1958–1960
For the 1959 model, engines and horsepower ratings did not change. Interiors were revised slightly with different instrument graphics and the addition of a storage bin to the passenger side. A positive reverse lockout shifter with "T" handle was standard with 4-speed manual transmission. This was the only year a turquoise convertible top color could be ordered, and all 24-gallon fuel tank models through 1962 could not be ordered with convertible tops due to inadequate space for the folding top mechanism. Rare options: RPO 684 heavy-duty brakes and suspension (142), metallic brakes (333), 15 by 5.5 in (38 by 14 cm) wheels (214), power windows (547), power convertible top (661).
Last features to appear in 1960 models included tailamps molded into the rear fenders and heavy grill teeth. New features include aluminum radiators, but only with 270 hp and 290 hp engines. Also for the first time, all fuel-injection engines required manual transmissions.[31] The 1960s Cascade Green was metallic, unique to the year and the rarest color at 140 made. Rare options: RPO 579 250 hp engine (100), RPO 687 heavy-duty brakes and suspension (119), 15 by 5.5 in (38 by 14 cm) wheels (246), power convertible top (512), power windows (544).
While Safer, the 1958 Corvette Took Flack for the Styling Change
When the 1958 Corvette was unveiled it looked a bit odd in the eyes
of many a critic and enthusiast. Others thought it was flashy; maybe
just a bit too flashy for the Corvette. The car was a total of 9.2
inches longer and 2.3 inches wider and looked a lot heavier than its
predecessor; probably because it was. The total curb weight for the 1958
Corvette was some 200 pounds heavier than the 1957 Corvette.
Though perhaps just a bit awkward looking at first glance, the 1958 Corvette’s new styling did allow for a safer travel.
For the first time in the C1 generation of the Corvette the bumpers
where installed on the frame of the car rather than the body and were secured by long brackets. This meant added protection in the case of a
collision keeping the occupants of the car safer. While the look of the car was certainly the most noticeable change,
there were other more slight modifications made. Other improvements were
made to the 1958 Corvette were:
- Different Paint: In 1958, Chevy changed the paint that would go on the Corvette from enamel to an acrylic-lacquer.
- Instrument Panel: The Corvettes of old were widely criticized for having their gauges spread out over the entire dash and seeing many land away from the driver. This was seen as an inconvenience so it was changed and the 1958 Vette saw all the gauges and instrument markers, save the clock, put right in front of the driver.
- Faster Engine: The new top end engine that featured fuel injection and a Duntov-cam produced an unreal 290 horsepower at 6200 RPM. This engine was consistently shooting from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds in many different tests and was also reported to do top speeds of 125 miles per hour or more.
Even though the design changes caught some flack as they still do to
this day, the 1958 Corvette accomplished what no other Corvette in the
C1 past had; it turned a profit for GM. The 1958 Corvette broke another
sales record and moved 9,168 units for the model year which was
astounding seeing as how the country was in economic turmoil at the time
and fighting through a recession. While it may have been considered too
flashy for a Vette it certainly did show that it was not all flash and
no performance and the public responded to that fact in spades.While not a lot of Changes were made, the 1959 Corvette had another Strong Year
In
1958 the Corvette seemed to have a rather busied chrome styling, but
for the 1959 Corvette this seemed to be cleaned up rather nicely. Gone
were the fake hood louvers and the chrome deck lid bars that often
caught criticism for being too showy. Besides these changes the 1959
Corvette was not all that different from the 1958 model year, but it did
offer some changes that made for another good year for the Vette; just
not a blockbuster one as hoped.There were little to slight modifications made on the 1959 Corvette on both the inside of the car and the outside of the car. Here are some of the more notable changes that were conducted to the super car for the 1959 run:
- Door Handles and Armrests: Both the door handles and the armrests on the 1959 Corvette were repositioned to make way for a shelf to be placed just below the passenger grab in order to allow for a small amount of storage.
- Seats: The seats of the 1959 Corvette were reshaped to offer some lateral support as their lack thereof had been a chief complaint from the previous year.
- Sun Visors: New to the 1959 Corvette were the addition of optional sun visors.
- Instrument Panel: All the instruments on the instrument panel received concave lenses versus flat lenses in an effort to keep reflection down.
- Transmission Lock-Out: A T-handle lock-out was added to the transmission of the 1959 Corvette so that the driver could not accidentally put the car in reverse gear while driving
- Brakes: Though optional, the RPO 686 package included newly sinterated-metallic linings developed by a division of GM known as Delco-Moraine. This option was made up of lining segments that were then riveted to the main brake shoes in three pairs and five pairs for the non-main or secondary shoes. The drums with this option were not finned and the new linings were not as harsh as the Cermetallic material and also required much less time to warm up for maximum breaking potential.
Even though both critics and the public gave the 1959 Corvette more acclaim than the previous year and the chrome madness was certainly toned down the sales did not reflect the love. While there was a slight increase from the 1958 Corvette tally, the 1959 model only sold a disappointing 9,670 units. This would make GM have to wait for the 60s to roll around before the Vette could sell those ever elusive 10,000 units in one model year. Still, the Corvette was making money for GM and in its short existence had proven that the car would be a winner and most likely a winner each and every year.
Another Record was Set with the 1960 Corvette as Little on the Car Changed
The 1960 Corvette was practically a clone of the 1959 model but there were still some slight modifications done to the American icon. 1960 also brought a wonderful milestone for the fledgling sports car as for the first time in the Corvette’s history sales would surpass the 10,000 unit mark.
While there were not a lot of changes done to the engines there were some power upgrades that were made to the two top engines available in the 1960 Corvette. On the first version, solid lifters and a higher compression gave the 283 fuelie an output of 315 horsepower at 6200 RPM which was a marked improvement. A second version that featured hydraulic lifters that allowed for easier maintenance pushed out 275 horsepower at 5200 RPM. However, due to the added power, the Powerglide was no longer available on the 1960 Corvette if it had a fuel injected engine because the torque was simply too much for the transmission to handle.
Even though Chevy had decided to stop promoting the Corvette as a ‘racer’ and instead decided to tout it as a ‘no fuss’ touring car, if a buyer wanted a racer, there were plenty of options available to accommodate. Aside from the 315 horsepower engine buyers could also obtain optional equipment such as:
- Positraction: This complimented a more powerful drivetrain and gave the best performance possible.
- Four-Speed Transmission: The four-speed continued to be a favorite of the speed freaks in 1960.
- Metallic Brake Linings: This came with the RPO 687 package and allowed for better overall stopping and didn’t take as long as conventional brakes to heart up thus working at full capacity quicker.
- Black-Wall Nylon Tires: This only added a little bit of money to the price tag as white walls remained the standard.
On the racetrack itself, chief GM engineer Bill Mitchell was unveiling his privately funded ‘Stingray’ and that lent to the ramped rumors of an all new Corvette in the making. Because Mitchell had replaced the retired Harley Earl just two years prior in 1958, the fact that he himself was debuting a racecar made everyone think that it was what was coming down the pipe for the Vette; and in some ways it actually was.
In reality, Mitchell and his team were constantly working to come up with the next generation of the Corvette but their progress would be slowed. The Corvette’s next generation had to take a backset for a little while as the Chevrolet Corvair took center stage and a lot of resources on its way to being deemed more important at the time. Though Mitchell and his team had many ideas, they would have to wait until 1963 to see any of them come to fruition.
The biggest news for the 1960 Corvette was the sales for the model year. When it was all said and done GM managed to move 10,261 units. This was the first time that the Vette had sold that physiological number of 10,000 units or more and at that point GM had all the confidence in the world in the Corvette.
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