C1 Facts
The first Corvette rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953.
Sales of 1953 Corvette were substantially less than expected. Due to their high price and relative lack of performance compared to other sports cars, Chevrolet only sold 183 of the 314 Corvettes produced.
The Ford Thunderbird came out in 1955 and proceeded to sell 10 times as well as the Corvette. It is against this that Harley Earl designed a new Corvette and approval was given to produce this new design for 1956. This new design is widely regarded as a classic among Corvettes and it helped the Corvette become a legend among American automobiles.
For 1957 the V8 was increased in displacement to 283ci and produced 250hp using the new Rochester fuel injection system, hydraulic lifters and 9.5:1 compression. With 10.5:1 compression and a Duntov cam, the engine could produce 283hp out of 283ci. The magic 1hp/ci performance number. With this engine the Corvette could run the 1/4 mile in 14 seconds at 94mph. That is serious performance even by today's standards.
The 327ci small block was introduced in 1962. Its maximum horsepower version used 11.25:1 compression, larger than normal valve ports and a Duntov cam. It produced 360hp at 6000rpm. The grill was blacked out and the exterior trim was designed to give the car a cleaner appearance.
