Corvette Timeline Tales: August 20, 1954 – Chevrolet races 1953 Corvette at a NASCAR-sanctioned Raleigh Speedway.

Published on August 23, 2015August 23, 2015 by Scott

The Corvette was a race car almost from the very beginning!

5A-Oldest-Corvette-Racer-1953 Yes, these were the first Chevrolet-built Corvette race cars. They don’t look familiar because in this promotion photograph the cars had yet to be decorated. The young man to the left and in the back is Bill France, Jr. in 1953 Corvette VIN #211 and the man on the right and in front is Joe Hawkins in 1955 Corvette VIN #1399. The names of the bathing beauties are not known. Back in the NASCAR’s early days they had a “Sports Car Series,” sometimes called the “International Class” that ran as support races for the Grand National races.

Terry Michaelis, owner of ProTeam Corvette has fully restored the 1953 version and meticulously researched the two cars, stitching together the history of these two forgotten Corvette racecars. Back in the day, working under the direction of three-time Indy 500 winner, Mauri Rose and Chevrolet chief engineer, Ed Cole, the Chevrolet Engineering Department did an admirable job turning the struggling Corvette into a racer. Continue reading “

Corvette Timeline Tales: August 20, 1954 – Chevrolet races 1953 Corvette at a NASCAR-sanctioned Raleigh Speedway.” →

What if other manufacturers had created their version of 1953 Chevrolet Corvette?

Published on August 20, 2015August 20, 2015 by Scott

another mfr corvette

7 Alternate Universe Possibilities

Written by: The Daily Drive staff. Art by Frank Peiler.

Frank Peiler, Consumer Guide Automotive’s Publisher Emeritus, is back for another round of “What If” design studies. This time, Frank envisions what the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette might have looked like if it had been designed by Studebaker, Hudson, Packard, Nash, Dodge, Ford, or Kaiser. For more of Frank’s “What If?” artwork, check out his blogs on the 1957 Mercury, 1957 Packard, Cord 810, and Lincoln Continental. Continue reading “

What if other manufacturers had created their version of 1953 Chevrolet Corvette?” →

Dispatches from Detroit – Corvette Display Ads History by Richard Lentinello

Published on July 29, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

Feature Article from Hemmings Classic Car as originally published on July, 2013 – Richard Lentinello

republished from Hemmings Blog

1-lentinello corvette story

Dateline: 7.29.15 It’s been over 60 years since Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette, a car which has become the longest-running production model in General Motors’ history. Backed by a fanatical fan-base spanning the globe, the Corvette has earned the right to be called an American institution. And judging by the recent introduction of the new C7 model, interest in Corvettes is bound to remain strong for generations to come. Just try to name another car that comes close to what the Corvette has achieved. Continue reading “

Dispatches from Detroit – Corvette Display Ads History by Richard Lentinello” →

1956 SR-2 Corvette, Chevrolet’s Purpose-Built Corvette Racer – VIDEO

Published on July 21, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

Corvette Mike’s Beautiful Video Presentation of the 1956 SR-2 Corvette Racer

Dateline: 7.21.15 “Corvette Mike” of Anaheim, California, the car dealer that ONLY sells used, refurbished, and restored Corvettes, produced this beautiful video of the stunning 1956 SR-2 Corvette Racer. I covered this car in Part 2 of my Vette Magazine “Corvette Experimental, Prototype, Concept, and Show Car Corvettes” series that ran in the December 2014 issue. That article is republished in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

VIDEO HERE: Continue reading “

1956 SR-2 Corvette, Chevrolet’s Purpose-Built Corvette Racer – VIDEO” →

Bill Test’s “Quasi-Racer” 1962 Corvette

Published on July 9, 2015August 4, 2015 by Scott

Lake Placid, Florida Resident’s Sano, Personalized C1 327 Corvette

by Scott Teeters as republished from Vette Vues

I know I’m preaching to the choir but Corvettes are unusual cars because if you get bitten by them when you’re young, it’s usually a lifetime thing. For people who aren’t passionate about driving, or have never driven a Corvette, and maybe only ever been a passenger, it’s hard for them to understand the affection. Driving a Corvette is a visceral, seat-of-the-pants experience. When behind the wheel, you don’t just “ride and steer,” you “DRIVE” the car like a team of wild horses. Continue reading “

