Get Ad-Free Access: Just $39/year

The Corvette Story – Engine by Mauri Rose

Chapter 3

The Blue Flame Six in the Corvette
Suitably liveried to match its name, the Blue Flame Six in the Corvette was the result of work by Mauri Rose on a power unit that traced its origin to 1941.

For the original Corvette nothing was more important than a drive train that would do justice to a true sports car. Working with the available material an authentic racer, Mauri Rose, extracted enough horses delivered through a controversial transmission.

Chevrolet’s R&D Department, under the leadership of British suspension expert Maurice Olley, had full responsibility for the design of the underpinnings of the sports car that carried shop order (SO) 1737. As Olley told the Society of Automotive Engineers a year and a half later, “On June 2, 1952 Chevrolet engineers were shown a plaster model of a proposed car of 102-inch wheelbase, for which a chassis was required. 

Become a Member & Get Ad-Free Access To This Article (& A Whole Bunch More!)

Access to the full article is limited to paid subscribers only. Our membership removes most ads, lets you enjoy unlimited access to all our premium content, and offers you awesome discounts on partner products. Enjoy our premium content.

Become a member today!

Already a Member?