The Chevrolet Corvette is a line of American two-door, two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque since 1953.

Throughout eight generations, indicated sequentially as C1 to C8, the Corvette is noted for its performance, distinctive styling, lightweight fiberglass or composite bodywork, and competitive pricing. The Corvette has had domestic mass-produced two-seater competitors fielded by American Motors, Ford, and Chrysler; it is the only one continuously produced by a United States auto manufacturer. It serves as Chevrolet's halo car.

In 1953, GM executives accepted a suggestion by Myron Scott, then the assistant director of the Public Relations department, to name the company's new sports car after the corvette, a small, maneuverable warship.

 Initially, a relatively modest, lightweight 6‑cylinder convertible, subsequent introductions of V8 engines, competitive chassis innovations, and rear mid-engined layout have gradually moved the Corvette upmarket into the supercar class.

In 1963, the second generation was introduced in coupe and convertible styles. The first three Corvette generations (1953–1982) employed body-on-frame construction, and since the C4 generation, introduced in 1983 as an early 1984 model, Corvettes have used GM's unibody Y‑body platform.

All Corvettes used front mid-engine configuration for seven generations, through 2019, and transitioned to a rear mid-engined layout with the C8 generation.

Initially manufactured in Flint, Michigan, and St. Louis, Missouri, the Corvette has been produced in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since 1981, which is also the location of the National Corvette Museum. The Corvette has become widely known as "America's Sports Car." Automotive News wrote that after being featured in the early 1960s television show Route 66, "the Corvette became synonymous with freedom and adventure," ultimately becoming both "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history."

first generation C1: 1953–1962

The first generation of Corvette was introduced late in the 1953 model year, appearing as a show car for the 1953 General Motors Motorama, January 17–23 at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. At the time, Chevrolet general manager Thomas H. Keating said it was six months to a year away from production readiness. The car generated sufficient interest for mass production to begin on June 30, 1953.

Uniquely, the original Corvette used fiberglass bodywork, its reinforcement placed by hand. This generation was often referred to as the "solid-axle" models, with independent rear suspension appearing in the next. Three hundred hand-built Corvette convertibles were produced, all Polo White, for the 1953 model year.

The 1954 model year vehicles could be ordered in Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, Black, or Polo White; 3640 were manufactured.

The 1953, 1954, and 1955 model years were the only Corvettes equipped with a 235 cu in (3.9 L) version of the second-generation Blue Flame inline-six rated at 150 hp.

The 1955 model offered a 4.34 L V8 engine as an option. The new V8 improved 0–100km/h acceleration by 3.1 seconds. With a large inventory of unsold 1954 models, GM limited production to 700 units for 1955. Despite the poor sales of the Corvette at the time, the V8 was a popular option, with an estimated six cars produced with the inline-six.

The 1958 Corvette received a body and interior revisions including a longer front end with quad headlamps, bumper exiting exhaust tips, revised steering wheel, and a dashboard with all gauges mounted directly in front of the driver. For 1958 only were 1958 hood louvers and twin trunk spears.

second generation C2: 1963–1967

The second generation (C2) Corvette, which introduced Sting Ray to the model, continued with fiberglass body panels, and overall, was smaller than the first generation. The car was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous concept design called the "Q Corvette," which was created by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell.

Production started for the 1963 model year and ended in 1967. Introducing a new name, "Sting Ray", the 1963 model was the first year for a Corvette coupé and it featured a distinctive tapering rear deck (a feature that later reappeared on the 1971 "Boattail" Buick Riviera) with, for 1963 only, a split rear window.

The Sting Ray featured hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents, and an independent rear suspension. Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov never liked the split rear window because it blocked rear vision, but Mitchell thought it to be a key part of the entire design.

Maximum power for 1963 was 360 hp and was raised to 375 hp in 1964. Options included electronic ignition, the breakerless magnetic pulse-triggered Delcotronic first offered on some 1963 Pontiac models. On 1964 models the decorative hood vents were eliminated and Duntov, the Corvette's chief engineer, got his way with the split rear window changed to a full-width window.

The 1967 model year had the first L88 engine option that was rated at 430 hp, but unofficial estimates place the output at 560 hp or more. Only twenty such engines were installed at the factory. 

third generation C3: 1968–1982

The third-generation Corvette, patterned after the Mako Shark II concept car, was introduced for the 1968 model year and was in production until 1982. C3 coupes featured the first use of T-top removable roof panels. It introduced monikers that were later revived, such as LT-1, ZR-1, Z07, and Collector Edition. In 1978, Corvette's 25th anniversary was celebrated with a two-tone Silver Anniversary Edition and an Indy Pace Car replica edition of the C3. This was also the first time that a Corvette was used as a Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500.

Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the C2, but the body and interior were new. The 5.7 L engine replaced the old 5.36 L as the base engine in 1969, but power remained at 300 hp. 1969 was the only year for a C3 to optionally offer either a factory-installed side exhaust or a normal rear exit with chrome tips. The all-aluminum big-block 7.00 L ZL-1 engine was also new for 1969; the special racing engine was listed at 430 hp (321 kW; 436 PS), but was reported to produce 560 hp and accelerated a ZL-1 through the 0.40 km in 10.89 seconds.

Styling changed subtly throughout the generation until 1978 for the car's 25th anniversary. The Sting Ray nameplate was not used on the 1968 model, but Chevrolet still referred to the Corvette as a Sting Ray; however, 1969 (through 1976) models used the "Stingray" name as one word, without the space.

The 1978 25th Anniversary model introduced the fastback glass rear window and featured a new interior and dashboard. Corvette's 25th anniversary was celebrated with the Indy 500 Pace Car limited edition and a Silver Anniversary model featuring silver over gray lower body paint.

The 1981 models were the last available with a manual transmission until well into the 1984 production run. In 1982, a fuel-injected engine returned, and a final C3 tribute Collectors Edition featured an exclusive, opening rear window hatch.

fourth generation C4: 1984–1996

The fourth-generation Corvette was the first complete redesign of the Corvette since 1963. Production was to begin for the 1983 model year, but quality issues and part delays resulted in only 43 prototypes for the 1983 model year produced that were never sold. All of the 1983 prototypes were destroyed or serialized as 1984 model year except one white example with a medium blue interior.

 The 1984 model carried over the 350 cu in (5.7 L) L83 "Crossfire" V8 engine from the final 1982 third-generation model. New chassis features were aluminum brake calipers and an all-aluminum suspension for weight savings and rigidity. The new one-piece Targa top had no center reinforcement. Retractable headlights continued to be used, but became single units.

A new electronic dashboard with digital liquid crystal displays for the speedometer and tachometer was standard. Beginning in 1985, the 230 hp L98 engine with tuned port fuel injection became the standard engine.

In 1990, the ZR1 option Corvette was introduced with the LT5 engine designed by Lotus and built in the Mercury Marine plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The LT5 engine was a four-cam (DOHC) design producing 375 hp. The C4 ZR1 ran from 1990 thru 1995 model years.

In 1991, all Corvettes received updates to the body, interior, and wheels. 

Production of the ZR-1 ended in 1995 after 6,939 cars had been built. 1996 was the final year of C4 production, and featured special models and options, including the Grand Sport and Collector Edition, OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics), run-flat tires, and the LT4 engine. The 330 hp LT4 V8 was available only with a manual transmission, while all 300 hp  LT1 Corvettes used automatic transmissions. Chevrolet released the Grand Sport (GS) version in 1996 to mark the end of production of the C4 Corvette

fifth generation C5: 1997–2004

The C5 Corvette was redesigned from the ground up after sales from the previous generation began to decline. Production of the C5 Corvette began in 1996 but quality/manufacturing issues saw its public release delayed until 1997.

C5 production continued through the 2004 model year. The C5 was a completely new design featuring new concepts and manufacturing innovations, subsequently carried forward to the C6 & C7. With a top speed of 283 km/h, the C5 was noted by the automotive press as an advance, with improved dynamics in nearly every area over the C4. Innovations included a 0.29 drag coefficient, a notably lower weight with near 50/50 weight distribution, and active handling (the first stability control for a Corvette).

An all-new LS1 aluminum engine (Gen III small block) featured individual ignition coils for each cylinder, and aluminum block and pistons. It was initially rated at 345 hp  and 470 N⋅m, but was increased to 350 hp in the 2001 edition. The new engine, combined with the new body, was able to achieve a better feul consumption.

For its first year, the C5 was available only as a coupe, though the new platform was designed from the ground up to be a convertible, introduced for model year 1998. A fixed-roof coupe (FRC) followed in 1999.

The Z06 model replaced the FRC model as the highest-performance C5 Corvette. Instead of a heavier double-overhead cam engine like the ZR-1 of the C4 generation, the Z06 used an LS6, a 385 hp derivative of the standard LS1 engine. Using the much more rigid fixed roof design allowed the Z06 unprecedented handling thanks to upgraded brakes and less body flex.

sixth generation C6: 2005–2013

For the C6 Corvette GM wanted to focus more on refining the C5 than trying to redesign it. Car & Driver, and Motor Trend, described the C6 as an "evolution of the C5, instead of a complete redo".

