Chevrolet Corvette - C1 (1953 to 1962)

The first generation of Chevrolet Corvette was introduced late in the 1953 model year. Originally designed as a show car for the 1953 Motorama display at the New York Auto Show, it generated enough interest to induce GM to make a production version to sell to the public. Over the course of the first generation, four evolutions were built, the first was from 1953-1955, after that, a new body was introduced for the 1956-1957 model featuring a new "face" and side coves. The following evolution was 1958-1960, with the Corvette receiving a new body and interior which included a longer front end with quad headlamps, bumper exiting exhaust tips, a new steering wheel, and a dashboard with all gauges mounted directly in front of the driver. The final evolution of the C1 was built from 1961-1962, which featured a completely redesigned rear end with the addition of a "duck tail" with four round lights. The light treatment would continue for all following model year Corvettes until 2014. A total of 69,015 examples of the C1 Corvette were built by the time production ended in 1962, and it was replaced by the Second Generation Chevrolet Corvette (C2). In addition to standard vehicles, the C1 Corvette has often been turned into a Race Car, or a Custom creation.