The "Asteroid" started life as a 1963 Chevy Corvette.  It was ordered by mechanical engineer and renowned mid-century speed boat racer Bob Nordskog, sans any exterior paint save for a primer coat.  Instead, the car was shipped directed to Barris Kustoms with instructions for Barris to transform the brand-new Corvette into a more radical version of itself.
1967 L68 427CI engine in open hood of white C2 Corvette
By the 1960s the Corvette was beginning to hit its stride, especially in terms of performance. While the GM small-block reigned supreme initially, the 1960s would see the rise of the high-displacement big-block, complete with 400-plus horsepower. This was on par with the times, as the horsepower wars of the muscle car era were in full swing. This resulted in several extremely memorable power plants.
The Corvette Rondine concept was built by Pinanfarina and introduced at the 1963 Paris Motor Show. The car started life as a 1963 split-window Corvette, which is all the more unusual because Chevrolet introduced the split-window coupe at the same time that Pinanfarina was introducing a custom-built Corvette based on that very same platform.
1963 Corvette Sales Brochures
Download this 1963 Corvette Dealers Sales Brochure for a quick look at the features of the car. New grace and elegance silhouette America's sports car. Corvette steps out smartly with an exhilarating new look for '63. A freshly elegant look that promises to lift the spirits...
1966 corvette
Despite its popularity, the second-gen Corvette holds the record for the fewest number of production years of any generation Corvette. The most valuable examples of the C2 Corvette live sort of like "bookends" at the start and finish of second-gen production.