CAR CULTURE
The Chevrolet Corvette: America’s Sports Car (1953–1996)
Since its 1953 Motorama debut, ‘America’s only sports car’ - the Chevrolet Corvette has been a rolling laboratory for American innovation. From Harley Earl’s fiberglass dream to Zora Arkus-Duntov’s high-performance reality, the Corvette has spent decades redefining the "halo car" for General Motors. This archive traces that journey through four distinct generations, showcasing the original print advertisements that captured the imagination of a nation. Whether it’s the solid-axle roadsters of the fifties or the high-tech "digital" wedges of the eighties, these ads document the evolution of an American icon.
C1 (1953–1962)
The Genesis. Witness the birth of the "Blue Flame" and the arrival of the small-block V8 that started it all.
The Sting Ray. Explore the sharp-edged era of the split-window coupe and the thunderous Big Block 427.
The Shark. From the "Coke-bottle" curves of the muscle car era to the refined T-top cruisers of the late seventies.
The Technological Leap. A clean-sheet redesign featuring aerodynamic wedges, digital dashes, and the legendary ZR-1 "King of the Hill."