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1961 Corvette - The Ultimate Guide

The most pronounced of Mitchell’s changes was the introduction of a freshened rear end design. The “ducktail” design (as it has become known amongst Corvette enthusiasts) was virtually lifted from the Stingray race car as well as Mitchell’s XP-700 show car. From a practicality standpoint, the redesign of the rear end of the Corvette enabled an increase in available luggage space by twenty percent (20%).

1961 Corvette Special Editions

The Mako Shark Corvette was conceived and designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of Bill Mitchell to provide GM’s VP of Design with a one-off concept/prototype intended to pre-showcase the as-yet-unreleased second-generation Corvette Sting Ray.

This 1961 Chevrolet Corvette factory race car possesses a host of rare options and a provenance worthy of the velvet rope treatment at any of the world’s finest auto museums or vintage races.  Gulf Oil sponsored and driven to an SCCA B-Production national championship by the likes of Dr. Dick “The Flying Dentist” Thompson and Don Yenko, it stands as one the most successful and important production-based Corvette race cars ever constructed. 
The XP-755 was designed and the prototype was built in the beginning of 1961. Bill Mitchell was very excited about the double-bubble roof, the side exhausts and rear. It is equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor that produces upwards of 425 horsepower. The Corvette XP-755 Concept had a streamlined design, pointed snout and outlandishly future looking elements everywhere. The 1961 Mako Shark I (XP-755) was an early concept.
This one-off 1961 Vignale Corvette was built for the 1961 Salon de l'Automobile in Paris, France. It was based on a 1960 Corvette chassis and built by Italian coachmaker Carrozzeria Vignale. The body was designed by Gordon Kelly.
The Stingray that never was. The stretched version of this new Corvette model for 1963 has rear seating and was built as ordered by Chevrolet chief Ed Cole. Larry Shinoda designed this coupe, that never went into production because the demand for the two seated Stingray already was overwelming. A running prototype of a 2+2-seat C2 Corvette intended to compete with the Ford Thunderbird was built, but the project was canceled.

1961 Corvette Technical Research & Data

Dig into the numbers behind the 1961 Corvette and check out these hand-curated research papers and data-driven reports, including VIN information, production numbers, pricing/options, color samples, and more.

1961 Corvette Engines

Looking for information on the engines powering the 1961 Corvette? Look no further.

1961 Corvette Market & Sales Data

1961 Corvette auction and sales area. We share upcoming auctions, recent auction results, cool 1961 Corvettes we find for sale and commentary on the current market for the 1961 Corvette.

The Best Resource for 1961 Corvette News, Auctions, Reviews & Videos

Get all the latest news stories, upcoming auctions, prices, videos and more about the 1961 Chevrolet Corvette! The latest headlines here.

The Mako Shark Corvette was conceived and designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of Bill Mitchell to provide GM’s VP of Design with a one-off concept/prototype intended to pre-showcase the as-yet-unreleased second-generation Corvette Sting Ray. Mitchell greenlit the XP-755 project in 1961 because he did not want to wait another two...
With improvements in fiberglass manufacturing combined with refined assembly processes improving the car’s fit and finish, the 1961 Corvette was quickly recognized by critics and enthusiasts alike as the best built Corvette yet. While the exterior received subtle improvements to it’s overall appearance, the interior of the 1961 Corvette went...
The XP-755 was designed and the prototype was built in the beginning of 1961. Bill Mitchell was very excited about the double-bubble roof, the side exhausts and rear. It is equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor that produces upwards of 425 horsepower. The Corvette XP-755 Concept had a streamlined design, pointed snout and outlandishly future looking elements everywhere. The 1961 Mako Shark I (XP-755) was an early concept.
1961 Corvette C1
We were recently contacted through our “Sell My Corvette” portal with a Corvette that we think a lot of people would be interested in! Listed for sale is a 1961 Corvette C1 that the current owner bought in 2007, right after it had completed a complete, Corvette-certified frame-off restoration. As...
1961 Corvette Sales Brochures
Download this 1961 Corvette Dealers Sales Brochure for a quick look at the features of the car. America's Sports Gets A New Look. Take a classic sports car design. Give it tasteful new styling. That's Corvette in 1961. Starting with the sleek rear deck , it's clean, uncluttered...

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