Some fun Corvette history

The new mid-engine Corvette that Zora Duntov wanted was lead down a path of destruction that was done with good intentions. The boss Ed Cole wanted to promote the new Wankel engine General Motors had bought the license rights to develop in November of 1970. The engine was planned for the Chevrolet Vega an economy car. Zora knew all about the poor prospects of using a Wankel engine for his mid-engine Corvette. This was not a project Zora Duntov wanted to do. However there was still hope that a mid-engine Corvette could be built so work progressed with an innovative solution. For the Corvette combine two wankel engines that would together make about 380HP and became known as the '4 rotor' Corvette. Work on this new mid-engine Corvette design was to be complete for a introduction in Paris during October of 1973. However development problems with the Wankel design resulted in the postponement of a production date for the engine. Soon after Ed Cole retired and there were few left who favoured the Wankel engine program. There was a plan to do a conventional motor for a production version of that mid-engine design but it was felt that the compromises necessary were to great to achieve the result everyone was hoping for.

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For the public there was still opportunities to see this futuristic mid-engine Corvette design. The 4 rotor Corvette appeared at the 1975 Detroit auto show.

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Then for 1976 the old XP-882 would make another appearance but with a new name - Aerovette and a new engine. Gone was the Wankel dream replaced by the faithful Chevrolet small block now with 400 cubic inches of motivation.

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The Aerovette. Absolutely stunning!

 

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Image Unavailable, Please Login When Zora Duntov who had always been a strong proponent of a mid-engine Corvette program retired on December 31 1974 it marked the end of an era. One of the gifts he received on his retirement was a model of the 4 rotor Corvette. He claimed that the 4 rotor Corvette along with the 1957 Corvette SS were his two favourite Corvette designs.
His successor David McLellan took over January 1 1975. It was Bill Mitchell who brought back the old XP 882 Corvette and gave it a new life as the Aerovette. Dave McLellean was not a fan of the mid-engine Corvette idea but he still did a review of that program in 1979. With this review he ordered the rebuild of the old XP 895 show car so that he could drive and evaluate the mid-engine concept. The result was a car with a nice ride but that felt heavy and suffered from a cramped cockpit and a lack of storage space. He could not see the merit in the more complicated mid-engine concept and his preference was to continue development of the current Corvette front engine design. The planned next generation Corvette he envisioned would follow the long held traditional path that a Corvette had the engine in front of the driver.
However that did not stop other factions from continuing to promote the idea of more mid engine Chevrolet Corvette showcars...

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The idea of using a turbo charger to make what some considered cheap horsepower was a concept that Dave McLellan studied for the Corvette in 1978. The first Corvette turbo had a V6 engine and caught fire and burned down. The second Corvette is pictured; again featured a turbo V6 and met with limited success and there was also a L82 motor V8 version built. The third turbo Corvette with the blue graphics called 'TURBO VETTE 3' used an aluminum V8 and an AIResearch turbocharger. One interesting feature was the throttle body fuel injection (TBI). The TBI went into production on the 1982 and 1984 Corvettes with the new name 'Cross-Fire Injection'. This 1980 Corvette appeared on the show circuit as a 'design study' concept but there would be no turbo motor offered by the factory for Corvette. The turbo motor business would be left to others who would build custom turbo Corvettes to order.

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behold the Ramarro Verde a small Italian lizard that became the inspiration for a very unique Corvette...

 

In 1984 General Motors shipped over their new Corvette to Geneva Switzerland for the auto show in March that year. Some time after the show it was decided to give that particular Corvette to the Italian design studio 'Bertone' for a full custom car project. General Motors also supplied a brand new spare 1985 Corvette engine that featured some mechanical hardware improvements to. The Bertone team got to work creating the unique design features for this 1984 Corvette. For their inspiration they chose the name of a small Italian lizard native to the area "Ramarro".
The pictures below tell the story better than mere words >

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The Ramarro was completed for a debut to follow in Los Angeles > Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Interesting, for some reason I don't remember this car. Thanks for posting.

 

Did this car survive and if so was it offered in the Bertone Garage Sale?

 

I did a tour of Bertone in '09. I don't recall seeing the Ramarro, but I guess it could have been there. I did get to see the car when Bertone brought it to GM Design trying to drum up business. It was quintessential Bertone............but not much Corvette.

 

Yes the Ramarro was among the vehicles purchased by the Italian Historic Automobile and Motorcycle Club for $4.34 million dollars. This was only 61% of the original asking price. Also included was the 1976 Ferrari Rainbow plus many other interesting vehicles!

