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 1966 GENERAL MOTORS CHASSIS MANUAL CHEVROLET CORVETTE CHEVELLE CHEVYII $8.95 Time Remaining: 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $11.50 |
 Corvette79 82 Windshield Wiper Motorw pulse 5044907 $80.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 25m Buy It Now for only: $80.00 |
 1977 1983 CHEVY FORD CAMARO VETTE MUSTANG++ SHOP MANUAL MOTORS BOOK $26.50 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 57m Buy It Now for only: $26.50 |
 Corvette 76 78 Windshield Wiper Motor 5044814 $80.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 26m Buy It Now for only: $80.00 |
 Exclusive General Motors LS7 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 Engine Manual 272 pages $12.50 Time Remaining: 14d 13h 6m Buy It Now for only: $12.50 |
 Corvette 70 Windshield Wiper Motor 5044758 $80.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 19m Buy It Now for only: $80.00 |
 84 96 C4 Corvette headlight with Motor RH side $199.00 Time Remaining: 1d 6m |
 ORIGINAL GM GENERAL MOTORS 1965 CHEVROLET CHEVY CORVETTE SHOP MANUAL SUPPLEMENT $19.99 Time Remaining: 23d 38m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 ORIGINAL GM GENERAL MOTORS 1964 CHEVROLET CHEVY CORVETTE SHOP MANUAL SUPPLEMENT $15.00 Time Remaining: 23d 38m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 |
 1975 General Motors Dealer Sales Brochure Corvette Chevy Pontiac Buick Olds $9.99 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 26m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
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 1962 MOTOR TREND Corvette Dodge Ramcharger Buick Wildcat Renault Ford Model A 62 $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 18m |
 1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE MOTOR TREND MAGAZINE BROCHURE DECEMBER 53 $9.99 Time Remaining: 18d 17h 35m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
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 Motor Repair Manual 1977 78 79 80 81 1982 Chevy Ford Corvette Firebird cadillac $14.99 Time Remaining: 13d 15h 44m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
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 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 1962 Motors Repair Manual Dodge Plymouth Mercury Corvette $65.00 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 33m Buy It Now for only: $65.00 |
 1966 MOTOR TREND Ford Falcon Thunderbird Corvette 427 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 66 $9.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 18m |
 1979 1985 MOTORS MANUAL CHEVY SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE CUDA VETTE MUSTANG 80 82 $29.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 1995 1998 MOTORS PROFESSIONAL MANUAL FIREBIRD CORVETTE IMPALA SS CAMARO SERVICE $49.99 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 16m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
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 1973 MOTORS ENGINE AND ELECTRIC SYSTEM MANUAL DODGE VETTE MUSTANG CHEVY SERVICE $24.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 1963 MOTOR TREND Plymouth Fury Buick Wildcat Studebaker Cadillac Corvette Dodge $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 18m |
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 1977 General Motors Dealer Sales Brochure Corvette Chevy Pontiac Buick Olds $9.99 Time Remaining: 9d 11h 29m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
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 Pontiac Buick Corvette Mercury 1955 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 Motors Repair Manual $50.00 Time Remaining: 15d 1h 2m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 manual MOTORS 1953 1962 Rambler Studebaker Ford Willys Nash Edsel Jeep corvette $19.50 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 2m Buy It Now for only: $22.50 |
 1969 1975 Motors Shop Manual CHEV FORD CAMARO CORVETTE MUSTANG CADILLAC FIREBIRD $34.99 Time Remaining: 28d 3m Buy It Now for only: $34.99 |
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 Motor 1969 75 Auto Repair Manual Cadillac Javelin Nova Corvette Amx Thunderbir $14.99 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 59m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
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 1958 MOTOR TREND Oldsmobile Dynamic Super 88 98 Dodge D500 CHP Special Corvette $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 27m |
 Corvette 87 96 LS Power Window Motor Regulator Original $150.00 Time Remaining: 21h 18m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 65 1966 1971 67 68 69 70 Chev Ford Olds Camaro Vette Mustang Motors Shop Manual $36.49 Time Remaining: 23d 20h 8m Buy It Now for only: $36.49 |
 1982 MOTOR AUTO REPAIR MANUAL 82 FORD CHEVY CORVETTE $9.95 Time Remaining: 29d 11h 46m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 Corvette 77 82 L S Power Window Motor $79.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 43m Buy It Now for only: $79.00 |
 1958 MOTORS RATE PARTS SHOP MANUAL CHEV FORD VETTE BUICK MERC OLDS T BIRD CAD $0.99 Time Remaining: 4d 15h 6m |
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 1969 1975 MOTORS MANUAL CHEVY SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE CUDA VETTE MUSTANG 72 71 $29.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 Corvette 76 78 Windshield Wiper Motor 5044814CORE $50.00 Time Remaining: 17d 16h 27m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Corvette 87 96 RS Power Window Motor Regulator Original $150.00 Time Remaining: 13d 18h 13m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 1973 1978 MOTORS MANUAL FIREBIRD VETTE MUSTANG SERVICE 74 75 76 77 FORD DODGE GM $29.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 57m |
 Corvette 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Heater Motor Metal $89.95 Time Remaining: 25d 1h 26m Buy It Now for only: $89.95 |
 Motor Repair Manual 1975 76 77 78 79 1980 Corvette T Bird Mustang chevy ford $19.99 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 31m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 |
 1974 MOTORS MANUAL FIREBIRD DODGE VETTE MUSTANG SERVICE $29.99 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 12m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 1966 1972 MOTORS MANUAL CHEVY SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE CUDA VETTE MUSTANG SHOP $29.99 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 28m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 Corvette 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 Heater Motor Metal $89.95 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 31m Buy It Now for only: $89.95 |
