10 Radical Corvette Concepts That Have Influenced The American Sports Car Icon

Corvette concepts paved the path for the success of the legendary sports car we know today and these are some of the best experimental cars from GM

Concept cars showcase the creativity of automakers. Chevy, for example, introduced the first Corvette at General Motors’ 1953 Motorama in New York. That model was based on a Corvette concept car. Car manufacturers spend a fortune in developing concept cars. They’re willing to do this because these prototypes serve as a catalyst for the brand. Such experimental cars give you a glimpse of the direction a carmaker might take in the next few years.

On the other side of the coin, unveiling concept cars give car brands a barometer of how the market will respond to new products they have in mind. Concept cars allow car designers and engineers to step out of the box and innovate. They can serve as test beds for new engines, aerodynamic design, and technologies, among others. These facets form part of the evolution of the brand and help bring the brand to the next level.

While some of these showpieces make it to the production line, most just become part of forgotten automotive history. They tend to give car enthusiasts a jolt of excitement, a sneak peek at what the future could be, and sometimes flat line. Let’s look into some of the most iconic Chevrolet Corvette concepts that have influenced the path of one of the most iconic sports cars in history.

We collected information from General Motors, Chevrolet, and reputable websites such as Car & Driver, MotorTrend, and TopGear to come up with a list of the best Corvette concept cars that could have shaped the path of the iconic sports car we know today.

RELATED: 10 Things That Make The Chevrolet Corvette America’s Most Iconic Sports Car

If you’re talking Corvette, one can’t skip the EX-122 concept that eventually became the first-ever hand-built Corvette, a name inspired by a fast naval warship. Development of the car started in 1951 through the leadership of then General Motors vice president Harley Earl before it was given the now iconic American sports car moniker the following year. The experimental vehicle was unveiled in New York City in 1953 at the GM Motorama. The public’s response encouraged GM to push the prototype into production just after six months.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1953

Configuration

Straight Six

Displacement

3.8 Liters

Power

150 Horsepower

Torque

175 Pound-Feet (estimated)

To achieve the luscious curves of the Corvette concept, the design team used 46 pieces of fiberglass. With the limited budget to develop the car, Earl and his team opted to install a 3.8-liter Chevrolet straight-six engine coupled with a two-speed automatic transmission that brings the power to the rear wheels.

The Chevrolet Corvette SS is an ultra-lightweight racing car that paved the way for many Corvette sports cars. It was the first Corvette to carry the SS badge. It was built by a team of engineers spearheaded by the legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov, seen by many as America’s answer to Ferdinand Porsche and Enzo Ferrari, who made the Corvette and automotive icon it is today. Duntov was obsessed in developing a technically-sound Corvette and he believed building the racing credibility of the brand could improve its image.

Project XP-64 aimed to shed the weight of the Corvette by crafting a magnesium body. The carmaker gave the 1,850-pound Corvette SS a V-8 block that produces 307 horsepower at around 6,400 RPM. When it raced for the first time at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the XP-64 Corvette SS had to retire after 23 laps because of various mechanical issues. However, 1957 Sebring winner Juan Manuel Fangio was impressed with the car and tested it. The experimental Corvette was able to set a new lap record.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1957

Configuration

Small Block V-8

Displacement

4.6 Liters

Power

307 Horsepower

Torque

295 Pound-Feet

A few months later, the Corvette development was scrapped because of the ban on factory-produced race cars. Duntov spent the remaining years of his career pushing for Corvette’s shift to a mid-engine layout. Though this idea was put on the back burner for decades, the Corvette finally went for a mid-engine setup around 60 years or so after.

The exotic-looking Corvette XP 700 was built under the close supervision of then General Motors chief designer William “Bill” Mitchel. The prototype was built using a 1958 Corvette as a canvas. The stock vehicle was heavily modified to have a grand prix vibe.

The XP 700’s body was extensively redesigned to have longer lines, big air scoops, quad headlights, and a loop-style grille. The XP 700 was also given wire wheels to conform to the styling of race cars during the said era. The car’s mechanical features and powerplant were retained. The Corvette concept car went through several design changes and further modifications and was only displayed in April 1960 at the International Automobile Show in New York.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1958-1960

Configuration

Small Block V-8

Displacement

4.6 Liters

Power

230 to 290 Horsepower

Torque

300 Pound-Feet

The story of the Corvette XP 700 is quite fascinating. The vehicle suddenly vanished with clues hinting the vehicle was cannibalized. There were claims that the chassis of the XP 700 was eventually used to build the XP-755 Mako Shark Corvette Concept.

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The XP-755 Corvette concept car, popularly known as Mako Shark, was penned by Larry Shinoda under the guidance of then-recently appointed design chief Bill Mitchell. According to GM, the lines of the experimental car were a restyling of the XP-700 concept but also inspired by a mako shark that Mitchell caught off the coast of Florida. Aside from the overall shape of the Mako Shark 1, the iridescent blue paint that blends with the white lower portion of its body reminds car enthusiasts of the sea creature.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1961 (No Engine, Mako Shark I) 1965 (Mako Shark II)

Configuration

V-8

Displacement

Seven Liters

Power

425 Horsepower

Torque

480 Pound-Feet

The XP-755 had some distinct design elements such as its double-bubble roof, side pipes, and periscope rearview mirror. Initially, the car was just a display piece with no engine installed. The 1965 Mako Shark II, made its public appearance with a Mark IV V-8 that outputs 425 horsepower.

The 1960s was the era of mid-engine evolution. Just like other carmakers trying to perfect the mid-mounted powerplant, Chevrolet was also feeling the need for speed. CERV stands for Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle, a division of the car manufacturer that basically turned automotive visions into reality.

