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Chevrolet's first Corvettes were virtually handbuilt during early 1953 at Chevrolet's Customer Delivery Center in Flint, MI. Unlike any Chevrolet and very few production cars before or since, the entire outer body was made out of a revolutionary new composite material called fiberglass, selected in part because of limiting steel quotas left over from the Korean War.
Sales were few and far between in the first two years of production; GM was seriously considering shelving the project and leaving the Corvette to be little more than a footnote in automotive history had it not been for two important events. The first was the introduction in 1955 of Chevrolet's first V-8 engine, the second was the influence of a Soviet émigré in GM's engineering department, Zora Arkus-Duntov. Duntov simply took the new V-8 and backed it with a standard three-speed manual transmission. That modification, probably the single most important in the car's history, helped turn the Corvette from a two-seat curiosity into a genuine performer. As recognition for what he had done to save the Corvette, Duntov later earned the rather-inaccurate nickname "Father of the Corvette". GM's revolutionary performance car thus began to take off, with production increasing exponentially after the run of just 700 cars in 1955 to 3,467 the following year.
The performance-minded potential Corvette owner was given further incentive to take the plunge, when in 1957 the noteworthy addition of optional fuel injection came about. This new induction system first saw regular use on a gasoline engine two years prior on the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing". Corvette's fuel injection would continue onto the 327ci engines first offered in 1962 and was by far the most powerful drive train to date from GM. The 62 F/I 327 is rated at an astonishing 360 HP. It was so revered GM continued its use threw 1965 "Sting Ray" models as the highest output motor in the GM arsenal until the advent of the 396.
Featured here is a very special example of the final year of the first-generation Corvette. Sporting a three-year Concours-quality rotisserie restoration to NCRS specifications performed by two retired judges of that discipline, this factory fuel-injected 1962 Corvette shows the attention to detail that sixty years of experience can offer. The car is equipped with a numbers-matching engine and Rochester fuel-injection unit as well as its date-code correct wide-ratio aluminum T-10 transmission. Final drive utilizes a 3.36:1 posi-traction rear end. Starting with a freshly powder-coated frame, no aspect of the restoration was overlooked; from interior components, including all gauges, wonder bar radio and clock. In addition to date-coded glass and the original mechanicals, as many new-old-stock parts were employed in the recommissioning of this special automobile. The car's chrome was triple-plated to a beautiful and durable shine while stainless bright work and trim were buffed to Pebble Beach Show quality.
Ready for National showing down to its original jack and tools in the trunk, this final-year and perhaps most-appealing fuel-injected solid-axle Corvette will garner awards and appreciation alike from all fortunate enough to encounter it.
For further inquiries about this automobile click here
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Sales were few and far between in the first two years of production; GM was seriously considering shelving the project and leaving the Corvette to be little more than a footnote in automotive history had it not been for two important events. The first was the introduction in 1955 of Chevrolet's first V-8 engine, the second was the influence of a Soviet émigré in GM's engineering department, Zora Arkus-Duntov. Duntov simply took the new V-8 and backed it with a standard three-speed manual transmission. That modification, probably the single most important in the car's history, helped turn the Corvette from a two-seat curiosity into a genuine performer. As recognition for what he had done to save the Corvette, Duntov later earned the rather-inaccurate nickname "Father of the Corvette". GM's revolutionary performance car thus began to take off, with production increasing exponentially after the run of just 700 cars in 1955 to 3,467 the following year.
The performance-minded potential Corvette owner was given further incentive to take the plunge, when in 1957 the noteworthy addition of optional fuel injection came about. This new induction system first saw regular use on a gasoline engine two years prior on the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing". Corvette's fuel injection would continue onto the 327ci engines first offered in 1962 and was by far the most powerful drive train to date from GM. The 62 F/I 327 is rated at an astonishing 360 HP. It was so revered GM continued its use threw 1965 "Sting Ray" models as the highest output motor in the GM arsenal until the advent of the 396.
Featured here is a very special example of the final year of the first-generation Corvette. Sporting a three-year Concours-quality rotisserie restoration to NCRS specifications performed by two retired judges of that discipline, this factory fuel-injected 1962 Corvette shows the attention to detail that sixty years of experience can offer. The car is equipped with a numbers-matching engine and Rochester fuel-injection unit as well as its date-code correct wide-ratio aluminum T-10 transmission. Final drive utilizes a 3.36:1 posi-traction rear end. Starting with a freshly powder-coated frame, no aspect of the restoration was overlooked; from interior components, including all gauges, wonder bar radio and clock. In addition to date-coded glass and the original mechanicals, as many new-old-stock parts were employed in the recommissioning of this special automobile. The car's chrome was triple-plated to a beautiful and durable shine while stainless bright work and trim were buffed to Pebble Beach Show quality.
Ready for National showing down to its original jack and tools in the trunk, this final-year and perhaps most-appealing fuel-injected solid-axle Corvette will garner awards and appreciation alike from all fortunate enough to encounter it.
For further inquiries about this automobile click here
<< return to results
