For decades Corvette stubbornly stayed with well-proven small-block V8 engines with one camshaft in the engine block. The primitive technical layout was simple but it delivered durability, dependability, and power to Corvette owners. However, in the early ’90s, the Corvette ZR-1 arrived with an advanced LT-5 engine with 32 valves and dual camshafts to pump out a whopping 405 HP.
The Corvette holds a special record in motorsports, but not a racing machine, but rather as a pace car. So far, they have used the Corvette 14 times as a pace car for the legendary Indy 500 race. And that is more than any other vehicle, which puts the Corvette in a special place in the motorsports world.
It is amazing Chevy went from producing just 300 Corvettes in 1953, up to building over 1.5 million cars in the last 66 years. The millionth Corvette was a white C4 convertible and this extraordinary achievement makes Corvette one of the most popular sports cars they ever produced. The only other similar model is the Porsche 911, which they also produced in more than a million examples.
The C6 R debuted in 2005 and stayed in racing use until 2013, which is quite a long time for a high-tech racing machine. Chevy built the car on a Corvette Z06 base. And it featured several V8 engines with displacements varying from 5.5-liters to 7.0-liters. The Corvette C5 R was so extremely dependable and fast, it was well received by racing teams all over the world. And better yet, in 2006, this yellow beast managed to repeat history by winning the class victory at Le Mans.
After 66 years of front-engine, rear-wheel drive configurations and dozens of mid-engine prototypes, Chevrolet is finally intruding a proper 21st-century sports cars in form of the Corvette Zora. Appropriately, they named it after the legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov.
This model will feature all-new technology, a mid-mounted V8 engine, and a totally new design. Rumor has it that the engine may be a hybrid. So, expect to see it in 2020. The new C8 generation model will mark the beginning of a new era for Corvette and all its fans.
This is just about all you need to know about the legendary Chevrolet Corvette. It has had a fascinating and lengthy history in the automotive world. Which model year was your favorite? Many ‘Vette fans are looking forward to 2020 when the new model will be available, but if you can’t wait, there are plenty past models you can buy right now.