The CERV II, built upon the success of its CERV I predecessor, was on a direct collision course with the likes of the Ford GT40. This time, the team of Duntov aimed to include features that can win not only sprint races but endurance races such as Le Mans and Sebring. The engineers at Chevy were able to come up with a 500 horsepower coupled to an all-wheel drive system that at one point in its development was able to go from 0 to 60 MPH in 2.8 seconds.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1964

Configuration

V-8

Displacement

Seven Liters

Power

Approximately 500 Horsepower

Torque

Approximately 450 Pound-Feet

However, despite the promising numbers, the open roadster CERV II was not able to compete on the racetrack. It ended up in demos and test runs to showcase the progress and engineering prowess of the brand.

The Chevrolet Astro II or internally known as Experimental Prototype (XP) 880 was unveiled during the New York Auto Show in 1968. It had hints of the Astro I design language but it was a sports car that was a lot more practical. It was designed to carry two passengers with enough room for some luggage (and a. The design lines were slightly tweaked to give way to wide-section tires.

Powering the Astro II was a liquid-cooled Mark IV V-8 installed front to back just like in the 1968 McLaren. The powerplant churned out 400 horsepower transferred to the rear wheels through a two-speed automatic torque converter from the transaxle of a Pontiac Tempest.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1968

Configuration

Big Block V-8

Displacement

Seven Liters

Power

400 Horsepower

Torque

375 Pound-Feet

The XP-880 was another mid-engine false start for the Corvette as the GM management decided the public was not ready for it. As a consolation, the rear-end design of the 1974 Corvette was inspired by the lines used for the Astro II Corvette concept car.

RELATED: The 9 Mid-Engine Corvette Concepts That Didn't Make it To Production

While car enthusiasts think of Mazda when talking about Wankel-powered cars, American carmaker Chevrolet also experimented with the rotary engine. Duntov, the father of Corvettes, was not a big fan of the Wankel motor for its inefficient design. But with the prodding of then GM president Ed Cole, the famed engineer had no choice – a mid-engine Corvette with a Wankel. The team bolted together a pair of two-rotor GM experimental engines to produce a 420-horsepower super Wankel.

For its looks, chief designer Bill Mitchell and his team gave the concept car a Corvette guise by using the DNA of the XP-882 that appeared in New York in 1970. They injected into the package radical gullwing doors, sterling silver paint, silver leather in the interior, and forged alloy rims. The spacecraft-looking slick design of the ride gave it a drag coefficient of 0.325.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1973

Configuration

Four Rotor Wankel

Displacement

6.4 Liters

Power

420 horsepower

Torque

Three-Speed Automatic

In 1976, a 6.6-liter V-8 engine was selected to replace it as the coupe was deemed to go on production as the Aerovette. Unfortunately, with issues with production costs and minimal benefits to the brand, this vehicle ended up as another mid-engined Corvette concept that did not make it to the assembly line.

The Corvette Indy concept perhaps sports one of the most striking designs bearing the Corvette name in history. Its main purpose was to showcase the potential visual appeal of the fifth-generation Corvette. The car’s upcoming technologies, such as a Lotus suspension system and a rearview camera, and a navigation system were also featured. The ultra-sexy Corvette Indy was designed by Jack Schwartz and his team. The full-size concept car was built in a matter of six weeks in time of its unveiling at the North American International Auto Show.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1986

Configuration

V-8

Displacement

2.65 Liters

Power

600+ Horsepower

Torque

-

The V-8 engine mounted on the rear of the vehicle produced around 600 horsepower. There were two other versions that got engines with lower displacement. This experimental vehicle eventually evolved to become the CERV III.

The CERV III is the fully realized Corvette Indy concept car. It was a final push to create an attractive mid-engine Corvette. The body of the CERV III is a single-piece composite made of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and Nomex, supported by an aluminum honeycomb. For its powerplant, Chevy engineers installed a 5.7-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 that produces 650 horsepower. With the aerodynamic design of the car, this Corvette concept can reportedly hit a top speed of 225 MPH and go from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

1990

Configuration

V-8

Displacement

5.7 Liters

Power

650 Horsepower

Torque

655 Pound-feet

After its debut in 1990 at the Detroit International Auto Show, Chevrolet seriously considered giving the concept a production green light. However, its purported high sticker price was determined to be too expensive, the primary reason why it was eventually abandoned. The CERV III would have made a lovely Corvette.

RELATED: GM Was Smart Not To Produce The Four-Seater Corvette

If you think the Corvette Stingray concept looks like something that you’ve seen on the big screen, you’re totally correct. In the movie “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen,” the Autobot Sideswipe in his vehicle form was a Corvette Stingray. When images of the car leaked out, GM denied that the Stingray concept would hit the production lines. Moviegoers and car enthusiasts alike were amazed at the combination of classic Corvette visuals and technological innovations featured in the prototype.

Aside from the modern exterior of the car, the team who built the 2009 Corvette Stingray concept used the interior to show its market that it’s listening to their feedback. The concept Corvette featured seats with big side bolsters to keep you in place, a good amount of chrome trim, carbon fiber elements, and a navigation system, among others.

Manufacturer

Chevrolet

Production Years

2009

Configuration

V-8

Displacement

6.2 Liters

Power

430 to 436 Horsepower

Torque

424 to 428 Pound-Feet

The full specs of the concept were never revealed but it was envisioned to sport a V-8 engine with cylinder deactivation and battery assist for driving around town. The car reportedly used a stock LS3, the same bulletproof powerplant in base Corvettes between 2008 and 2013

Randell loves car simulation games, drives a diesel, and is fascinated with electric vehicles. He finds long drives meditative and loves out-of-town trips with his wife and family. He's been an online media professional for 15 years, covering cars, technology, science, health, among others.