The introduction of unique, limited edition Corvettes is nothing new for Chevrolet. The company has been creating custom design packages...
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GM Special Models Guide
Only Bill Mitchell could get away with this. Bill always managed to have a hot daily ride. Engineering prototypes that weren't street-legal stayed behind the fence, but many of the show car Corvettes managed to go home with Bill. His usual statement on his "design study" cars was, "This thing runs like a bear!" For the Mulsanne Bill added, "This is the best Stingray ever."
Known for their charismatic designs and superior performance, the pack-leading Pace Cars share a special place in Indianapolis 500 lore. History was made at the 2008 Indianapolis 500 when a pair of distinctive yet highly differentiated Corvette models served as the Official Pace Cars — one highlighting a commitment to fuel solutions and the other marking 30 years of Corvette's Pace Car heritage.
For the 1964 New York World's Fair, Bill Mitchell and his Styling team at the Tech Center customized a production Sting Ray under Shop Order #10361 with a variety of items that transformed the already impressive Corvette into a showpiece like no other. An opening was cut into the center of the car's hood exposing a polished fuel injection manifold with the Corvette crossed flags in its very center.
The big news for 1986 was that a Corvette would pace the Indy 500 for the second time. Retired General Chuck Yeager was enjoying celebrity status as a result of the book and movie, “The Right Stuff.” But Chevrolet was still smarting from the heavy criticism over the ‘78 Corvette Pace Car debacle and decided that all 1986 Corvette convertibles were designated as “Pace Car Replica”.
The Corvette skipped a year and returned to the Indy 500 in 2015. NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon drove the 'Vette for the first lap, and the car had a fairly simple body with the race decals on the doors and sponsor stickers at the front end. Gordon, who grew up in nearby Pittsboro, Indiana, is no stranger to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the first NASCAR race in the history of the famed 2.5-mile oval and has won four more times.
"Bunkie" Knudsen ordered it up in the spring of 1964 for his wife, Florence. This car is as much of a gem today as it was when Florence Knudsen first saw it, so says its current owner, Chevy dealer and noted Corvette collector Bob McDorman. It had custom Pink Pearl paint and custom pink leather interior.
In August of 1955 GM styling created an exclusive Corvette for Prince Bertil of Sweden, who reportedly placed his order direct with Harlow Curtice, GM President. All modifications were confined to the exterior. Visible in the frontal view are an entirely new, larger grille assembly with flat black screen instead of teeth and the replacement of the front emblem by a large "V".
The 2005 Corvette Pace Car paced at the 89th Annual Indianapolis 500 on May 29, 2005. It was driven by Retired Army General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. There were three Pace Cars produced. Eight Track/Festival convertibles painted Victory Red Corvette were used on race day. These Track/Festival Pace Cars did not have the center silver stripe, logo-embroidered headrest, and graphics that were on the actual pace car. There were two replica pace cars produced.
The all-new, seventh-generation 2014 Corvette Stingray served as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, leading the field to green at the start of the 97th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” on Sunday, May 26 2013. It marked a record 12th time the Corvette served as the Pace Car, starting in 1978. Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, drove the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pace Car
Corvette’s decision to become the official pace car of the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona is a key component of Chevrolet’s strategy to reinforce Corvette’s image as "America’s Performance Icon." Jim Campbell, Corvette brand manager, is responsible for developing this strategy, and he’s the guiding force behind Corvette’s return to the racetrack.
Within the National Corvette Museum's Skydome sits the only remaining 1983 Corvette; a car best characterized as a survivor, in every sense of the word. According to the Macmillan Dictionary, a survivor is, "someone or something that still exists after every other member of a group has died or been destroyed." This as it may, the 1983 Corvette lives up to this title.
The most innovative of the Bob McDorman Collection’s GM Styling Corvettes is this Blue Metallic one-off enjoyed by GM Styling legend Bill Mitchell. The unique paint is accented with a custom made die cast front grille and matching dual front fender vents. A willing 327 CI engine gave this gem all the performance the boss could have asked for...
A 2006 specially outfitted Corvette Z06 served as the Official Pace Car of the 13th Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet cars have paced the prestigious NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at each of the 12 previous events, but the Corvette has never before been the Chevrolet brand chosen to lead the field to the green flag at the historic 25-mile IMS oval track. There's a first time for everything.
The 1984 PPG Indy Pace Car Corvette was special from the very beginning- in several ways. Initially, it was created as a one-off concept car that would be designated as one of the official Pace Cars for the PPG Indy Car World Series of races. It was custom-built by PPG in cooperation with the Chevrolet Division of General Motors. The 205 HP 350 was replaced by a 450hp, 401 cubic-inch V-8.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 was the official Pace Car for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and led drivers to the green flag on Sunday, May 27, for the 102nd running of the legendary race. It marks the 15th time a Corvette has served as the official Pace Car since 1978, and the 29th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race.
