Budlight
Bots, Bureaucrats, Administrators
529
edits
Difference between revisions of "Chevrolet Corvette C2"
m
Robot: Automated text replacement (-{{(fact|sia|update|citations\smissing|linkfarm|wiktionarypar|wikiquote|wiktionary|sisterlinks|rewrite|timefact|pov\||primarysources|orphan|contradict|future\sautomobile|otheruse|commons|portal|unreferenced|refimpr
m (1 revision) |
m (Robot: Automated text replacement (-{{(fact|sia|update|citations\smissing|linkfarm|wiktionarypar|wikiquote|wiktionary|sisterlinks|rewrite|timefact|pov\||primarysources|orphan|contradict|future\sautomobile|otheruse|commons|portal|unreferenced|refimpr) |
||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
1963 would see the introduction of the new '''Corvette Sting Ray''' [[coupé]] with its distinctive split rear window and fake [[hood vents]] as well as an [[independent rear suspension]]. The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns. Because they made the design too busy, the hood vents were also cut. Power for 1963 was at 360 hp (272 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964. | 1963 would see the introduction of the new '''Corvette Sting Ray''' [[coupé]] with its distinctive split rear window and fake [[hood vents]] as well as an [[independent rear suspension]]. The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns. Because they made the design too busy, the hood vents were also cut. Power for 1963 was at 360 hp (272 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964. | ||
Four-wheel [[disc brake]]s were introduced in 1965, as well as a "[[big-block|Big Block]]" engine option: the [[GM Big-Block engine#396|396 in³]] (6.5 L) [[V8 engine|V8]]. Side exhaust pipes appeared on the 1965 Sting Ray. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger [[GM Big-Block engine#427|427 in³]] (7 L) [[V8]] version of the "Big Block," creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. 1967 saw an L88 version of the 427 introduced, which was rated at 430 hp (321 kW), although unofficial estimates | Four-wheel [[disc brake]]s were introduced in 1965, as well as a "[[big-block|Big Block]]" engine option: the [[GM Big-Block engine#396|396 in³]] (6.5 L) [[V8 engine|V8]]. Side exhaust pipes appeared on the 1965 Sting Ray. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger [[GM Big-Block engine#427|427 in³]] (7 L) [[V8]] version of the "Big Block," creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. 1967 saw an L88 version of the 427 introduced, which was rated at 430 hp (321 kW), although unofficial estimates place the actual output at 550 hp (410 kW) or more. Only twenty such engines were placed in the 1967 Corvette, and the cars can fetch US$600,000 or more at auction today. From 1967-1969, the 1282 ft³/min (605 L/s) Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or [[Tri-Power]], was available on the 427. The 1967 model was originally intended to debut the [[Chevrolet Corvette C3|C3]] generation Corvette, however due to engineering delays and possibly to avoid internal competition with the new [[Chevrolet Camaro|Camaro]] ponycar, the C3 was pushed back a year until 1968; as such, the C2 carried over for an additional model year. Other early options available on the C2 included AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (1963), leather upholstery (1963), telescopic wheel (1965), head rests, presumably to prevent whiplash (1966). | ||
The 1965 introduction of the 425 hp 396 c.i. "Big Block" was ultimately the harbinger of doom for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396/425 hp option cost $292.70 whereas the 327/375 hp "fuelie" option cost $538.00; few people could find a way to justify spending $245 more and receiving {{convert|50|hp|abbr=on}} less. When only 771 "fuelie" cars were built in 1965, Chevrolet discontinued offering fuel injection on the Corvette. It was 18 years until fuel injection returned. | The 1965 introduction of the 425 hp 396 c.i. "Big Block" was ultimately the harbinger of doom for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396/425 hp option cost $292.70 whereas the 327/375 hp "fuelie" option cost $538.00; few people could find a way to justify spending $245 more and receiving {{convert|50|hp|abbr=on}} less. When only 771 "fuelie" cars were built in 1965, Chevrolet discontinued offering fuel injection on the Corvette. It was 18 years until fuel injection returned. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
==Grand Sport== | ==Grand Sport== | ||
[[Image:1963 Corvette Grand Sport.JPG|thumb|right|250px|1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport raced by Bob Bondurant]] | [[Image:1963 Corvette Grand Sport.JPG|thumb|right|250px|1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport raced by Bob Bondurant]] | ||
In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov initiated a program to produce a lightweight version based on a prototype that mirrored the new 1963 Corvette.<ref> Friedman and Paddock 1989, p. 16.</ref> Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the [[Shelby Cobra]], Duntov's program included plans to build 125 Grand Sport Corvettes to make them eligible for international Grand Touring races. After the GM executives learned of the secret project, the program was stopped, and only five cars were built. All five cars have survived and are in private collections. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built, not because of what they accomplished, but because of what might have been. | In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov initiated a program to produce a lightweight version based on a prototype that mirrored the new 1963 Corvette.<ref> Friedman and Paddock 1989, p. 16.</ref> Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the [[Shelby Cobra]], Duntov's program included plans to build 125 Grand Sport Corvettes to make them eligible for international Grand Touring races. After the GM executives learned of the secret project, the program was stopped, and only five cars were built. All five cars have survived and are in private collections. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built, not because of what they accomplished, but because of what might have been. | ||
The cars were driven by famed contemporary race drivers such as [[Roger Penske]], [[A.J. Foyt]], [[Jim Hall (race car driver)|Jim Hall]], and Dick Guldstrand among others. The Grand Sports, however, were never fully developed; poor aerodynamics caused high speed handling problems that were alleviated by a number of modifications but never completely solved. [[Dick Thompson]] was the first driver to win a race in the Grand Sport 004. He won a 1963 [[Sports Car Club of America]] race at [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] on [[August 24]], [[1963]]. <ref>Friedman and Paddock 1989, p. 36.</ref> | The cars were driven by famed contemporary race drivers such as [[Roger Penske]], [[A.J. Foyt]], [[Jim Hall (race car driver)|Jim Hall]], and Dick Guldstrand among others. The Grand Sports, however, were never fully developed; poor aerodynamics caused high speed handling problems that were alleviated by a number of modifications but never completely solved. [[Dick Thompson]] was the first driver to win a race in the Grand Sport 004. He won a 1963 [[Sports Car Club of America]] race at [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] on [[August 24]], [[1963]]. <ref>Friedman and Paddock 1989, p. 36.</ref> | ||