IN THE CHARLES NEARBURG MOTORSPORTS GALLERY
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EXHIBITION ABSTRACT
In the 1950s, with the American economy booming, sports cars became increasingly popular. Americans with disposable income were buying quick and nimble cars from foreign manufacturers like MG, Ferrari, and Porsche. Many were campaigned in amateur road races, a fast-growing pastime. In 1953 Chevrolet released the first sports car from a large American manufacturer: the Corvette. It would become an icon both on the street and the track, earning the nickname “America’s Sports Car.” However, the first Corvettes did not have the performance to match their looks. It would take a Russian engineer named Zora Arkus-Duntov to give the car the speed and handling to rival its European counterparts. To increase sales, Arkus-Duntov knew it needed to race, and it needed to win. Starting on a beach in Daytona in 1956, where it set a new American speed mark, it did just that. After an Automobile Manufacturers Association racing ban in 1957 in response to a tragic accident at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, Chevrolet could not officially support any racing efforts. But, Arkus-Duntov and his engineering team found backdoor ways to assist private owners who wanted to race Corvettes. And many did. The Corvette found success in America and overseas, where it was often the sole entrant from an American manufacturer racing in major events. In 1999 a new factory-backed racing team, Corvette Racing, was founded. It has gone on to win at Le Mans nine times and Daytona four times, in addition to producing ten championships in the American Le Mans series and five in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. America’s Sports Car has become America’s Race Car.
1953 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C1 #211
ENGINE: 4.3-liter V-8
TOP SPEED: 125 mph (est.)
HORSEPOWER: 195 (est.)
The first Corvettes did not have the performance that the public expected from a sports car. The straight-six engine made only 150 horsepower, and the two-speed automatic transmission did little to help. In 1955, in order to enhance its reputation, Chevrolet loaned two first-generation C1s, this car and a 1955, to NASCAR, which was still in its early stages. The cars saw few victories, but their appearance on a track at least made them seem legitimate. In 1956 both cars received new V-8s and were sent to the Daytona speed trials where they held their own but were outshone by three Corvettes with updated 1956 bodies.
COLLECTION OF ROBERT M. DAVIDSON
2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R
ENGINE: 5.5-liter V-8
TOP SPEED: 183 mph (est.)
HORSEPOWER: 575
The C7.R was again developed alongside its road legal Corvette counterpart. It is the last front-engined Corvette race car and was developed by General Motors and Pratt & Miller with carbon-fiber bodywork over an aluminum monocoque from the production Corvette Z06. This car accumulated ten top-five finishes and helped Corvette Racing win the endurance triple crown in 2015 with class victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring. An accident in qualifying at the 24 Hours of Le Mans meant it did not start, but its stablemate C7.R was victorious in the LMGTE Pro class.
COLLECTION OF TOM MUELLER
1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE GRAND SPORT #004
ENGINE: 6.2-liter V-8
TOP SPEED: N/A
HORSEPOWER: 485
In 1962 Zora Arkus-Duntov began work on a secret project he hoped would result in victory at Sebring and Le Mans, a dedicated lightweight race car in the guise of a C2 Corvette. To skirt GM’s racing ban, 125 cars were planned to be built and sold to private teams. Aluminum was used wherever possible including in the chassis, which was 93 pounds lighter than stock. Bonded to it was a single-layer fiberglass body. After a mere five cars were completed, GM executives learned of the project and shut it down. The Grand Sports were sold and in private hands proved to be formidable racers. This car, chassis 004, was the most successful in competition.
COURTESY OF MILES COLLIER COLLECTIONS AT REVS INSTITUTE
