The highlight of the General Motors Motorama at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City on January 17, 1953 was the EX-122 prototype concept vehicle. The outer body was made out of a then-revolutionary, experimental glass fiber reinforced plastic material (purely as an expedient to get the job done quickly, in order to get a car rolling for chassis development work).
The Corvette was rushed into production for its debut model year to capitalize on the enthusiastic public reaction to the pre-production show car and just six-months later, Chevrolet introduced the new sports car on June 30, 1953, late in the model year. You could order any color you wanted, as long as it was Polo White.
Designers were actually concentrating body design on a steel body for the projected production of 10,000 units during the 1954 model year. It was some time later that management realized the practicality of fabricating reinforced plastic body parts for automobiles on a large scale and decided to manufacture the car in this material for production quantities.
Only 300 units were produced and each car was hand-built on a makeshift assembly line that was installed in an old truck plant in Flint, Michigan. Techniques evolved during the manufacturing cycle, so that each car is slightly different.
To keep costs down, GM mandated off-the-shelf mechanical components, and used the chassis and suspension design from the 1949-1953 Chevrolet passenger vehicles. So, underneath the new body material were standard components from Chevrolet's regular car line, including a rigid "solid-axle" rear end supported by longitudinal leaf springs for suspension and drum brakes.
Engineers used the 235 cu. in. "Blue Flame" inline six-cylinder engine, but increased the standard 136 hp output to 150 hp with; a higher-compression ratio, three Carter side-draft carburetors, mechanical lifters, and a higher-lift camshaft, that were exclusive to the Corvette. Because there was currently no manual transmission available to Chevrolet rated to handle 150 horsepower, a two-speed Powerglide automatic was used.
Unfortunately, expectations for the new model were largely unfulfilled. The quality of the fiberglass body as well as its fit and finish was lacking and was not fitted with roll-up windows. Although the engine's output was increased, performance of the car was decidedly "lackluster" and without a manual transmission, it was not what sports car enthusiasts expected. Reviews were mixed and sales fell far short of expectations.
The Corvette was rushed into production for its debut model year to capitalize on the enthusiastic public reaction to the pre-production show car and just six-months later, Chevrolet introduced the new sports car on June 30, 1953, late in the model year. You could order any color you wanted, as long as it was Polo White.
Designers were actually concentrating body design on a steel body for the projected production of 10,000 units during the 1954 model year. It was some time later that management realized the practicality of fabricating reinforced plastic body parts for automobiles on a large scale and decided to manufacture the car in this material for production quantities.
Only 300 units were produced and each car was hand-built on a makeshift assembly line that was installed in an old truck plant in Flint, Michigan. Techniques evolved during the manufacturing cycle, so that each car is slightly different.
To keep costs down, GM mandated off-the-shelf mechanical components, and used the chassis and suspension design from the 1949-1953 Chevrolet passenger vehicles. So, underneath the new body material were standard components from Chevrolet's regular car line, including a rigid "solid-axle" rear end supported by longitudinal leaf springs for suspension and drum brakes.
Engineers used the 235 cu. in. "Blue Flame" inline six-cylinder engine, but increased the standard 136 hp output to 150 hp with; a higher-compression ratio, three Carter side-draft carburetors, mechanical lifters, and a higher-lift camshaft, that were exclusive to the Corvette. Because there was currently no manual transmission available to Chevrolet rated to handle 150 horsepower, a two-speed Powerglide automatic was used.
Unfortunately, expectations for the new model were largely unfulfilled. The quality of the fiberglass body as well as its fit and finish was lacking and was not fitted with roll-up windows. Although the engine's output was increased, performance of the car was decidedly "lackluster" and without a manual transmission, it was not what sports car enthusiasts expected. Reviews were mixed and sales fell far short of expectations.
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