The History of Corvettes

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. It is built today at the GM manufacturing center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was the first all-American sports car built by an American car manufacturer.

The Corvette is rich in history. It’s also rich in nostalgia,meaning, and hope for many dreamers who are in live with the classic American muscle car. There are a lot of different types of Corvette Clubs one that fascinates me is the Corvette Restorer clubs. Thousands of Americans spend their every waking hour working on their corvettes.

To touch briefly on the Corvette and it’s history you have to remember the era of the 1950’s. I’m to young to remember so I had to ask around. We weren’t in such a hurry then and simplicity was key. The growth of the European luxury sports car was beginning to grow in America and one man had a vision to begin The American Sportscar. His name was Harley Earl. He worked for General Motors.

Originally the Corvette was named the EX-122, that was the design prototype name given by early designers when working on the project. Before the name was finally picked by Harley Earl it was suggested they name it The Corvair. But Harley selected Corvette, naming it after a fast type of British Royal Navy Ship.

The “corvette ship” was born out of dire need at the beginning of World War Two for something to fill the gap until the larger destroyers could be brought on line. The design that was used was an untested one based on a whaling ship. So a lighweight ship named the corvette ultimately became famous for being the American sports car.

In 1954 GM starts selling Corvettes to the general public. By the 1970’s the Corvette had solidified itself as The benchmark in American Sports Cars. Something it still holds on to until today.