Corvette History

Gibson “Gib” Hufstader, A Genuine Corvette Unsung Hero

If there's a secret MVP in Corvette history, Gib Hufstader is a shoo-in

Scott Teeters··
Last updated:
Illustration by K. Scott Teeters

On May 4, 2025, the Corvette world lost a giant. Gibson “Gib” Hufstader was 94. Without racing and high performance, the Corvette might not have survived the 1960s. Early C1s caught heat for the Blue Flame Six and Powerglide, and the small-block Chevy with a proper four-speed wasn’t ready until 1955 and 1957.

Gib and his daughter, Becky Hufstader. Photo Gib Hufstader Family Archive & K. Scott Teeters

Racing was baked into Corvette’s DNA from the start, thanks to Chevrolet Chief Engineer Ed Cole, suspension wizard Maurice Olley, Indy 500 driver-engineer Mauri Rose, and race car builder Zora Arkus-Duntov. After Corvette’s success at the 1956 Daytona Speed Trials and 12 Hours of Sebring, Cole ordered the RPO “Racer Kit” options—factory-engineered high-performance engines, brakes, suspensions, and lightweight wheels.

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