The 2019 Corvette ZR1 was the official Pace Car for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil and led drivers to the green flag on Sunday, May 27, for the 102nd running of the legendary race. It marks the 15th time a Corvette has served as the official Pace Car since 1978, and the 29th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race.
"Hot" is an apt description of this special coupe's drivetrain. Its 6.6-liter engine produces 512 horsepower and 523 lbs.-ft. of torque. Mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and featuring a 3:41 geared limited slip differential and four-wheel independent suspension, this "Vette takes a backseat to no other vehicle. The White Shark Corvette also features power rack-and-pinion steering to precisely pilot this vehicle and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.
In 2005, the Corvette was chosen as the official pace car of the 47th Daytona 500. The car was based on a 2005 production model Corvette and it presented an excellent opportunity for the 2005 Corvette to showcase its true capabilities. The pace car was designed to honor the heritage of the historic Corvette race cars of yesteryear. It was finished in millennium yellow with over-the-top black racing stripe that runs from the hood to the trunk lid. It is powered by a 6.0L V-8 LS2 engine with 400 horsepower.
The Airbox option package designated RPO 579D came with the Duntov-cammed, Rochester fuel-injected 283/283 HP V-8. It incorporated a fiberglass intake plenum on the drivers-side inner fender. Fed by an opening in the radiator bulkhead, it channeled cooler, denser outside air through an internal filter and along a rubberized duct to the Rochester fuel-injection.
2009 marked the 16th time that Chevrolet has paced the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and the fifth consecutive time Corvette has led the pack. Chevrolet's pacing tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway also extends to the Indianapolis 500 where Chevrolet has paced that esteemed race 20 times with Corvette leading the field 10 times.
If you were a senior GM employee, one of the perks was being able to have your own custom built for you. Bill Mitchell was known for it, but this SR-2 Lookalike was built for GM president Harlow Curtis, who was president of GM during the period that the SR-2 were developed. The lookalike was built by GM’s styling staff and presented to him.
A 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible paced the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007. As it was selected as the Official Pace Car, Chevrolet supplied several identically prepared and uniquely trimmed Corvette convertibles – in new Atomic Orange paint with distinctive gold ribbon graphics – that served in the official pace duties of the race, as well as supporting activities. This year, the driver of this Pace Car was Patrick Dempsey.
I was recently reading an article published in the National Corvette Museum’s quarterly “America’s Sports Car: A Publication of the...
Immediately following this unveiling, consumers began clamoring at the opportunity to become one of the fortunate few to own their own IMSA GTLM Championship C8. Chevrolet filled all 1,000 orders for the race-inspired commemorative C8 in record time, as production commenced. Those lucky enough to place their order before the mandatory production cap was reached, were treated to a handful of IMSA GTLM Championship C8 variants to choose from.
With defending Daytona 500 Champion Kevin Harvick at the unveiling, surrounded by Chevrolet, General Motors and Daytona International Speedway officials, hundreds watched the much-anticipated unveiling of the 2008 Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car ~ the Official Pace Car of The Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest race. Apart from its special paint and the addition of a integrated light bar, it is almost identical to the street version.
The Corvette Z06 that served as the Daytona 500 pace car was mechanically identical to those available at Chevrolet dealerships. It was the fastest vehicle ever offered by Chevrolet and General Motors. With 505 horsepower (377 kw) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) from its 7.0L all-aluminum, racing-inspired engine, the Corvette Z06 leaps from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 198 mph. The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme.
In 1963 GM Design put together two special Corvettes according to special work orders. The first was delivered fresh to the 1963 Chicago Auto show, while a nearly identical version was gifted to the retired Harley Earl. These Vettes received numerous modifications from GM Design including and a new custom interior and sidepipes.
A 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 led the starting field of the 96th Indianapolis 500 to the green flag Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With 638 horsepower, the Corvette ZR1 is the most powerful production car ever to serve as the Pace Car during the Indianapolis 500. Restaurateur, best-selling author and host of the Food Network’s hit show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” Guy Fieri was the driver.
A Chevrolet Corvette Z06 paced the field for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday, July 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A Chevrolet has performed pace car duties for all 14 editions of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, one of NASCAR's most highly anticipated events since the inaugural in 1994. Also, Chevrolet once again supplied event support vehicles, including Silverado pickup trucks, for on track activities.
