Corvette Aerovette Wankel Concept
The mid-engine layout has been the obsession of Corvette engineers for decades. And between 1960 and 1977, there were around ten fully functional Corvette prototypes with this drivetrain layout. But one in particular is a little more interesting than the others. That is the 1973 Aerovette Wankel concept (via Motor Trend).
The most important feature of this car was the engine. It was an advanced four-rotor Wankel unit with more than 400 HP from 390 CID. In the early ’70, all manufacturers experimented with Wankel rotary engines. Looking for a cheaper, more powerful, and more efficient alternative to standard piston-type engines. Chevrolet realized that its car retained the power level of big-block V8 engines with Wankel units but in a lighter, higher-revving package.