Corvette Generations:
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 19631964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
1961 Corvette C1, Part 2
Laura Shepard Churchkey, daughter of Alan Shepard, the first American to travel into outer space, leads the parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of Shepard's historic flight Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Cocoa Beach, Florida in a 1961 Corvette. Alan Shepard brought along his 1957 Corvette when he reported for Space Program training in April 1959. He would own at least 10 Corvettes in his lifetime. His enthusiasm for sports cars was shared by several of the other young men who would train with him to become America’s first astronauts.
Typical 1961 Corvette print ads. Today they would be referred to as lifestyle ads; i.e. Corvette = the good life.
GM had enough confidence in the road manners of the Corvette that they compared their product to a 1927 Bugatti.
By 1961, Corvette drivetrain choices had become ample with a configuration for every budget and performance intention. 1961 would also be the last year for the 283 cubic inch engine first seen in 1958.
Below: The 1961 Corvette owner's manual.
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