Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 19671968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Part II
Another change for 1962: The 283 cubic inch engine was no more. The bore was enlarged to 4.00" and the stroke went to 3.25" resulting in a displacement of 327 cubic inches. The dual four bbl. carburetors were no longer available.
(Below) The white portion of the whitewall tires were narrower.
The End of an Era
The 1962 Corvette was the last of the "C1" generation which are popularly and fondly known as the "Straight Axle" Corvettes since they were the last to use a live rear axle. Another change: a generator as a electrical charging system would be replaced by alternators, which everyone agrees is an improvement. A conventional trunk would not be part of the Corvette story until the 1998 convertible. Also disappearing: exposed headlights, which would reappear 43 years later when the 2005 'vette was introduced.
The first Corvettes progressed significantly during their ten model years. Although they floundered some in the beginning, they did find a path and stuck to it thanks to the guidance of stylists Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and executive Ed Cole. They won popularity on both road and drag racing circuits, with Chevrolet replacing Ford as the car to have in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts.
The best however, was yet to come.
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