 1953 was built on a redesigned frame and with full independent rear suspension. This frame / suspension combination proved to be so effective that it remained essentially unchanged until 1984.
In 1963 the buyers were offered a choice of body styles for the first time either coupe or convertible.
Production 1963 Corvettes were based in large part on the Mitchell designed Sting Ray racer denoted the XP-720.
As of 1963 new options such as power steering, power brakes, air conditioning and leather seats became available.
The roof panels of the '63 Vette Coupes were built using wrong dimensions and all roof panels were too small. This left a slight gap that can be found by the door pillars. Most; but not all, cars had this corrected either at the factory or the delership.
Leather seats were first available in 1963 but not in all colors.
In 1963 powers, steering, power brakes and air conditioning were first offered as a factory installed option.
In 1963 the weight distribution changed to 48/52 (originally 53/47) making for a much better ride and significantly better handling.
1963 had wider front brake drums than any prior Corvette.
1963 was the first year for hidden headlights - these were electrically operated.
1963 was the first year for the optional 36 gallon long distance fuel tank.
1963 was the one and only year for the split window coupe, in 1964 the window became one solid piece. Interestingly many '63 coupe owners converted the cars to the one piece rear window.
The Grand Sport Corvettes were first produced in 1963 and appeared to be essential the same as the production Corvettes. In reality they shared no body panels as the firberglass of the Grand Sport Corvettes was less than half the thickness and weight.
The fenders on the Grand Sport Corvette were also wider than on the stock production Corvette to provide for the 8.25X15 tires. (Production Corvettes of the time were using 6.70X15 tires.)
1963 also offered the Z06 high performance option to buyers approx. 199 were built.
In 1964 the small block developed 1.15 BHP (brake horse power) per cubic inch.
In 1964 the roof vents which first appeared on the 1963 coupe became a reality with the blower motor located below the driver side rear fender. In reality only the driver side vent was functional.
There were 4 engine variations of the 327 engine available in 1964.
Aluminum knock off wheels cost $322 (set of 5) in 1964. Although these wheels were listed as an option in 1963 no records exist to verify that any '63 Corvettes were ever delivered with these wheels.
In 1965 they finally put more rubber to the road and increased the stock tire size to 7.75X15 from 6.70X15. This 16% increase was noticeable and improved driving / handling characteristics.
Factory installed side mounted exhaust systems first appeared in 1965 and 759 were ordered.
The first of the 'Big Blocks' appeared in 1965 with the 396. The 427 was developed first but due to a GM restrictions to 400 cubic inches the 396 was used in '65.
1965 was the one and only year for the 396ci 425hp engine option.
Nassau Blue was the most popular exterior color in 1965.
1965 was the first year to have the 'power bulge' or big block hood.
1965 was the last year for fuel injection of the small block engines.
1965 was the first year for four wheel disk brakes although buyers could choose drum brakes.
The least ordered option in 1966 was the M22 4 speed standard transmission.
The 396 Turbo-Jet side emblem was only used in 1965.
1966 was the last year for the Aluminum knock off wheels to be replaced in 1967 by bolt ons.
1966 was the first year for headrests and shoulder harnesses.
In 1966 Holley Carburetors became standard equipment for Corvettes.
In 1967 the parking brake handle was moved from under the dash to between the seats.
1967 offered 3 different exterior blue colors - Elkhardt Blue, Lynndale Blue and Marina Blue.
1967 offer RPO (regular production option) L88 a 427 engine producing in excees of 500 HP.
In 1967 RPO L88 was rated by GM at a very conservation 435 HP (who were they kidding ?).
RPO L88 was not intended for street use.
Reportedly only 20 1967 Corvettes were ordered with RPO L88 - strangley enough more than that exist today - where did they come from ?
1967 had 3 different hood designs. Externally you could tell the difference between the small block and big block hood but inside the engine compartment the big block L88 hood was different from the standard big block hood.
In February & March of 1967 there was a problem with the small block hood mold and many small blocks delivered during this time came through with big block hoods.
