5 Ways Corvette Is The Same as 1953 (& 5 Massive Changes)

Intro

On June 30, we will celebrate another National Corvette Day. It is celebrated on June 30 because it was that day back in 1953 when the first Corvette came off the assembly line. Only 300 were made that year, but as of this writing, GM has produced nearly two million Corvettes over the last 70+ years. The car is THE American sports car. It has been driven by astronauts and engrained in pop culture via songs and movies. A lot has changed about the Corvette since 1953. But a lot has stayed the same as well. In honor of National Corvette Day we are going to review 5 things that stayed the same and 5 things that changed the most.

#5 Same – (Relatively) Low Volume Enthusiast Vehicle

One thing that has stayed consistent with the Corvette over the years is that it has remained a low-volume vehicle for enthusiasts. While it is true that some years, GM builds over 50,000 Corvettes, that still is a drop in the bucket compared to other models. It is not uncommon for GM to build ten Silverados for every one Corvette. So, while a Corvette may not be considered rare, by collector car standards, it is a low volume vehicle that you don’t see on the roads nearly as often as more mainstream rides.

#5 Different – Available as a Coupe

The original Corvettes from 1953 were only available as convertibles. They would continue to be offered until about July of 1975 when GM made the decision to offer only coupes and if you wanted an open-air experience, you could remove the T-Top. The convertible would return again for the 1986 model year. Now in 2024 you have the option to order a Corvette in coupe or convertible form. And that applies to the regular Stingray as well as the Z06 and E-Ray variants.

#4 Same – Expensive

The Corvette was never cheap, even in 1953. That being said, the Corvette does have performance that rivals that of more expensive cars. But a Corvette has always been priced like the premium vehicle that it is. The C8 Z06 and coming ZR1 are pushing prices even higher. Thanks to dealer markups we have seen new C8 Z06 models being sold for over $200K. And it is possible that the new ZR1 could hit that same $200K price level even without any dealer markup. The Corvette may be a performance car bargain, but it remains an expensive car overall.

#4 Different – Color Options

The early Corvettes were Polo White and only Polo White. Hop inside and you see a red interior and only a red interior. Today buyers have the choice of several different colors for their Corvette. Not only can you choose many different body and interior colors, but you can even select the color of your brake calipers and seat belts. The modern Corvette offers buyers much more freedom when it comes to colors.

#3 Same – Composite Material Body

As everyone knows, the original Corvette body was made from fiberglass. Fiberglass was chosen because it was light. It was also less expensive than producing large sheet metal stamping dies, for what was always going to be a low volume vehicle. The Corvette is no longer all fiberglass. It hasn’t been for decades. However, the Corvette is still made with composite materials. Today the Corvette uses carbon fiber and plastics for strength and lightness.

#3 Different – Assembly Process

The first 300 C1 Corvettes were largely built by hand in Flint, Michigan. Today they are assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Certain aspects, such as the Z06 LT6 engine, are built by hand but primarily the cars are built using a modern assembly line that includes robots and other machines.

#2 Same – 2-Seater

The Corvette has always been a 2-seater, and it remains so today. However, we are not sure if that will always be the case. There have been rumors about GM spinning off the Corvette into its own brand. That would include expanding the Corvette lineup to include sedans and SUVs. Will that actually happen? We have to wait and see. But from 1953 until the time of this writing the Corvette has always been a 2-seater.

#2 Different – V8 Power

It might be hard to believe but the Corvette did not always come with a V8 engine. For the first few years, it got an underpowered inline 6-cylinder engine. It was good for 150 horsepower in 1953 and 155 horsepower in 1954. Neither did much to provide the performance expected from such a sporty-looking car. Finally, in 1955, GM gave the Corvette a V8 engine with 195 horsepower. It was a legend in the making.

#1 Same – Automatic Transmission

As if the weak engine wasn’t bad enough. In 1953, the Corvette was only available with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. Yuck. Then, in 1955, with the rollout of the V8 engine, came the 3-speed manual transmission. With only a couple minor exceptions, the Corvette was available with a manual transmission for the next 65 years. But, with the introduction of the C8 in 2020, the traditional manual transmission went away. Now, to be fair, the 8-speed DCT in the current Corvettes is light years ahead of the old 2-speed Powerglide. However, it is not a traditional 3-pedal manual that enthusiasts love. So, in 2024, much like in 1953, the Corvette is a 2-pedal car.

#1 Different – Mid Engine Layout

You probably could have guessed this one. Of all the changes over the years for the Corvette, nothing has been as monumental as the change from a front engine layout to a mid engine layout. A mid engine Corvette is something that Zora Arkus-Duntov wanted for many years. His dream finally came true with the 2020 C8 Stingray. And with the change in engine locations, the performance of the Corvette increased dramatically. It has totally changed the personality of the car. Some folks miss the traditional Corvette with the engine in the front. And we can understand why. But there is no question that a mid engine Corvette is the better performer.

Images: Chevrolet