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This thread is a great red, pls keep going.

 

As jm2 noted this is fun Corvette history so going back a couple of decades the run of the straight axle Corvette was coming to an end. 1962 would be the final year for this model and Zora was always thinking about ways to improve the performance of the Corvettes. Racing the Corvettes was one way to test new ideas. The 283 cubic inch engine became available with fuel injection in 1957. This led to a series of engine improvements and also a larger displacement 327 cubic inch engine in 1962. The 1957 features the beginning of fuel injection and the 1962 Corvette features the end of that fuel injection production series. 1963 would introduce a brand new Corvette. The design of the rear clip for the 1961 and 1962 Corvette provided a preview of the new Sting Ray rear design. However there was also a big surprise in store for 1963 Corvette buyers...

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For the first time the 1963 Corvette featured a new coupe model with a unique 'split window' design. This was a second choice where previously Corvette only appeared as a convertible with a detachable fiberglass hardtop. Here the unique 1963 Corvette prototypes are put through their paces at the General Motors test track under the watchful eye of Zora Duntov >



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Corvette by the numbers gives an indication of how rare some of the option combinations were for 1962>

RPO Description Production Price
102 AM Radio, signal seeking 13,076 (89.99%) $137.75
1832 Whitewall Tires, 6.70x15 n/a $31.55
1833 Blackwall Tires, 6.70x15 nylon n/a $15.70
203 Rear Axle, 3.08:1 ratio n/a n/a
242 Positive Crankcase Ventilation n/a $5.40
276 Wheels, 15x5.5 (5) 561 (3.86%) n/a
313 Powerglide Automatic Transmission 1,532 (10.54%) $199.10
396 327ci, 340hp Engine 4,412 (30.36%) $107.60
419 Auxiliary Hardtop 8,074 (55.56%) $236.75
426 Power Windows 995 (6.85%) $59.20
441 Direct Flow Exhaust System 2,934 (20.19%) n/a
473 Power Operated Folding Top 350 (2.41%) $139.90
488 24 Gallon Fuel Tank 65 (0.45%) $118.40
582 327 cu. in. 360 hp fuel injected Engine 1,918 (13.20%) $484.20
583 327ci, 300hp Engine 3,294 (22.67%) $53.80
675 Positraction Rear Axle 14,232 (97.94%) $43.05
685 4-Speed Manual Transmission 11,318 (77.89%) $188.30
686 Metallic Brakes 2,799 (19.26%) $37.70
687 Heavy Duty Brakes and Steering 246 (1.69%) $333.60
Total Production: 14,531
Convertible: 14,531 (100.00%)

Notes: Base Corvette with 327 cu. in. 250 hp engine and three speed manual transmission: $4,038.00.

Then for 1963 the brand new Corvette also featured some new and different options. Those options were designated in a new way for 1963 Corvette orders with Chevrolet now using an alphabetical letter in front of each two digit option code. This was the first time the now famous Z06 Special Performance Equipment option code appeared as well. Also option code P48 include a set of 5 cast aluminum knock-off wheels. The cast part of the description would cause problems that stalled availability of this KO wheel option at the factory until the 1964 Corvettes came along.

1963 Corvette Options, Prices
RPO Description Production Price
898* Genuine Leather Seats 1,114 (5.18%) $80.70
941 Sebring Silver Exterior Paint 3,516 (16.34%) $80.70
A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, all windows 629 (2.92%) $16.15
A02 Soft Ray Tinted Glass, windshield 470 (2.18%) $10.80
A31 Power Windows 3,742 (17.39%) $59.20
C07 Auxiliary Hardtop (for convertible) 5,739 (26.68%) $236.75
C48 Heater and Defroster Deletion (credit) 124 (0.58%) n/a
C60 Air Conditioning 278 (1.29%) $421.80
G81 Positraction Rear Axle, all ratios 3,336 (15.51%) $43.05
G91 Special Highway Axle, 3.08:1 ratio 211 (0.98%) $2.20
J50 Power Brakes 3,336 (15.51%) $43.05
J65 Sintered Metallic Brakes 5,310 (24.68%) $37.70
L75 327 cu in. 300hp Engine 8,033 (37.34%) $53.80
L76 327 cu in. 340hp Engine 6,978 (32.44%) $107.60
L84 327 cu in. 360hp fuel injection Engine 2,610 (12.13%) $430.40
M20 4-Speed Manual Transmission 17,973 (83.54%) $188.30
M35 Powerglide Automatic Transmission 2,621 (12.18%) $199.10
N03 36 Gallon Fuel Tank (Coupe only) 63 (0.29%) $202.30
N11 Off Road Exhaust System n/a $37.70
N34 Woodgrained Plastic Steering Wheel 130 (0.60%) $16.15
N40 Power Steering 3,063 (14.24%) $75.35
P48** Cast Aluminum Knock-Off Wheels (5) n/a $322.80
P91 Blackwall Tires, 6.70x15, (nylon cord) 412 (1.92%) $15.70
P92 Whitewall Tires, 6.70x15 (rayon cord) 19,383 (90.10%) $31.55
T86 Back-up Lamps 318 (1.48%) $10.80
U65 Signal Seeking AM Radio 11,368 (52.84%) $137.75
U69 AM-FM Radio 9,178 (42.66%) $174.35
Z06*** Special Performance Equipment 199 (0.93%) $1,818.45
Total Production: 21,513
Coupe: 10,396 (48.32%)
Convertible: 10,918 (50.75%)
Z06: 199 (0.93%)