1967 was the first year that vinyl covered hardtops were available. The vinyl was available in black, white or saddle tan.
1967 was the one and only year where the GM "Mark of Excellence" plate was affixed to the inside driver's door jamb.
The 1967 model year was the first to ship the build sheet (AKA Tank Sticker) attached to the top of the gas tank.
1967 was the last year for the big tank (36 gallon) option which first appeared in 1963.
The least ordered exterior color in 1967 was black.
There were 4,209 Corvettes ordered in 1967 with side exhaust.
There were 14,436 convertibles ordered in 1967.
The speed warning indicator first appeared in 1967 and was to last only until 1969.
The special production 1967 LeMans Corvette was driven from the airport to the track (try that today !).
Fins to the left, fins to the right.... The Sharks..
The 1968 Corvette grew seven inches over the 1967 model.
Production of the 1968 Corvette model began in August of 1967.
1968 was the first Corvette to use a front air dam and a rear spoiler.
1968 was the first year for a factory installed alarm system.
1968 saw the beginning of the emission control equipment.
1968 was possibly the worst quality production year ever due at least in part to Cheverolt policy to treat the Corvette like any other production car - this had a very negative reaction from the buying public and by the end of the year higher quality and model independence were restored.
1968 almost saw a serious GM produced competitor to the Corvette. The Pontiac Motor Division (headed up at the time by John DeLorean) had designed a two seater convertible sports car named the Banshee - GM brass stepped in to kill the project before it went into production.
In 1968 the big block intake manifold actually sunk into the lifter valley to provide hood clearence.
In 1968 the L-88 kept the high-rise manifold as it received a higher hood.
1968 was the first year for hidden windshield wipers.
The 1968 Corvette was not a "String Ray" the name was to return in 1969 as a single word.
1968 was the first year the AM/FM radio became optional.
1968 was also the first year the radio was actually stereo - prior to 1968 Corvettes only had one speaker.
The center bar in the T-Tops was not part of the original design, however because of body twist it had to be added in production cars.
1969 saw the introduction of the 350CI small block.
In 1969 (through 1973) RPO#P02 was for full wheel covers.
In 1969 the ignition moved to the steering column as part of an anti-theft effort (didn't help much).
1969 introduced the ZL-1 - an all aluminum engine - sales of this option were very poor.
The ZL-1 engine option cost an additional $4, 718.35 in 1969.
1970 saw the introduction of the 454 big block and the LT1 small block which produced an amazing 370 HP.
1970 was the first year of the ZR1 performance option (not 1990 as so many seem to think) which made use of the LT1 370 HP small block engine.
1971 a special purpose big block engine was available which produced 425HP.
The fiberoptic warning lights first introduced in 1968 disappeared after 1971.
1971 was the last year you could order a Corvette with the Muncie M-22 (Rock Crusher) transmission.
Pewter Silver was an exterior color for 1972 only.
The two differences between the 1971 and the 1972 was the '72 had amber front turning lamps and chrome plating on the egg-crate grills.
1972 was the only year A/C was available with the LT1 engine option.
The big block engine in 1972 do not have a horsepower rating sticker on the air cleaner.
1972 was the first year to measure horsepower as 'net' rather than gross.
1972 was the last year to have chrome bumper at both ends of the car.
1973 the 'soft nose' first appeared to replace the chrome bumper.
In 1973 they added steel beams inside the doors as a side impact safety feature.
1973 offered aluminum wheels as an option but these wheels failed to maintain air pressure and were discontinued for the next 3 years.
1973 production is missing 4,000 serial numbers. The last serial number is 34,464 yet only 30,464 units were built. Strange ?
1974 saw the rear bumper go the way of the front and the 'rubber' bumper of 1974 was made in two pieces. It is the only year where the rear bumper was made in two seperate pieces.
1974 was the last year for true dual exhaust.
1974 was the last year of the Big Block engine.
1974 was the last year Corvette to run on 'leaded' gas.
