Dive into the world of America's first sports car with Hagerty's extensive guide to the famous marque. Read about the car's history, browse vintage advertisements and brochures, and learn how to spot individual years in our huge photo gallery.
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of America's oldest and most revered automotive nameplates… and more than 55 years later, it's not about to slow down.
That's right. The Corvette has been around longer than the Bel Air, the Biscayne, the Malibu, the Chevette, the Corvair, the Camaro, the Nova, and even the Impala. A two-seat sports car from Chevrolet, one of America's largest purveyors of family transportation? Who'd have thought?
But ever since that fateful day when America got an eyeful of a sexy windswept sports car at the New York Waldorf-Astoria ballroom at the 1953 General Motors Motorama, we've been hooked. More or less. Today, close to 1.4 million Corvettes have been produced, making it the world's most popular sports car.
Offered originally with a straight-six engine, a two-speed automatic transmission and a solid-axle rear end, the Corvette didn't inspire seasoned sports car people, even though it was a respectable performer for its day.
It’s been 57 years since America first got a glimpse of the Corvette at the New York Waldorf-Astoria ballroom during the 1953 General Motors...