A fair proportion of the history of GM can be summed up in one word: Corvette. The classic American icon has endured, prospered and is still going strong more than 50 years after the world first glimpsed it at the 1953 Motorama.

On display as part of the Motorama exhibit was a very special Corvette known as EX-122. EX-122 was the serial number that denotes an experimentally built car. It was also the first Corvette that the automotive enthusiast world fell in love with, as it was displayed at the famous Waldor Astoria Motorama in New York City on Sat., January 17th, 1953. Although initially conceived as a show car, the public reaction was such that GM had no choice but to put it into production.

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Above: The special provenance of EX-122. Left: The funky "Corvette" script between the badge and the front grill. No other Corvette was similarly equipped. Middle: The downward accent of the spear on the side of the fender; all other '53 Corvettes had the accent pointed up. Right: The air intake on the top of the fender. Although 1956 and '57 Corvettes had a similar non-functional vent, they were not part of Corvette production until then.

Above: GM press photographs of EX-122 taken during the Motorama tour. The EX-122 1953 Corvette is owned by Kerbeck Chevrolet of Atlantic City, NJ where it is on display. Click Here for for more info on the EX-122.

Complementing the EX-122 was the last Corvette built in 1953, providing a "bookend" effect at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It is owned by Jim and Evelyn Fasnacht of Houston Texas. More information on the 1953 Corvette is available at The Corvette Story.

Left: If you've been studying your Corvette history, you are aware that all 1953 Corvettes had inline six cylinder engines. So why is there a V8 in the EX-122? That's the purpose of an experimental or prototype. Soon after its duty as a show car, a V8 engine, which would become famous as the "Chevy Small Block" became available and was installed in the EX-122 so the performance could be tested and the concept sorted out.
Middle: Jamie Ginn, Miss Delaware 2006, brought additional sparkle to the EX-122.