From 1953 to 2019:
The Evolution of the Corvette
This experience is brought to you by Livermore Maserati.
At FH Dailey Chevrolet in San Leandro, California, we believe in providing our valued customers with excellence. As one of the best Chevy dealers in the Bay Area, FH Dailey Chevrolet, a family-owned and operated dealership, has assisted Corvette enthusiasts and Chevy customers with high quality for more than 100 years.
Right now, you have an opportunity to nab one of the 2019 Collector’s Edition Corvettes currently in stock at FH Dailey Chevrolet. You deserve to own a car that is special, sleek and unlike any other. Our selection showcases the beauty of the Corvette that has become a staple in the car industry for more than 60 years.
Since 1953, the Corvette has been a staple in the sports car industry, and its evolution has matured in a way that maintains the power and unique look our customers value. We currently have in stock a variety of 2019 Corvettes that exude excellence, style and horsepower. Choose from innovative options, colors and upgrades that are designed to impress. With an expanded collection of Corvettes on our lot and in our showroom, we’d like to show you how generations of Corvettes have changed over the years. Sit back and relax as we reminisce with this evolution of the Corvette.
The Trident, the symbol of a myth. The badge used on all racing cars in Maserati’s history, has remained constant throughout the evolution of the brand and its style, technology and performance, accompanying all the victories and successes of Maserati cars.
Through the evolution of its designs, Maserati has led the way in automotive fashion, with unique cars, elegant yet sporty, always with highly personal, distinctive lines. From the rounded, curvy, sinuous details of the brand’s early years, its cars gradually evolved to become larger, longer and more streamlined.
1963
1953
An American
Story
The Corvette made its exciting debut in 1953 with the C1 model. What was most revolutionary was that the Chevy Corvette was the first mass-produced car to be manufactured with an all fiberglass body. The initial rollout in Flint, Michigan led to mass production in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953. Since the body was much more lightweight, what customers realized is that it also was equipped with extreme speed.
The curvy shape, convertible top and dual cockpit-style interior set the stage for Corvettes to come for the next 60+ years. The C1 in 1953 was only produced as a convertible at first, making it a must-have for sports car enthusiasts for years to come. 1955 was the first year they offered the V8 engine, and it wasn’t until 1956 that factory-installed, removable hardtops were available in the C1 model, which also included a restyled design with exposed headlamps, rolled-up windows and sculpted side coves.
It wasn’t until 1957 that Chevy rolled out the C1 model with an optional 4-speed manual transmission and optional fuel injection. By 1960, the Chevy Corvette had evolved with rounded
rear fenders, but 1960 also marked the last year
the Corvette featured the heavy grill “teeth” as part
of the design.
The Year the
Corvette Changed
the World with the Launch of the C1
The C2 Makes its
Mark as One of the Best-Looking Cars
on the Market
The second-generation model of the Chevy Corvette, the C2, rolled out in 1963, featuring the signature split rear window style, retractable headlamps and a new coupe body. Offering an improved and smoother drive, the C2 included an independent rear suspension and better road-holding performance than the C1. As part of the C2 rollout, also known as the 1963 Stingray, the Z06 was offered as an option and only 199 of these models were built.
By 1964, the C2 changed considerably for safety reasons. The split-window design no longer existed as it was believed to obstruct drivers’ rear vision; however, by 1965 more innovation was added to the Corvette with the Big Block V8 engine introduced. Rated at 425 horsepower, this model featured a 396 CID 78 option. Comfort was a top priority in 1966 with the addition of driver and passenger headrests. By this time, Holley carburetors were the norm within each Corvette’s engine. In 1967, Chevy built 20 exclusive Stingrays with the optional L88 engine, but by 1967 the Corvette came standard with hazard warning flashers, an energy-absorbing steering wheel and a dual master cylinder brake system.
1968
Referred to as the Shark, the Sharkado or the C3, the third generation of Corvettes featured new and improved, aggressive styling and a long shape. Continually changing through its inception from 1968 to 1982, the C3 was equipped with less horsepower with new governmental regulations and a small block engine.
As the longest span between Corvette generations, the C3 launched in 1968 with T-top removable roof panels and headlamps with a backlit pop-up design. In 1969, Chevy released its 250,000th Corvette – the gold convertible – and later included a ZR-1 optional racing package for the first time. The 1972 C3 model was the last to include the side-fender grills and front and rear chrome bumpers. It only took from 1969 to 1977 for Chevy to double its production and release the 500,000th Corvette, which was a white coupe equipped with red interior.
By the Corvette’s 25th anniversary, Chevy celebrated by producing models with the fastback body style and a special anniversary emblem replaced the traditional crossed-flag emblem. The most noticeable next change in the Corvette occurred in 1982 with a hatchback design and the temporary elimination of manual transmissions.
The Sting Ray Transforms to
the Sharkado
The C4 Becomes
the Poster Car of
the 1980s
Drawing from technology that boomed in the 80s, the new look of the C4 model offered a sleek new style. Features were added that included tuned-port Injection and a backbone frame structure was introduced. Another noteworthy addition was that in 1986, the C4 became into the first convertible option of the Corvette since 1975.
The next year produced the Callaway twin-turbo engine package and in 1988, the 35th anniversary edition was manufactured. By 1990, Chevy introduced the ZR-1 and from that point on, driver’s side air bags were the norm. In 1992, Chevy was given the LT1 designation with the new 300 HP 5.7 liter V8 engine and the one-millionth Corvette was built, featuring red interior and a white, convertible exterior that resembled models from 1953.