Bill Test’s “Quasi-Racer” 1962 Corvette” →

1961 Chevrolet Corvette Special – Dave MacDonald and Jim Simpson

Published on May 26, 2015May 27, 2015 by Scott

The First Independent Purpose-Built Corvette Race Car

The Corvette Racing Team has proven that the Corvette is more than a match for any sports car on the planet. But in the early days, racing a production Corvette would only get you so far. To get to the next level, “purpose-built” race cars were the order of the day. Tube frames (aka “bird cages”) with a thin fiberglass or aluminum body were super lightweight and the low power-to-weight ratio made for a race car that was a handful.

Dave MacDonald was one of the young lions of Southern California sports car racing. He was a natural and quickly earned the nickname, “Master of the Oversteer.” Dave and his racing partner Jim Simpson started racing in 1960 and in their first year won 3 out of 15 races and never finished lower than 4th. In his second year Dave racked up 15 wins and three 2nd place finishes in 24 races and was on his way to being a dominant force. But like all racers, Dave and Jim wanted to move up into something faster. It was Carroll Shelby who suggested the guys get a Max Balchowsky chassis and build a purpose-built car. (Be sure to check out the video of this car. Click the “Continue reading” link)
Continue reading “1961 Chevrolet Corvette Special – Dave MacDonald and Jim Simpson” →

Car Club USA: Corvette Homecoming – Video

Published on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 by Scott

Here’s What Corvettes Mean To People

CorvetteHomecoming-600

The other day Joe Pruitt, the Event Coordinator/Owner of the National Corvette Homecoming event contacted me to tell me about their new event video by Efran Films that covered the National Corvette Homecoming 2014 event. This is a very touching video that captures what Corvettes mean to people. As we know, they’re not just “car” they’re something else. Actually, the people in the video say it perfectly. This video has heart! Enjoy! – Scott

www.corvettehomecoming.com
www.twitter.com/bgcorvette
www.facebook.com/bgcorvette

Route 66 TV Show Debuts October 7, 1960

Published on October 7, 2014March 18, 2015 by Scott

The Corvette Becomes a TV Star on Route 66!

Dateline: 10.7.14 – Fifty-Four years ago today, Route 66 made its TV debut. Beginning October 7, 1960 and once a week into early 1964,viewers followed the adventures of Tod Stiles (Martin Milner) and Buzz Murdock (George Maharis) as they tooled around America in a brand new 1960 Corvette, seeking… well, adventure. Even though Chevrolet wasn’t selling that many Corvettes (10,261 units in 1960) the Chevrolet PR guys couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make the Corvette a TV star. Continue reading “Route 66 TV Show Debuts October 7, 1960” →

Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame

Published on September 27, 2014March 18, 2015 by Scott

Corvette Racing Legend, Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame

Dateline: 9-27-14 Auto racing legend Dave MacDonald was inducted into The National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame on August 28, 2014, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. MacDonald’s induction took place 50 years after the extremely talented young driver was tragically killed in his rookie race at the 1964 Indy 500 that also claimed the life of driver Eddie Sachs. After the race, an investigation determined that there was, “No driver error.”

MacDonald learned his driving skills in Southern California behind the wheel of several championship-winning first generation Corvettes. A gentle, quiet family man off the track, MacDonald was known as “The Master of Oversteer” and a fierce competitor. His driving skills were such that they attracted the attention of two other legends in auto racing of that time, Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and Carroll Shelby. MacDonald drove prototype test cars for Duntov and was eventually hired by Shelby to drive Cobras professionally.

His induction into The National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame was well deserved and more than a little overdue. Regardless, Dave MacDonald now has a prominent and permanent place in Corvette history.

