15 Of The Greatest Corvettes Of All-Time
The American classic: The Chevrolet Corvette. No other car model stirs as much emotion in car enthusiast as the Corvette Stingray. Whether you love them or hate them, I guarantee you have an opinion about the car. For most it’s the 1963 and the 1966 that hold a special place in their hearts. The styling was unique and the power was fierce. Larry Shinoda did a couple of sketches of the ‘63 after the success of the 62′ and his work is cemented as some of the most forward car styling of all-time. Scroll through the list and see why these cars are the most talked about in car circles around the world.
1963 Split Window Corvette Stingray
Photo:Superchevy
The 1963 Corvette Split Window instantly became a fan favorite with its futuristic styling and growling fuel-injected 327 small-block and it’s fully independent suspension. More than anything, the clean lines are what have given this version of the Corvette the staying power as one of the greatest looking cars of all time.
Photo:Superchevy
1953 Corvette Convertible Roadster
Photo:Golf
The classic…the original. It was at the famous Motorama car show in New York City that Chevrolet first introduced what would become its legacy. Soon, the Corvette became the car that everyone wanted in their driveways. With its all-fiberglass body and convertible tops…It was the stuff that made kids dream bigger. Today those kids are grown car collectors who pay upwards of $200,000 for one of these amazing vehicles.
Photo:Gmpowerhouse
1967 Corvette Sting Ray L88
Photo:BarettJackson
The 67′ Stingray is the most in demand besides a clean 1966. Why is this one considered the crown jewel to so many? Well 67′ was the last model of the second generation and came loaded to the 9’s. Doused in shiney chrome and sporting a meaty 427/390 HP V-8, M20 4-speed and 3.36 Positraction rear end , this model has been tops on Corvette lovers list for decades. This 1967 L88 is extremely rare as only 20 were produced. These 20 are among the most desirable Corvettes to have ever been built. The one you see here sold for a whopping $3,800,000.
Photo:BarettJackson
1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray 427/425 “Big Tank” Coupe
Photo:Sothebys
This beauty featured a 425 bhp, 427 cu. in. L72 V-8 engine with Holley four-barrel carburetor but that wasn’t the main reason why people fell in love with the 66′. The Corvettes were well loved because they were easy to drive, REALLY fast and were great for daily drivers or for the weekends at the country club.The Corvettes of the 60’s set the standard for style and power.
Photo:Sothebys
Photo:Sothebys
1961 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible
Photo:Sothebys
Known to some collectors as “Ducktails,” this clean version of the Corvette came with a 430 bhp, 376 cu. in. fuel-injected overhead valve V-8 engine, six-speed manual transmission.This stylish design-forward Vette has become a model which is always in demand for collectors. This one pictured here was part of the Dan Davis collection that sold in 2013 for $217,500.
Photo:Sothebys
1955 Corvette Roadster
Photo:BarettJackson
This year may not be one on your radar but this is considered the first “real” Corvette. Why? Because they shipped it with a throaty V8 engine under the hood and a respectable 195Hp.
Photo:BarettJackson
2014 Corvette Stingray
Photo:HNM
Chevrolet gave us a look at the Premiere Edition Corvette Stingray in 2014 as part of their 60th Anniversary of the iconic car. 500 were made and it’s zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds via its 460-horsepower V8 engine had everyone standing in admiration of the legacy of the Corvette.
Photo:Golf
1970 Corvette LT1
Photo:tomhenryracing
This blaze of glory was the last great Vette out of the 60’s and into 1970. Armed with a 370 small block, and a throaty 6000 RPM, this model was infact the last great Corvette out of that golden era. Soon the model became a punchline to car enthusiasts as emissions and gas shortages took its toll on the muscle car. by the mid 1970’s the model was all but left for dead.
1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 427/435 COUPE
Photo:BarettJackson
This jewel was only one of 624 1968 Corvettes to be equipped with the special-ordered L89 package that added aluminum heads to the L71 427 cid big block. The latter part of the glory decade for Corvettes, the 68′ maintained the style that people loved as well as the muscle that defined the brand.
Photo:BarettJackson
1962 Corvette Stingray
Photo:Photo:ddspecialtycars
In 1962, the Chevrolet 283 cu in Small-Block got a makeover and was bumped up to 327 cu in. In standard form it produced 250 bhp. The signature bubble dome roof from this year was a fan favorite to say the least.
Photo:ddspecialtycars
1969 Corvette Stingray
Photo:Motera
This model year was based loosely on the “Mako Shark” design by Shinoda. The lines, the gills…this version in the convertible had the masses swooning as the Corvette was going as strong as ever. Little did they know this was the end of an era as the model would soon be challenged by a gas crisis, poor styling and lower HP in the mid 1970’s.
Photo:Brightonmotorsports
1960 Corvette
Photo:corvettestory
Relatively unchanged from the 59′, this years model came in a wide variety of colors and featured both 270 hp and 290 hp engines and sold over 10,000 units for the first time ever.
Photo:BarettJackson
1978 Corvette Coupe
Photo:Justcorvettes
Not known for its styling in the late 1970’s, this model was the one many people look back on an think of when talking about Corvettes. Maybe because “Corvette Summer” was fresh in their minds. If you haven’t seen it, you’re lucky. It stunk as bad as a turd on a sidewalk in summer.
Photo:Justcorvettes
1957 Corvette “Smokey Yunick” Coupe
This restored 1957 Corvette is a rare bird. A fuel injected Corvette that belonged to “Smokey” Yunick. In 1957, Chevrolet built just 1,040 fuelie Corvettes, 664 four-speed Corvettes, 51 RPO 684 Corvettes, and 43 airbox Corvettes. This version came equipped with the first heavy duty braking system, which included larger diameter finned drums and Fuel injection. Amazing.
The “Mako Shark” Concept Car
Photo:Corvettesnl
The Mako Shark never made production, but Shinodas concept played a role in many of the 1960 era Corvettes. Take a look at this quote and images about the car.
Photo:Corvettesnl
Photo:Corvettesnl
“In 1962 the design work on the new 1963 Sting Ray was already done. GM wanted something to promote the new car and build some excitement. Larry Shinoda did a couple of sketches of the ‘63 with the back clip of the XP-700 (double-bubble roof) added. At first it was about as incongruous as a guy in a tuxedo wearing a pair of tennis shoes but they worked on it a little more until it met Bill Mitchell’s approval. This was the original Shark, or XP-755.”
Photo:Corvettesnl