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1984
1997
Environmentally-friendly components were adopted by Chevy in 1997 with the launch of the C5 that featured waterborne paint system, a hydroformed box frame and an aluminum-block, small-block engine. Weighing in 100 pounds lighter than previous models, the C5 made going green a style statement.
The C5 also featured a rear-mounted transmission and by 1998, included a separate trunk. Horsepower was a major focus with the C5 Corvette. With the 1998 model delivering 345 HP and the 1999 LS1 V8 engine delivering 348 HP, Chevy continued the tradition of innovation with the introduction of the ZO6 in 2001 packing 385 horsepower. Performance continued to involve innovation when the 2004 special commemorative package was represented at the Indy 500.
The Lightweight, Environmentally-Friendly C5 Hits
the Market
The C6 Transformed Luxury Sport Cars with a Power-to-Weight Ratio Unlike Any Other
2005
2014
Chevy’s seventh generation Corvette marked the return of the Stingray. Offering a mix of performance and technology with the sleek durability of the 1963 Stingray, the C7 was the first Corvette model to go 0 to 60 miles per hour in four seconds. The C7 was also manufactured as a fuel-efficient model without the loss of power. The seven-speed Stingray model featured a 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine, included a carbon fiber hood, removable roof panels and a lightweight aluminum frame.
In 2014, Chevy also revived the Z06 with a convertible option, automatic transmission, LT4 supercharged 6.2L aluminum V8 engine and 650 horsepower. By 2016, the C7.R edition Z06 was debuted with just a limited number of Corvettes available.
The C7 Signals the Stingray’s Return
The Trident, the symbol of a myth. The badge used on all racing cars in Maserati’s history, has remained constant throughout the evolution of the brand and its style, technology and performance, accompanying all the victories and successes of Maserati cars.
A Collector’s Corvette That is Beyond Compare
2019
From 1953 to 2019:
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Coupe Z06 2LZ
With jet black interior and a V8 supercharged engine, the Coupe Z06-2LZ offers excellence inside and out.
This model includes an 8-speed paddle shift with options for automatic
modes. Even with power and speed, drivers can expect fuel efficiency with 14 city and 23 highway.
With an impressive collection of 2019 Corvettes,
you can find exactly what you need to feel the speed.
Check out these options:
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Stingray Coupe Z51 3LT
Enjoy the treasured look of this 2019 Chevy Corvette Stingray Coupe Z51 3LT that is equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine and an 8-speed paddle shift with options for automatic modes. Rev up your engine while enjoying fuel efficiency with 15 city and 25 highway.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Grand Sport Coupe 2LT
You can’t go wrong when opting for the sporty look of the Grand Sport Coupe 2LT. Feel the power and efficiency with the 6.2L V8 engine and 8-speed paddle shift with automatic modes. This model is fuel efficient with 15 city and 25 highway.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Grand Sport Convertible 2LT
Feel the breeze and the speed when putting the top down on your new Grand Sport Convertible Corvette. Complete
with a 6.2L V8 engine and 8-speed paddle shift with automatic modes, this
Corvette is also fuel efficient with 16
city and 25 highway.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Stingray Coupe 1LT
This two-door coupe embodies everything you want in a Corvette with a 6.2L V8 engine, a sleek look and an 8-speed paddle shift with automatic modes. Cruise around efficiently with fuel economy of 15 city and 25 highway.
2019 Chevrolet Corvette:
Grand Sport Convertible 1LT
Make all your dreams of owning a Chevy Corvette come true with the Grand Sport Convertible 1LT that offers style and power. Featuring a 6.2L V8 engine and 8-speed paddle shift with automatic modes, the Grand Sport Convertible 1LT offers fuel economy of 16 city and 25 highway.
Style, power and efficiency go hand in hand.
From the first model to the most recent, the Chevy Corvette has shown that style, power and efficiency go hand in hand. At FH Dailey Chevrolet, we are committed to helping our customers find just the right model with all the necessary options and upgrades so you can drive off the lot in the Corvette of your dreams. Visit our showroom today, browse our collection of Corvettes on our website or give us a call to find the Chevy Corvette that suits your needs and wants.
SEE MORE
The evolution of the Corvette continues to present day. You can see the innovation the moment you walk into the showroom at FH Dailey Chevrolet. Because the front engine manual transmission Corvette no longer will be made in 2020, now is the time to get your hands on the 2019 collector’s edition Corvettes we currently have in stock.
The lighter, aluminum-based body structure of the C6 was the most notable change, offering an undeniable upgrade in power-to-weight ratios most luxury sports cars did not represent. For the first time since 1962, Chevy eliminated the retractable headlights in an effort to reduce aerodynamic drag and weight.
In 2005, the 6.0L 400 HP small block V8 defined the C6 Corvette model, and technological advances were a top priority. The power top option for convertible Corvettes was in place as well as navigational capabilities. This year also brought the new 7.0L 505 HP small block V8 and a six-speed paddle shift automatic transmission. Engine power continued
to evolve with the C6 in 2008 with the LS3 6.2L
base V8 engine. By 2009, the top-end ZR1 C6 model produced 638 horsepower and reached top speeds of 205 miles per hour.
Special edition models flooded the market with the Z06 carbon limited edition and the Chevrolet Centennial edition in 2011 and 2012. By 2013, the 60th anniversary Corvette hit the market with a convertible collector edition.