I have written extensively about the life and times of Dave MacDonald and have had the pleasure of getting to know the MacDonald family. I have Dave MacDonald’s younger brother Doug to thank. Many years ago I created a piece of line art for VETTE Magazine as a column filler “spot art” illustration. Later I included the illustration as an art print on my IllustratedCorvetteSeries.com website and mistakenly titled the print, “Dave MacDonald’s 1961 Corvette Racer.”

The 2014 National Corvette Museum's Hall of Fame inductees included: Race Car Driver Dave MacDonald, Corvette Engineer and Race Car Driver John Heinricy, and Automotive Journalist & Author, Jerry Burton.

The 2014 National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame inductees included, left-to-right: Automotive Journalist and Author Jerry Burton, Corvette Engineer and Race Car Driver John Heinricy, and Race Car Driver Dave MacDonald.

Continue reading “Dave MacDonald Inducted Into National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame” →

NEW!!! Corvette License Plates Art Prints Series

Published on August 26, 2014December 5, 2015 by Scott

Corvette “License Plate” Art Prints 1953 to Present. A Limted Series of these new prints are now available from artist. K. Scott Teeters Continue reading “NEW!!! Corvette License Plates Art Prints Series” →

Scale Visions’ 60th Anniversary Salute to the 1954 (Corvette) Corvair

Published on July 22, 2014October 26, 2014 by Scott

1954 Corvair Motorama Show Car 1/25 scale model benefits the “Chip Miller Charitable Foundation” at ’14 Corvettes At Carlisle

By guest columnist, Don Theune (Slide Show at bottom)

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 1954 Corvette, “Scale Visions” has created two of the 1954 Motorama show cars – the Corvette-based “Corvair” and “Nomad.” One of which (1954 Corvette Corvair) shall be donated to raise funds & awareness for the “Chip Miller Charitable Foundation.” Scale Visions has been donating significant works of Automotive Art to the Corvettes at Carlisle charitable auctions since it began in 1996, and as help raise tens of $1,000’s for the various causes

The Corvette-based Corvair, Nomad & Corvette Hard Top were concept cars built by Chevrolet and introduced at the 1954 General Motors Motorama in New York City. The experimental concept 1954 Corvette Corvair (the name combined Corvette & BelAir into “Corvair”) Nomad, and Hard Top, unfortunately never made it into production.

Scale Visions has been creating the “Perfect gift, for the person who has everything!” (Exact Model Replicas of Your Corvette) for more than 23 years. They have been an institution at Corvettes at Carlisle for many of those years. The “works of Automotive Art” are so realistic and life like, it is hard to discern the difference between photos of the original 1/1 Corvette and its 1/25 scale counterpart.

In May 2013 Don Theune was a guest on my radio program, Far Out Radio. Enjoy the program. – Scott Continue reading “Scale Visions’ 60th Anniversary Salute to the 1954 (Corvette) Corvair” →

Corvette C1-C7 in Review…The Most Successful Car in Detroit History?

Published on December 12, 2013March 17, 2015 by Scott

Illustrated Corvette Series No. 200 1953 – 2014 Corvette

“DETROIT’S ULTIMATE SUCCESS STORY?” by K Scott Teeters as originally published in Vette magazine

In the February 2014 issue of VETTE Magazine, I celebrated my 200^th installment of The Illustrated Corvette Series with a look back at the entire history of the Corvette. The title of the column is, “DETROIT’S ULTIMATE SUCCESS STORY?” The Corvette has come a very long way from being a car that many inside GM wanted to kill off to becoming General Motors’ flagship halo car.

While the article in VETTE only shows one Corvette from all seven generations of Corvettes, I wanted to do something extra special. So, I created the 1’ x 3’, “Seven Generations of Corvettes 1953-2014 Corvettes” art print, available through our Fine Art America store, HERE.

The print is available in a variety of sizes and can be custom framed right from the site.

Here is the story……..

2013 may be remembered as the most extraordinary year in Corvette history. Not only was 2013 the last year of the sixth generation Corvette, it was also the 60^th anniversary of the first Corvette. The only way it could have been better was if the C7 have been released as a ‘13 model. Arguably, the C7 was the most anticipated Corvette ever seen. Continue reading “Corvette C1-C7 in Review…The Most Successful Car in Detroit History?” →