A Corvette is a small but agile and very efficient warship. No wonder Chevrolet chose this name for its sporty model in 1953 in order to revive its brand image. Yes, you read that right: the Corvette is probably older than most of you (and even older than me, good for me). It is surely this impressive longevity that has made it one of the most famous cars in the world!
C1 and C2, first generations
The Chevrolet Corvette was first unveiled in early 1953 at the legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Inspired by British sports cars, its body was made of fiberglass and its engine could develop up to 150 horsepower. Today, that’s not particularly amazing. That’s about the equivalent of a Subaru Impreza, far from being the most powerful model on the market, but for its time the Corvette was rather average in its category.
This slight weakness didn’t last long, however. The Corvette quickly became a performance beast, offering 315 horsepower in the early 1960s. That’s more than double! In 1963, the second generation of the model was launched and with it the Stingray name that remains associated with Chevrolet to this day. Smaller and more curved, its look was inspired by that of a shark. At the end of the 60’s, it was replaced by the C3, the one that I think has left the biggest mark.
1970-1995 in a Chevrolet Corvette
This third generation, which lasted until 1982, represents the peak of the vintage Corvette. Always more powerful, its original V8 engine could develop 370 horsepower and its LS6 version up to 425. In terms of looks, it retains the improvements made to the C2 while adding a slightly more stylish touch. Personally, it’s this version of the Corvette that comes to mind when I think of this classic vehicle!
The first turning point towards the model you can buy today is surely the C4 generation, a real entry into modernity. Its V8 engine was less powerful, admittedly only 205 horsepower, but it’s its completely redesigned silhouette that earns it a place in this article. Its aggressive lines and distinctive headlights are easily recognizable and are clearly the basis of today’s design.
The Corvette today
Between 1996 and 2020, three more generations of the mythical sports car were produced. I guess you get the idea, these are the C5, C6 and C7 versions. In terms of style, they remain similar to the C4, but it’s a whole different story when it comes to performance! When they were released, the C5 offered 345 horsepower, the C6 up to 400 horsepower and the C7 more than 455! It was at this time that the Corvette went from being a symbol of youthful enthusiasm to a more refined and nostalgic vehicle.
Of course, the model still has a lot of power and continues to be available in all sorts of flavors, some of which are more suited to the track than to the highway! Don’t let its age and legendary status fool you, it is still actively under development. The latest generation of the C8 will hit the market in 2020, and earlier this year, we even learned that an electric version will soon be available!
As you may have guessed, a vehicle with this much power needs to be equipped with the right tires! Michelin Pilot Sport or Continental Extremecontact DWS06 are good examples. Sports car tires are often a little more expensive, but the difference is worth it. They have especially great traction and are designed to hold up, even at high speeds. That makes riding in a Corvette even more enjoyable!