Notes: Base Corvette Coupe with 327 cu. in. 250 hp engine and three speed manual transmission: $4,252.00
Base Corvette Convertible with 327 cu. in. 250 hp engine and three speed manual transmission: $4,037.00.

 

I hadn't seen that before. Very cool stuff, thanks for posting it.

 

The 1962 Corvette was available in seven paint colors.
Colors
Code Exterior Quantity Interior Soft Top Wheels
Tuxedo Black n/a Black / Fawn / Red Black / White Black
Fawn Beige 1,851 (12.74%) Fawn / Red Black / White Black / Fawn Beige
Roman Red n/a Black / Fawn / Red Black / White Black / Red
Ermine White n/a Black / Fawn / Red Black / White Black / White
Almond Beige 820 (5.64%) Fawn / Red Black / White Black / Almond Beige
Sateen Silver n/a Black / Red Black / White Black / Silver
Honduras Maroon n/a Black / Fawn Black / White Black / Maroon



The 1963 Corvette again featured seven paint choices with some different colors for the new model year.
Colors
Code Exterior Quantity Interior Soft Top Wheels
900 Tuxedo Black n/a Black / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black
912 Silver Blue n/a Black / Dark Blue Black / White / Beige Black / Silver
916 Daytona Blue 3,475 (16.15%) Dark Blue / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black / Dark Blue
923 Riverside Red 4,612 (21.44%) Black / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black / Red
932 Saddle Tan n/a Black / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black / Saddle
936 Ermine White n/a Black / Dark Blue / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black / White
941 Sebring Silver 3,516 (16.34%) Black / Dark Blue / Red / Saddle Black / White / Beige Black / Silver
N

 

The two prototype 1963 Corvettes in the movie feature an earlier version of the cast aluminum knock off wheels. These wheels were attached with a prototype 2 ear spinner instead of the later production 3 ear spinner.
The Corvette coupe was painted a dark red that appears like the 1962 Honduras Maroon color. While the Corvette convertible featured the new for 1963 Silver Blue paint.

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This unique very early serial number 1963 Corvette prototype shows a better view of the 3 bar knock-off wheel design. This particular Corvette had an unusual history in that it was placed through General Motors of Canada to be a show car at Earls Court in the UK.
Then at the last minute the Corvette was pulled from the show and replaced with another 1963 Corvette fuel injection coupe that had been on display earlier in Turin Italy.

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The introduction for 1963 of the cast aluminum knock off wheels immediately created a problem once the cars were built using those wheels. After sitting for some period of time the porous aluminum material would allow air to escape from the tire mounted on the wheel. There were supposedly a few 1963 Corvettes built at the Corvette factory in St. Louis with the cast aluminum wheels and fitted with the 3 ear knock off spinner. However after sitting outside for some period of time at the factory it was found that these Corvettes had lost the air in their tires so the wheels were replaced with conventional wheels before shipment to the dealer.
The 1963 Corvette brochure features the wheel cover and not the knock off wheel design.

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For every rule there is an exception. Some time ago VETTE magazine did a feature story about a special 1963 Corvette coupe wearing Sebring Silver paint that was delivered with the Z06 option package and the elusive cast aluminum wheels. However this Corvette was unique in that the wheels were the earlier version design that featured a 2 ear spinner attachment. The owner documented the history of this Corvette going back to the time when workers remembered this particular Corvette arriving new at the Chevrolet dealership. Plus the unique design wheels this particular Corvette was delivered with.

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