Harley Earl
(1998 Induction)
Harley Earl is the father of the Corvette. The Corvette was his idea pure and simple. He was influenced after World War II watching Jaguars and MG’s run road-racing courses like Watkins Glen. He felt America needed its own sports car and he convinced GM to develop its own, inexpensive two-seater.
Originally code named “Project Opel”, Earl kept the Corvette program pretty much to himself. He had a special small studio with a handful of people working on it. At the time, Earl wasn’t sure which GM division ought to sell the Corvette, But he felt close to Ed Cole at Chevrolet and decided to give the “Bowtie Division” first shot. Cole was sold the first time he saw the prototype. He knew it was just what the stodgy Chevrolet division needed.
The Corvette debuted at Motorama in New York, January of 1953 and was an instant hit. Six months [...]
I know it is not a Corvette, but it is still very cool for a 4-seater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYDtt-uXc58&feature=player_embedded
After you watch that video, watch this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmxSaGskvcU
Posted by: Terry Wynn-Van Schoonhoven-Davis on the Facebook group Corvette Pal’s.
A senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership.
Taking off down the road, he floored it to 80 mph,enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left.
“Amazing,” he thought as he flew down I-85, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a state trooper behind him,lights flashing and siren blaring.
He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120.
Suddenly he thought,”What am I doing? I’m too old for this,” and pulled over to await the trooper’s arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the trooper walked up to the Corvette, looked at his watch and said, “Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a reason for speeding that I’ve never heard before, I’ll let you go.”
The old [...]
4:39pm Sep 4
Ron Palfrey asked me about Spartan Blue… So let’s talk about the color blue. and see where it takes us…..
History of the Blue Vette…..
1954 was the second year for the C1 Corvette, this was also the first year for blue. Pennant Blue was used in the 54 model year with 300 Vettes produced. 1955 was the first year for the V-8 engine in a Vintage Vette with Pennant Blue continuing with only 45 built. 1956 brought a completely new body to the classic vette, and gone was the Blue Flame Six motor. 56 was the first year for Arctic Blue with 390 produced. 1957 continued with the same body as 56, along with the Arctic Blue Corvette with 487 produced.
The 1958 Corvette was the first year for 4 head lights in a Corvette, this would continue for many years to come in the corvette. 58 C3 [...]