The C6 wheelbase was increased while body overhangs were decreased when compared to the C5. Retractable headlights were replaced with fixed units, for the first time since 1962. The C6 brought a new and improved interior compared to the C5. As a result of the upgraded interior, the C6 had a slight increase in passenger hip room. It also sported an updated engine called the LS2, which bumped the 5.7 L  LS1/LS6 to 6.0 L and gained 50 HP, delivering 400 hp at 6000 rpm and 540 N⋅m at 4400 rpm, and giving the vehicle a 0–100 km/h) time of  4.2 seconds. Its top speed was 310 km/h. The C6 shared some components with the Cadillac XLR hard-top convertible introduced two years earlier in 2003.

The new Z06 arrived as a 2006 model in the third quarter of 2005. It has a 7.0 L version of the small block engine codenamed LS7. Official output was 505 hp  and has a 0–100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds. Top speed is 319 km/h.

Beginning with the 2011 model year, buyers of the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 were offered the opportunity to assist in the build of their engines. Titled the "Corvette Engine Build Experience," buyers paid extra to be flown to the Wixom, Michigan Performance Build Center. Participants helped the assembly line workers build the V8 engine, then took delivery of the car at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, near the Corvette final assembly point.

The last C6 Corvette was manufactured in February 2013. In May 2013, a federal investigation of problems with more than 100.000 C6 lighting systems was announced.

seventh generation C7: 2014–2019

Development for the seventh generation Corvette started in 2007. A prime consideration was countering not just the perception but the fact that the Corvette had become an "old man's toy" - confirmed by an October 2012 GM study which showed that about 46 percent of Corvette buyers were 55 or older, compared with 22 percent of Audi R8 and 30 percent of Porsche 911 customers. 

Originally set to be introduced for the 2011 model year, the C7's debut was delayed until the 2014 model year to make changes to make the car more appealing to younger buyers. Mid-engine and rear-engine layouts had been considered, but the front-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) platform was retained to keep production costs lower.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette included an LT1 6.2 L V8  making 455 hp or 460 hp  with the optional performance exhaust. The LT1 engine (the "LT1" designation was first used by GM in 1970 and then later in 1992.) is in the Gen V family of small block engines, which was used in GM vehicles as the new small V8 option. Transmission choices included a 7-speed manual or a 6-speed (2014) / 8-speed (2015-) automatic with paddle shifters.

The new generation Corvette resurrected the "Stingray" name. Originally spelled "Sting Ray" on 1963 through 1967 models and "Stingray" from 1969 until 1976.

The last C7 Corvette (also making it the last front-engined Corvette), a black Z06, was auctioned off on June 28, 2019, for $2.7 million (~$3.17 million in 2023) at the Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction. The auction benefited the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which helps pay off mortgages for the families of first responders that were killed in the line of duty and builds "mortgage-free, accessible smart homes" for injured service members.

eighth generation C8: 2020–present

The 2020 Corvette C8 was the first Corvette to have a rear mid-engine configuration, GM's first since the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. The base Stingray coupe was introduced on July 18, 2019, with three launch colors, red (with the Z51 Package), white, and blue, and the convertible on October 2 at the Kennedy Space Center, joined by the C8.R race car, which took part at the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona.

The base engine is the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated LT2 V8, which generates 465 hp  and 637 N⋅m of torque when equipped with either the performance exhaust package or Z51 performance package. The C8 is the first Corvette to be offered without a traditional manual transmission since all 1982 Corvettes were built with a 4-speed auto with overdrive, and the convertible is the first Corvette with a retractable hardtop.

The Corvette C8 Z06 debuted in the 2023 model year. It features the LT6, a 670 horsepower, 5.5 liter, DOHC flat-plane crank V8 – the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8. The Z06 is redlined at 8600 RPM and feature the same dual-clutch transmission as the Stingray, with gearing changes specific to the performance of this model.

The Corvette ZR1X, introduced for the 2026 model year, is a hybrid variant of the C8 Corvette lineup, combining the twin-turbocharged 5.5L LT7 V8 engine from the ZR1 with the electric motor and all-wheel-drive (eAWD) system from the E-Ray.

The Corvette C8 E-Ray was unveiled on January 17, 2023, as a 2024 model year vehicle. It is the first production Corvette to include front wheel drive electric motor components. The Hybrid powertrain features a combined 655 horsepower  generated from a 6.2L LT2 V8, coupled with an e-motor powering the front wheels. It listed at over $122,000 before options.

It is reported to produce 1250 horsepower, making it the most powerful Corvette ever produced. The ZR1X is expected to achieve a 0–100 km/h time of under 2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of under 9 seconds, positioning it as a hypercar competitor. The model features advanced aerodynamics, including a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, and a high-downforce rear wing. The starting price for the C8 ZR1X was announced at $190,000.

concept vettes