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Another Engine Instead of the V8
The mid-engine layout has been the obsession of the Corvette engineers for decades. Between 1960 and 1977, there were around 10 fully functional Corvette prototypes with that drivetrain layout. They presented a functional prototype at the 1973 Paris Motor Show, which they received with mixed reviews.
The styling was attractive, and 420 HP was double the power of a regular 454 Corvette. But people were reluctant to accept the idea of a mid-engined Corvette with a zooming sound of the engine instead of a recognizable V8 rumble. After Chevrolet realized the costs of introducing such a car, they scrapped the project.