1974 was the first year of the Gymkhana Suspension Package (RPO - FE7).
1975 was the first year for the HEI distribitor.
1975 was the last year for the convertible until 1986.
1975 was the first year of the catalytic converter on Corvettes.
Only 4,629 convertibles were built in 1975.
1976, due to tougher emission standards, California residents could not purchase a Corvette with the L82 engine option.
In 1976 the most common exterior color was white.
1977 was the last year for the notched roof line.
In 1977 Corvette total production reached 1/2 million vehicles.
1977 saw the introduction of the 8 Track Player (optional) (state of the Art stuff back then)
In 1978 Corvette celebrated it's 25th Anniversary.
Two special models were produced in celebration of the 25th Anniversary - the Silver Anniversary Paint Package and the Pace Car package.
1978 was the first Corvette since 1967 with a fastback rear window.
1978 was the first year where 'moon-roofs' (glass t-tops) became available.
The Silver Anniversary paint scheme in 1978 cost an additional $399.00.
1979 saw the return of the Crossed Flags Emblem to the nose and the sides of the Corvette.
1979 was the highest production year in Corvette history with 53,807 units built.
1979 L82 Engines came equipped with a dual snorkel air intake which increased the horsepower from 220 to 225.
1979 California Corvettes were delivered with a 305 cubic inch engine.
1979 the fuel tank was changed to 24 gallons.
1980 (305 cubic inch) California Corvettes were the first to be computer controlled.
1980 was the first Corvette were the speedo had an 85MPH top speed.
1981 all Corvette became computer equiped (thanks California!).
1981 there were no engine options avaliable (thanks again California!). Although Chevrolet did not offer any motor options in 1981, they did put the "L82" motor in some 1981 Corvettes. At least two, one of which was on a dealer's lot with the window sticker clearly designating the motor RPO# as "L82". The dealer advised that it was a "late order 1980 L82" request that Chevrolet sent it through as a 1981 car. Also, some 1981s probably had L82s as Chevrolet depleted their stock of those motors. They are rare but they do exist!
1981 Corvettes had two cooling fans.
1981 Corvettes were produced in both Bowling Green and St. Louis.
1981 St. Louis Corvettes were painted with Lacquer but enamel was used on the cars from Bowling Green.
1982 was the first time in 17 years the Corvette came with fuel injection.
The fuel injection for 1982 was 'cross fire injection' (manifold) injection NOT tuned port.
Cross Fire Injection was used only 2 years 1982 and 1984 and in 1985 it was replaced with tuned port.
1982 was the first year since 1955 you could not order a standard shift transmission (no idea why).
1982 was the first year to offer a pop-up rear hatch window but only on the Collector's Edition.
The 1982 Collectors Edition re-introduced the bolt on wheel similiar to (but wider then) the 1967 wheel.
There were 6,759 1982 Collector Edition Corvettes manufactured.
1982 was the last year you could order an 8 track player (anybody still have any of those?)
The TPI (Tweaked People's Interest) years.
The year that wasn't - 1983 only 43 Corvette were built but there were so many quality control problems it was decided to halt product.
No 1983 Corvettes were ever released for public sale but rumor has it that two were shipped to England (maybe to Lotus ?) as test vehicles.
By the time the production problems were corrected GM decided to bring the car out as an 84 model.
Among many other problem was the TPI and the 84 production Corvettes were manufactured with the cross-fire injection system found on the 82 Corvettes.
Reportedly all 1983 Corvettes were destroyed except for one which is on display in the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky.
The 1984 Corvette did have the first traverse single leaf 'plastic' (believe to be carbon fiber) spring suspension.
1985 saw the L98 engine with an increase in horsepower to 230 (prior year was 205).
1985 introduced the Bosch TPI (Tuned Port Injection) which aside from and increase in performance and horsepower also improved the fuel economy.
1985 was the last year you could order the factory CB Radio.
1986 saw the a Yellow Corvette Convertible as the Indy Pace Care.