 1959 MOTOR TREND Oldsmobile Super 88 Chrysler Windsor Corvette Mercedes Diesel $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 19m |
 1980 Corvette Shop Manual Real OEM book from General Motors $33.96 Time Remaining: 17d 22h 39m Buy It Now for only: $33.96 |
 1971 1977 MOTORS MANUAL CHEVY SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE CUDA VETTE MUSTANG 72 75 $29.99 Time Remaining: 6d 17h 31m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 1962 1968 MOTORS MANUAL CORVETTE MUSTANG SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE 63 64 65 66 67 $29.99 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 28m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 1969 1976 MOTORS MANUAL CHEVY SERVICE BOOK FORD DODGE CUDA VETTE MUSTANG 70 71 $29.99 Time Remaining: 1d 21h 28m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
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 1949 1972 Chevrolet Radio Parts Catalog camaro corvette more general motors book $45.00 Time Remaining: 13d 10h 44m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 1992 GENERAL MOTORS PARTS STANDARD PARTS CATALOG CAMARO CORVETTE FIREBIRD $2.99 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 35m |
 Corvette 68 76 L S Power Window Motor $85.00 Time Remaining: 6d 18h 59m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
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 Corvette 84 86E RS Power Window Motor RegulatorOriginal $150.00 Time Remaining: 24d 15h 10m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 Corvette 84 86E LS Power Window Motor RegulatorOriginal $150.00 Time Remaining: 8d 17h 15m Buy It Now for only: $150.00 |
 1964 MOTOR TREND Chevrolet Corvette El Camino Olds Starfire 442 Sunbeam Datsun $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 56m |
 Corvette 88 96 Headlight Motor GEAR ONLY New $25.00 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 27m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
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 1965 MOTOR TREND Lincoln Continental Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Dodge Monaco $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 23h 56m |
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 MOTOR TREND OCT 1987 THE NEW CORVETTE NICE $9.95 Time Remaining: 13h 26m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
 MOTOR TREND SEPT 1996 1997 SNEAK PEEK BEST VETTE YET $9.95 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 31m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 |
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The History of the Corvette
During the post-war area, the design for the Corvette began in 1951 after General Motors' chief stylist Harley Earl visits a Watkins Glen sports car race and becomes impressed with the foreign sports cars that watched in the race. His decision to create an American sports car, later to become known as the Corvette, earned him the name, "Father of the Corvette."
A prototype was created in 1952, made of fiberglass with balsa wood floors, both of which the Corvette is still known for today. The light weight of the body was created to increase speed. Now that the car was taking shape, it needed a name. Myron Scott, then a member of the General Motors' Public Relations department came up with "Corvette" which means Royal Navy Warship, representing strength, speed, and maneuverability.
With great anticipation, the Corvette first made its debut during the 1953 New York Motorama Show at the famous Walforf Astoria hotel ballroom. Little did the public know that General Motors' employees were scrambling to replace the car's logo just a few hours before the show. The original design sported a checkered racing flag crossed by a patriotic American flag. A member of the General Motors' legal staff realized at the last minute that the American flag is copyright protected from commercial use and it had to be pulled quick. The Chevrolet "fleur de lis" was put in its place and no one ever knew the difference.
Despite the minor bump, the public responded well to the car and production began in a small, thrown together, assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, rolling off 300 Corvettes within a six month time frame. The sticker price at the time was only $3,000.
To keep costs down and to increase production time, all 300 Corvettes were created exactly the same. They were all Polo White with Sportsman Red vinyl interior and a black top. Most of the cars, surprisingly, were sold to celebrities and other highly visible personalities like town mayors and other public officials. This strategy was done as a marketing technique to get this sport car into the public's eye.
Unfortunately, the cars launch didn't take off so well. People were skeptical since it was pricey for its time and somewhat impractical being that it was a two-seater. Sales didn't take off all that well and numerous times through the car's history, it almost was yanked from General Motors line up. It was the people behind the car, though, that really fought for its existence, and thankfully, won.
Zora Arkus-Duntov was one of those people. He was hired early on in the life of the Corvette and become the Corvette's Chief Engineer and known to some as the godfather of the Corvette. His experience and improvements to the car really improved its image. The car was a labor of love to him his entire life even after he retired in 1974. His ashes now remain on display at the National Corvette Museum, a final wish before he died, that's how much he loved the car.
With Duntov's influence and opening up sales to the general public, the car's popularity began to take off. So much so, that production moved to St. Louis, MO, the second of only three places the Corvette would made in its history.
Seven generations or body styles later, Corvettes are now made in Bowling Green, KY, known as the "Home of the Corvette." Between the Assembly Plant and The National Corvette Museum across the street, the two have created a network of Corvette lovers, helping to increase sales and the car's popularity. It looks the American Sports Car is here to stay.
About the Author
Neil Lemons represents Corvette Gear USA, a leading retailer of officially licensed C5 & C6 leather accessories. For more information on Corvette merchandise and Corvette gift ideas visit http://www.corvettegearusa.com.
