The Unique Second Generation Corvette
Written by Admin on September 16, 2008 – 7:23 am -
There is something exceptionally special about the second generation corvette. The second generation corvette or C2 has even been dubbed the initial “genuine sports car” in the United States. In 1953, Chevrolet made their first car and their production went on to create six original generations of the car enthusiast’s favorite, the corvette. Each generation has their own identifying designated title starting with C1 and ending with C6, which is the contemporary generation of the Chevy sports car. The second generation corvette is considered by some to be the best ever produced by Chevrolet.
After the first generation of corvettes was started in 1953 and continued to be produced for nine years, the second generation corvette was made and in turn, made history. Arguably the most popular corvette or all time, the Sting Ray coupe was produced. Chevrolet’s duo of Bill Mitchell and Larry Shinoda was responsible for the car’s name and design. While the Sting Ray wasn’t the only car the team was behind, it was by far the most successful one.
There are many factors behind why the second generation corvettes had such a huge following in the United States. The first reason is that these cars offered citizens of the U.S. the opportunity to show their love for their country by driving a truly domestically-produced car. The cars were also more powerful than anything else that car lovers had experienced before. Each subsequent second generation corvette was more powerful than its predecessor.
What people today call “extras” in cars was an additional factor in the second generation corvette’s popularity. This generation of vehicle provided riders with an independent rear suspension system in addition to more modern extras like air conditioning and AM/FM radio. Driving and riding pleasure was a huge factor in the success of the second generation corvette.
Not all was perfect with all the models of second generation corvettes. A rear window designed to be split in the rear was quickly replaced with a traditional window due to limited visibility. Traditional brakes were no longer considered safe because of the car’s power, so four-wheel disc brakes were added to the cars in 1965. Also, a uniquely designed side exhaust system was later changed in 1970.
The second generation corvettes are in a class by themselves. If you were to ask car lovers about their favorite second generation corvette, you would most likely hear that the 1966 model is a consistent favorite while the 1967 second generation corvette is a close second.
Tags: second generation corvette
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