In the early 1950s, General Motors seemed unlikely to be able to successfully market a sports car, especially not one that would make a profit. GM made two million cars annually, and the total sports car market was only about 5,000. The group of buyers of two-seater sports cars was a very small group.

Why did Chevrolet take the plunge with the Corvette in 1953? After World War II, everyone seemed to love the sports cars theyd seen in Europe and taken to the United States. Being interested in it and buying one are two different things. GM quickly found out. According to GM, there was enough interest and the reason that so few were sold was because there was no offer of real American sports cars. The European sports cars were made for European requirements and traffic conditions. According to GM, the Americans wanted a sports car that was made for the flat American roads and the Americans had different comfort requirements.

And because that car did not yet exist, GM thought that with the creation of such a car, that market would arise automatically. The design task was given to designer Harvey Earl. In 1952 the first clay model was ready for viewing. The question of whether the public would like the Corvette could easily be answered through GMs mobile auto show called Motorama. This was a complete mobile car show that had been visiting a number of major cities every year since 1949 at the beginning of the year to introduce the public to new GM models and prototypes. Each year, a number of experimental models went along to test the publics reactions. The entire show (sets and cars) was transported in trucks and completely rebuilt each time in hotels and other exhibition spaces. In January 1953, the public was first introduced to the Corvette at the Motorama held in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. The reactions were overwhelming. So GM decided to start production of the Corvette that same year. With the hot breath of the competition at the back, the Corvette went into production in 1953. Almost all technology came straight off the shelf. Only the use of polyester for the carriage was innovative. That novelty was born partly out of necessity. Polyester had already proven itself in the maritime field and had been used as a material for the bodywork by a few small automakers.

For Chevrolet, the rapid turnaround time achievable with this new product was very important. The concept was an immediate hit. The first generation of Corvettes was produced between 1953 and 1955. The 1956-1962 range was an extension of the first generation. Equipped with a light facelift and from now on with a V8 in the front instead of the six-cylinder in-line that listened to the name Blue Flame Special. The latter delivered a meager 150 hp from approximately 3.8 liters of displacement. However, the V8 delivered 238 horsepower from a displacement of about five liters. In 1968 the C3 came on the market. The C3 had a new body and interior but the chassis and engines were taken over from the C2. The design came from Zora Arkus-Duntov and Bill Mitchell and was again inspired by a prototype, namely the Mako Shark II. The C3 was also available again as a convertible and coupé. The coupés had a roof that could be removed so that it could also be used somewhat as a convertible. This was called a T-top. The car being auctioned here is a 1978 C3 with a 5.7 liter V8 engine with an automatic gearbox. The body is a T-top targa with two removable targa roofs. The car is finished in beautifull black with a white interior that was recently redone. The car comes with piles of invoices since 2004 of maintenance, renewals and improvements.

The car is technically in top condition. The rubbers of the wheel suspension have been renewed, as well as the exhaust. The car is technically in top condition and needs nothing and is ready to go anywhere. The current owner imported the car from America in 2017 and the current owner now wants to pass it on to the next caretaker. The Corvette has a Dutch registration. This car is sold as-is, i.e. without warranty. Before bidding, we recommend that you fully read the terms of use of this platform as well as study all photos and videos and the inspection report carefully so that you can get a good idea of this beautiful Corvette. This Corvette is ready to enjoy the summer and everyone you meet along the way will be complimenting you. All bids are binding and irrevocable

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