18. Chevrolet Astro II
Even though Chevrolet never called this concept the Corvette, everybody at the 1968 New York Auto Show knew it was a study of the next generation of America’s favorite sports car. In those days, Zora Arkus Duntov, a Chevrolet engineer, and Bill Mitchell, the head of GM design lobbied hard for the Corvette to go mid-engine. They knew it could achieve a better weight distribution and balance to improve its performance.
The Astro II was one of the first in a long line of mid-engine Corvette concepts and for a while, it looked like Chevrolet would produce it. The concept was a fully functional prototype with a 390 HP big-block V8 engine they placed behind the passengers. It powered the rear wheels and gave the Astro II a convincing performance.