All 1986 Convertibles regardless of color were designated as Indy Pace cars and were delived with the pace car decal package.
In 1986 we find the first official record of 20 Corvetes being sent to England for conversion into what was to become the LT5 / ZR1.
In 1986 you could order the Malcolm Konner Special Edition with a 4 speed manual transmission.
The least popular exterior color for 1986 production was Copper Metallic with only a reported 4 units being ordered.
In 1986 (and again in 1987) if you order exterior color Medium Brown Metallic for your convertible you could only get a Tan (aka Saddle) colored top.
In 1987 you could order a Corvette from the factory without an engine came.
1987 was the first year you could order 6 way power seats (both driver & passenger sides)
1987 option RPO B2K would cost you $19,995 for the Callaway Twin-Turbo of course you still had to by the car.
1988 marked the 35th anniversary of Corvette.
There were 2,050 35th Anniversary Edition Corvettes built - all were Coupes all were White with white wheels, leather interior and special emblems.
In 1988 GM built 56 race prepared Corvettes for the SCCA Corvette Challenge Series - all of the cars were street-legal.
Today these race prepared SCCA Corvettes reside entirely in private collections.
1988 saw the introduction of the unidirectional 17" wheel.
In 1989 for the first time the base price of the Corvette exceeded $30,000.
1989 saw the start of the production of the ZR-1 but of the 80 ZR-1 Corvettes built in 89 none were sold to the public - were did the go ?
1989 saw the introduction of the FX3 adjustable suspension option.
There were 9,749 Convertibles delivered in 1989.
In 1990 the ZR-1 was finally available to the public.
1990 ZR-1 Rear body panels are wider that other Corvettes of the same year.
1990 was the first year you could order an in-dash CD player.
All ZR-1 were equiped with the LT-5 engines which produced 375 horse power.
GM did not manufacture the ZR-1 engines - they were built by Mercury Marine.
1991 was the last year for the Callaway twin turbo option due to the advent of the ZR-1 which was actually less expensive.
1992 (July 2nd) marks the production of the one millionth Corvette - it was a white convertible.
1992 saw the re-introduction of the LT1 small block engine as the 300 horsepower motor.
1993 was the 40th Anniversary and all 40th Anniversary Special Edition models were Rudby Red inside and out.
In 1993 the ZR-1 horsepower rose to 405.
For the first time in 1993 the Corvette came with different tire sizes front to rear.
1994 The Corvette was first produced with dual air bags.
1995 was the last production year of the ZR-1 only 448 units were produced.
1996 marked the end of the 4th generation Corvette.
This milestone was denoted by two special cars; the Sebring Silver "Collectors Edition" (production of 5,412 units) and the Admiral Blue "Grand Sport" (production 1,000 units).
In 1996 only 190 Grand Sport Corvettes were Convertibles.
In 1996 the Grand Sport option for Coupes was $3,250.00 while the same option for Convertibles was only $2,880.00 (all ways wondered about that).
The 1996 LT4 (330HP) engine option could only be ordered with the ZF 6 speed manual transmission.
The center stripe of the 1996 Grand Sport models widens very slightly as it goes back on the car.
1997 - the overall length of the C5 became 179.6 inches.
The gas door was moved from the rear of the car to the driver's side rear fender in 1997.
In 1997, 1998 and 1999 the first production Corvettes were always Torch Red in color.
Starting in 1997 and continuing to 1999 Corvettes were not available in Yellow (guess they didn't want them to be confused with taxis).
In 1998 they produced 1,163 Pace Car Replicas.
The least ordered exterior color in 1998 was Aztec Gold.
1999 saw the introduction of the Fixed Roof Coupe a body style which would later be used as the basis for the Z06 Production.
The Z06 introduce in 2001 came with a new power plant know as the LS6.
5,773 Z06 Models were produced in 2001.
In 2001 if you ordered your Corvette with the option of RPO#R8C for $490.00 there was nothing different on the vehicle then if you hadn't ordered it. R8C was for Corvette Museum pickup (was it worth it?).