Fast Cars

Corvette

Corvette's timeline for the last 50 years.

  1. 1953 - Corvette introduces 235-CID six cylinder engine. 300 first edition Polo White roadsters hit the streets.
  2. 1954 - Exterior color choices added.
  3. 1955 - 265-CID OHV V8 and manual transmission introduced (195-horsepower)
  4. 1956 - New bodystyle with roll up windows and optional removable hard top added. Horsepower boosted to 225.
  5. 1957 - Fuel injection and 4-speed manual transmission become options.
  6. 1958 - Dual headlights introduced.
  7. 1960 - New tail introduced.
  8. 1962 - Small block engine enlarged to 327-CID
  9. 1963 - The only year featuring the split window vette. Sting Ray era begins.
  10. 1965 - Last year for Fuelie option and first year of big block engine (396-CID and 425-horsepower)
  11. 1966 - Big block engine enlarged to 427-CID
  12. 1967 - Big block engineavailable with 3 Holley-Barrel carburetors, producing 435-horsepower. L88 Vette had 427BB and 550-horsepower.
  13. 1968 - Introduction of new sexy "coca-cola" bottle shape.
  14. 1969 - Two ZL1 Sting Ray Coupes were introduced.
  15. 1970 - Big block engine reached its peak at 454-CID. ZR1 Vette appeared.
  16. 1971 - Horsepower ratings dropped to 330.
  17. 1972 - Horsepower ratings dropped again, LT1 produced only 225-horsepower.
  18. 1973 - Front chrome bumper design eliminated to back end only.
  19. 1974 - Final year of big block engine, rear chrome bumper also disappears.
  20. 1975 - Rear bumper now becomes one piece design, final year of convertible models until 1986.
  21. 1978 - New fastback rear window introduced. Two-tone 25th anniversary and Indianapolis Pace Car models produced.
  22. 1980 - Corvette undergoes major facelift.
  23. 1981 - New Vette plant begins production in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
  24. 1982 - Crossfire injection becomes standard.
  25. 1983 - No 1983 models sold, only 40 were built, only 1 remains alive.
  26. 1984 - First year of the Corvette C4 350-CID, 5.7L, 205-horsepower.
  27. 1985 - Crossfire injection changed to Tuned Port Injection.
  28. 1986 - First convertible model since 1975 introduced. Yellow Indianapolis 500 replica Pace Car introduced.
  29. 1987 - Callaway Twin Turbo offered as an option, producing 345-horsepower.
  30. 1988 - 35th anniversary released with white on white and white wheels.
  31. 1990 - ZR1 350-CID,375-horsepower model introduced.
  32. 1991 - Redesigned plump rear end and smoother nose. Final year for Callaway Twin Turbo.
  33. 1992 - 1,000,000 Corvette(Artic White with Red interior) rolls off assembly line.
  34. 1993 - Ruby red 40th anniversary model introduced. Only 245 were sold.
  35. 1995 - Final year of production for ZR1. 3rd time Corvette is named Indianapolis Pace Car.
  36. 1996 - Silver collectors edition and blue grand sport with white stripes from front to rear introduced.
  37. 1997 - All new Corvette design introduced, only the coupe was offered.
  38. 1998 - Newly redesigned convertible comes into the market.
  39. 1999 - Hard top introduced.
  40. 2000 - New Millennium yellow edition with new wheels introduced.