Chevrolet Aerovette Wankel
The mid-engine layout has been an obsession of Corvette engineers for decades. Between 1960 and 1977, there were around 10 fully functional Corvette prototypes with this drivetrain layout. But one in particular is more interesting than others – the 1973 Aerovette Wankel concept. The most important feature of this car was its engine, an advanced four-rotor Wankel unit with more than 400 HP. In the early ’70s, manufacturers experimented with Wankel rotary engines, looking for cheaper, more efficient alternatives to standard piston-type engines. Chevrolet realized that it retained the power level of big-block V8s with the Wankel unit but in a much lighter and higher revving package. So the green light was given for the development of the Wankel Corvette (via Top Gear).
The functional prototype was shown at the 1973 Paris Motor Show and received mixed reviews. The styling was good, and 420 HP was double the power of a regular 454 Corvette. Still, people were reluctant to the idea of a mid-engined Corvette and the zooming sound of the engine instead of the recognizable V8 rumble. After the Chevrolet realized the costs of introducing such a car, the project was scrapped. But the legend of the Wankel Corvette remains alive among Chevrolet aficionados.