Corvette Factory Show Cars, Part 1 -1958 XP-700 Corvette

The XP-700 was built on a 1958 283 Fuelie Corvette. In 1950s excess style, everything is “bigger and better”. The front was pure “custom car design” with an elongated, elliptical nose and a scoop under it. Mitchell wanted to break away from the Earl driven, big toothy grille, towards something slim and lightweight. The now-classic Dayton Knock-Off Wire Wheels were part of the effort to make the car look lighter. The Lucas spotlight headlights are moved forward and also had scoops under them. The recessed hood vents showed up on the 1963 Corvette, but with fake grille inserts, and the 1964 Corvette, sans the grilles. The front fender scoops were shorter versions of the production 1956-1957 fender scoops. Read More

Vette Videos: 2009 Press Conference Debut of the Corvette Stingray Concept Car

Every debutante has her day, that special day when she’s the bell of the ball. Corvette styling chief and lead designer of the C6 Corvette and the Corvette Stingray Concept car, Tom Peters was a proud papa on February 11,2009 when GM’s Ed Welburn debuted the Corvette Stingray Concept car at the Chicago Auto Show. Before we get into the rest of the event, let me get this out of the way in the beginning. In Spring ‘11 I had the opportunity to talk at length with Tom Peters for my Illustrated Corvette Series No. 170 2-page color special edition covering the latest and arguably the swoopiest Corvette concept car to ever wear the Corvette moniker. Tom was emphatic, “This is NOT the C7 Corvette.” Read More

Corvette Timeline Tales: July 14, 1985 – NBC Premiers Two-Hour Pilot for Steven Cannell’s New Series, “Stingray”

The NBC series “Stingray” only ran for two seasons and stared Nick Mancuso in the lead roll of “Ray.” No last name, just “Ray.” He’s kind of a Robin Hood, gritty urban “Pay it Forward” mystery man. He drives an awesome-looking black ‘65 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe with knockoff wheels, is an expert driver, a speed reader Read More


Inside Bill Mitchell’s Secret Garage – 2 VIDEOS

My monthly column in VETTE Magazine, “The Illustrated Corvette Series” is now in its 21st year. I’m in the middle of a series I’m calling, “The Corvette’s Founding Fathers” that covers the careers of Harley Earl, Ed Cole, Bill Mitchell, Zora Arkus Duntov, Larry Shinoda, and Peter Brock. Each of these men played a foundational roll in setting the pattern and personality of the Corvette. Without them, the Corvette might not have survived the 1950s. Read More


Allan “Bunky” Garonzik’s 56-Year Affair with His 1956 Corvette

In 1961 Allan “Bunky” Garonzik was what used to be called a “Go Getter!” Then one day, he saw it – a 1956 265 Corvette “For Sale”! The price; a whopping $765! That’s just $6,232 in 2017 dollars, but heck, Corvettes were WAY simpler back then. He drove the car home and swapped out the Corvette’s 265 engine for his ’55 Chevy’s 283. After all, new Corvettes in 1961 had the 283 engine, so why keep the 283 in a ’55 Chevy sedan when it belonged under the hood of his Vette? Then, to complete the first chapter of his life with his 1956 Corvette, Bunky sold the ’55 Chevy with the 265 for $500. So after a weekend’s worth of work, he was into a 1956, 283 Corvette for only $265! Read More


Corvette Timeline Tales: 10.18.67 – United Artists premieres Elvis Presley’s new film, “Clambake” featuring Elvis, pretty girls, awful songs, and the 1959 Sting Ray Racer

Corvette Timeline Tales: 10.18.67 – United Artists premieres Elvis Presley’s new film, “Clambake” featuring Elvis, pretty girls, awful songs, and the 1959 Stingray Racer by Scott Teeters Read More


Three Dudes and a 2015 Z06 – Supercar, or Not? – And the Verdict Is??? – VIDEO

In the past, Corvettes in general and even Z06 Corvette have been criticized for all sorts of things; quality, harshness, lack of sophistication, edgy handling at the limits, seats, and even seat latches. But those days are over and after expounding on the C7 Z06’s attributes – extreme horsepower and torque, incredible stiffness, daily drivability, 0-60 in less than 3-seconds, ¼-mile in under 11-seconds, and more – the conversation deteriorated into the parsing of works addressing the lofty question, “Is the Z06 a supercar?” Please! Read More