Corvette: Year by Year
1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 19641965 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
Slideshow1973 Corvette Four Rotor / Aerovette
Although the 2020 C8 Corvette is the first mid-engine Corvette to be available to the public, it is not the first mid-engine Corvette.
There actually has been a considerable number of mid-engine Corvette prototypes and possibly the most significant one is the 1973 Aerovette.
The four rotor engine in the Aerovette was actually two two rotor Wankel engines harnessed together by a chain drive. They shared common water and oil pumps but each engine had its own distributor and Quadrajet carburetors.
At the time GM was keen on the rotary engine. But then the first of two gas crisis hit in the 1970s and the rotory's excessive fuel consumption caused its enthusiasm to disappear.
With the existence of the four rotor Aerovette it could be said that a Corvette was officially equipped with a rotary engine although none were sold to the public. When it became clear that a rotary engine was not part of GMs future, a Chevrolet V8 was installed and it was renamed Aerovette. The car still exists and is located in a GM museum.
Click here for Special Corvettes slideshow
The Corvette Four Rotor / Aerovette featured gullwing doors with a unique bi-fold design which unfortunately precluded any window opening possibilities. How this would have been dealt with had the car gone in production is not known. The design did offer a lower sill, making entry and egress much easier than conventional gullwing designs.
Right: GM designer Chuck Jordan, who supervised the Corvette Four Rotor / Aerovette project.
Image courtesy of Chuck Jordan Archives
The Corvette Four Rotor Aerovette served the car show circuit in the early 1970s. The result was much speculation that the next generation (C4) Corvette would be mid-engine. That dream did come true, albeit almost 50 years later.
Image courtesy of Chuck Jordan Archives
4 Rotor Story
To show case the Wankel engine for which GM had just bought the rights, Mitchell asked one of his studios to design a mid engine Corvette using a 4 Rotor Wankel and he told us what he wanted - a clean profile pointed at both ends. One designer [Jerry Palmer] in particular did not like the 'pointed at both ends'. He showed Mitchell his sketch of alternates twice and each time he was turned down. The 3rd time Michell said to him "Listen, kid - design is like baseball. 3 strikes and you're out". The final design was pointed at both ends.
~Chuck Jordan Archives
Image courtesy of Chuck Jordan Archives
Note: Clicking on an image with this symbol (
) will lead to a larger image.
Return to Special Corvettes
Add Comment
xInsert Bullet List Please enter at least one item.Item: Item: Item: Item: Item: xInsert Numeric List Please enter at least one item.Item: Item: Item: Item: Item: xInsert Link Please enter the link of the websiteOptionally you can add display textxInsert Email Please enter the email addressOptionally add any display textxInsert Image Please enter the link of the imagexInsert YouTube Video Please enter the link of the videoxPrivacy Policy This policy contains information about your privacy. By posting, you are declaring that you understand this policy:
- Your name, rating, website address, town, country, state and comment will be publicly displayed if entered.
- Aside from the data entered into these form fields, other stored data about your comment will include:
- Your IP address (not displayed)
- The time/date of your submission (displayed)
- Your email address will not be shared. It is collected for only two reasons:
- Administrative purposes, should a need to contact you arise.
- To inform you of new comments, should you subscribe to receive notifications.
- A cookie may be set on your computer. This is used to remember your inputs. It will expire by itself.
This policy is subject to change at any time and without notice.
xTerms and Conditions These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you are declaring that you agree with these rules:
- Although the administrator will attempt to moderate comments, it is impossible for every comment to have been moderated at any given time.
- You acknowledge that all comments express the views and opinions of the original author and not those of the administrator.
- You agree not to post any material which is knowingly false, obscene, hateful, threatening, harassing or invasive of a person's privacy.
- The administrator has the right to edit, move or remove any comment for any reason and without notice.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from submitting further comments.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
{"commentics_url":"\/\/corvettestory.com\/commentics\/","page_id":2419,"enabled_country":true,"country_id":0,"enabled_state":true,"state_id":0,"enabled_upload":false,"maximum_upload_amount":3,"maximum_upload_size":5,"maximum_upload_total":5,"captcha":true,"captcha_url":"http:\/\/corvettestory.com\/commentics\/frontend\/index.php?route=main\/form\/captcha&page_id=2419","cmtx_wait_for_comment":"cmtx_wait_for_comment","lang_error_file_num":"A maximum of %d files are allowed to be uploaded","lang_error_file_size":"Please upload files no bigger than %.1f MB in size","lang_error_file_total":"The total size of all files must be less than %.1f MB","lang_error_file_type":"Only image file types are allowed to be uploaded","lang_text_loading":"Loading ..","lang_placeholder_country":"Country","lang_placeholder_state":"State","lang_text_country_first":"Please select a country first","lang_button_submit":"Add Comment","lang_button_preview":"Preview","lang_button_remove":"Remove","lang_button_processing":"Please Wait.."}{"commentics_url":"\/\/corvettestory.com\/commentics\/","auto_detect":false}
Follow @corvettestory
2023 Corvette
C8 Z06
Introducing the Vette Spotter app for the iPhone.
The Vette Spotter app can identify the year of any Corvette.
All years and generations are covered, from 1953 to 2014. Over 350 photographs and detailed text are included.
The Corvette Four Rotor / Aerovette featured gullwing doors with a unique bi-fold design which unfortunately precluded any window opening possibilities. How this would have been dealt with had the car gone in production is not known. The design did offer a lower sill, making entry and egress much easier than conventional gullwing designs.
Right: GM designer Chuck Jordan, who supervised the Corvette Four Rotor / Aerovette project.
4 Rotor Story
To show case the Wankel engine for which GM had just bought the rights, Mitchell asked one of his studios to design a mid engine Corvette using a 4 Rotor Wankel and he told us what he wanted - a clean profile pointed at both ends. One designer [Jerry Palmer] in particular did not like the 'pointed at both ends'. He showed Mitchell his sketch of alternates twice and each time he was turned down. The 3rd time Michell said to him "Listen, kid - design is like baseball. 3 strikes and you're out". The final design was pointed at both ends.
~Chuck Jordan Archives
Note: Clicking on an image with this symbol () will lead to a larger image.
Add Comment
This policy contains information about your privacy. By posting, you are declaring that you understand this policy:
- Your name, rating, website address, town, country, state and comment will be publicly displayed if entered.
- Aside from the data entered into these form fields, other stored data about your comment will include:
- Your IP address (not displayed)
- The time/date of your submission (displayed)
- Your email address will not be shared. It is collected for only two reasons:
- Administrative purposes, should a need to contact you arise.
- To inform you of new comments, should you subscribe to receive notifications.
- A cookie may be set on your computer. This is used to remember your inputs. It will expire by itself.
This policy is subject to change at any time and without notice.
These terms and conditions contain rules about posting comments. By submitting a comment, you are declaring that you agree with these rules:
- Although the administrator will attempt to moderate comments, it is impossible for every comment to have been moderated at any given time.
- You acknowledge that all comments express the views and opinions of the original author and not those of the administrator.
- You agree not to post any material which is knowingly false, obscene, hateful, threatening, harassing or invasive of a person's privacy.
- The administrator has the right to edit, move or remove any comment for any reason and without notice.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in being banned from submitting further comments.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time and without notice.
2023 Corvette
C8 Z06
Introducing the Vette Spotter app for the iPhone.
The Vette Spotter app can identify the year of any Corvette.
All years and generations are covered, from 1953 to 2014. Over 350 photographs and detailed text are included.
Comments