Diecast Corvette
Corvettes are one of the most well-known American- made performance vehicles. First built by General Motors in 1953, this eye-catching sports car is top not only in style but in speed and handling.
Corvettes come in either the 2-door convertible or coupe models and so far, there have been six generations of these sleek sports cars.
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The Corvette was named after a small fighting ship of the same name and was created to compete against the popularity of the performance cars of the European market. Because steel was expensive after the war, the first Corvette models were made of fiberglass, which was a revolutionary product. Even though this made the first models lighter-weight, it was still quite underpowered compared to its European counterparts.
Sales were dismal until the advent of the V8 engine (Chevrolet's first) paired with a manual three-speed transmission. This first generation Corvette is often referred to as the C1.
Chevrolet Corvette C1
The legacy of the C1 spanned the years of 1953 to 1962. Only 300 of the 1953 model year was produced so it is the most valuable.
The next major change after the V8 engine in 1955, was a new body design in 1956. Included in this design were the options of power windows and a convertible top which was operated hydraulically.
1957 saw optional fuel injection, four speed manual transmission and suspension and brakes that were more heavy duty.
In 1958, the body was revamped again with exterior chrome being added. Because of this, it was the heaviest of the C1's.
Chevrolet Corvette C2
The second generation of Corvettes was from 1963 to 1967 and saw the creation of the Corvette Sting Ray. The 1963 coupe model had the distinctive split rear window and independent rear suspension. In 1967, a new engine was built for the Corvette - the L-88. It was reputed that the output for this model was 550 hp, but had officially only been rated at 430 hp. Because only twenty of these engines were put into the 1967 model, it can fetch up to a million dollars at auction.
Chevrolet Corvette C3
The C3 generation lasted 13 years between 1968 and 1982 and contains some of the most recognized models. This generation is also known as the "shark."
The big power of the previous Corvette models declined in 1972 and bottomed-out in 1975, in part due to new controls in emissions, changes to unleaded fuel & catalytic converters.
Changes to style were minor and subtle during the time of the C3. In 1974, the first Corvette was made without any chrome. In 1975, the convertible was produced for the last time until 1986.
The 1978 25th anniversary edition was the first used by Indy as a pace car. The most units were produced of this model than any other, only to be surpassed by the 1997 model.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
The fourth generation of Corvette lasted from 1983 to 1996. The 1984 model year saw the first major overhaul of suspension, chassis and body changes since 1963 and the focus became on how the vehicle handled.
With the return of the convertible in 1986, it became the second Indy Pace Car.
The 35th anniversary edition of Corvette was produced in 1988 and is recognizable with their white interiors, exteriors and wheels.
In 1992, a 300 horsepower engine was a welcome change from the prior L98 250 hp engine. This year also saw the introduction of traction control.
The final year of production of the C4 saw special models including the Collectors Edition (all painted silver with choice of red, black or silver interior) and the Grand Sport (1000 produced all in blue with a white center stripe with two red hood marks above the front black five spoke wheels).
Chevrolet Corvette C5
The C5 generation began in 1997 and ended in 2004. The move of the transmission to the rear of the car improved this model drastically over the C4. 1997 produced only coupes but the convertible was brought back in 1998.
The 50th anniversary of the Corvette was celebrated in 2003 to much fanfare and included special factory tours, over 10,000 restored Corvettes, as well as several race and concept cars.
Chevrolet Corvette C6
The sixth and most current generation of the Corvette started in 2005. This model year brought about major changes to the suspension and bodywork including larger passenger seating. It was also made shorter and narrower to try to appeal to the European market.
The Z06 model has impressive performance numbers and was selected by Car and Driver magazine in March 2007 as winner of a comparison test over Porsche and Lotus. It was also the pace car for the Indy and Daytona 500's.
With such a long history of building a great American performance car, a Diecast Corvette collection would be great for all American automobile diecast collectors.
