- March 21
- The XP-64, now called the Corvette SS, is officially released for management viewing. [5.152]
- March 22
- At the Sebring race track, Juan Fangio test drives the Corvette SS "Mule", beating his own Ferrari record of last year with a lap time of 3:27.2. Stirling Moss test drives a 3:28 lap. [580.80]
- The Corvette SS is delivered to the Sebring race track. [271.109]
- March 23
- In Sebring, Florida, the Florida International 12 hour Grand Prix for the Amoco Trophy race is held, round 2 of the World Sports Car Championship.
- Finishing 1st in GT 5000 class, 12th overall, is the John Fitch #4 1957 Corvette, driven by Richard Thompson and Gaston Andrey.
- Finishing 2nd in GT 5000 class, 15th overall, is the Lindsey Hopkins #3 1957 Corvette, driven by John Kilborn, Jim Jeffords, and Dale Duncan.
- Finishing 7th in Sports 5000 class, 16th overall, is the Lindsey Hopkins #2 Corvette SR-2, driven by Paul O'Shea and Pete Lovely.
- John Fitch and Piero Taruffi drive the Lindsey Hopkins #1 Corvette SS in Sports 5000 class. After 23 laps, it is retired due to erratic brakes and faulty rear suspension.
[3.28,43] [5.155] [29.78] [42.38] [90] [104.151] [120.62] [133.12,36] [141] [148.14] [178.78] [203.16] [213.45] [260.25,44] [271.79,109,160,214] [337.64] [348] [385.61] [395.68] [423] [452.16] [518.43] [580.65] [901.46] [907.40] (Car No. 3 finishes 3rd in class [5.45])
- (month unknown)
- Edward Cole orders the Corvette SS be improved for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and for two more to be built. [42.38] [362.44] (February [518.51])
- April 7
- A car race is held at Palm Springs [Production +2.7].
- Finishing 2nd overall is the Corvette driven by Jim Hall.
- Finishing 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Bob Stonedale.
[423]
- April 9
- A fully-synchronized four-speed Borg-Warner transmission (RPO 685) is first made available on the 1957 model Corvette, as a US$188.30 option. [7] [28.42] [29] [84.8] [104.31] [111.7] [148.28] [271.38,249] [546.84] (May 1 [103.23] [226.46a] [454.43] [565.51] [580.60]) (May [5.45] [213.48] [518.38])
- April
- The Corvette Owners Club of San Diego is founded. [159.2]
- Work continues at General Motors on the Corvette SS, to prepare it for the Le Mans race in June. [271.149]
- RPO 479E "Air Box" ram-air induction is introduced for 1957 Corvettes. [213.48]
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^^^ advertisement ^^^
- Production of 4-speed 1957 model Corvettes begins. [131.70]
- April 21
- Final changes are made to the specifications of the 1958 Corvette. [580.88]
- May
- General Motors management orders the racing department of Chevrolet to cease work on projects associated with racing, including the Corvette SS. [271.149] [337.66] [579.75] [580.85]
- May 9
- The Northern California Corvette Association is incorporated, with 47 members. This is the world's first organized Corvette club. [25] [222.23] [579.10] [908.12]
- May
- RPO 684 is added to the 1957 model options, offering stiffer springs, bigger shocks, fatter front anti-roll bar, faster-ratio steering, bigger brakes, and a limited-slip differential. [104.34] [213.48]
- May 19
- A car race is held at Cumberland.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Dick Thompson.
[423]
- A car race is held at Cumberland.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is the Corvette driven by Carroll Shelby.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Bark Henry.
[423]
- May 29
- General Motors management orders the Corvette SS restored to show condition. [271.149]
- June 1
- A car race is held at Lime Rock. Finishing 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Bark Henry. [457]
- June 4
- The Automobile Manufacturers Association passes a resolution recommending that member companies (including General Motors) not participate in or sponsor auto racing. [42.39] [104.46] (April [3.38]) (June 6 [362.45])
- June 6
- The decision of the Automobile Manufacturers Association to ban race involvement is announced. The ban on racing involvement includes not helping others, not supply pace cars, not publicize any results, not advertise any features of passenger cars that suggest speed. [5.48] [6] [25] [42.39] [79.70] [206.51] [271.0,149] [453.209] [518.43] [579.2,160]
- June
- Plans to build three Corvette SS cars to race at Le Mans are scrapped. [518.51]
- At the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Jerry Earl enters his #100 Corvette SR-2 with Curtis Turner driving. He is unable to complete the race. [271.47,70]
- (month unknown)
- Zora Arkus-Duntov is named director of high-performance vehicles at Chevrolet. [147.60] [538.31] (1953 [104.26]) (1956 [774.94])
- The Q-Car project is re-labeled Q-Corvette, with a rear-mounted transaxle and fully independent suspension, targeting 1962 production. [159.60] [580.94] [903.65] (1958 [7])
- Following the Turin motor show in Italy, where Bill Mitchell was impressed by the Italian Abarth, Mitchell challenges his designers to create their own variation for the Q Corvette. [274.69]
- At the Pike's Peak Hill Climb, Ak Miller wins sportscar class with time of 15:23, driving a Corvette. [5.49]
- At the Bonneville salt flat races, George Hanson races a Corvette to a new Sports Car Class record of 144.322-MPH. [337.22]
- July 6
- At the Watkins Glen race course, Race #5 is held for B-Production and C-Production classes.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class, 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Dean McCarthy.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class, 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Homer Deasey.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[423]
- July 9
- General Motors' circular emblem with "CHEVROLET" at top, "Corvette" at bottom, and flags in center is registered as a trademark. [146]
- July 11
- Aluminum cowl and door bracing is added to GM's Assembly Instruction Manual. [271.253]
- July 14
- In Marlboro, Maryland, an SCCA race is held for B, C, and D Production cars.
- Finishing 1st in B Production class and 1st overall is the Jerry Earl's Corvette SR-2 driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd in B Production class and 2nd overall is the Corvette driven by Bark Henry.
- Finishing 3rd in B Production class is the Corvette driven by Bob Muat.
[271.47] [423]
- (month unknown)
- Rochester Ramjet fuel-injection is made available to production Corvettes. [260.25] [262.88]
- Chevrolet sells Bill Mitchell's Corvette SR-2, and Corvettes #3 and #4 from the Sebring race to private owners. [271.215]
- Chevrolet begins producing the Corvette News magazine, published quarterly. [8] [18.10] [232.29] [271.264]
- August 4
- In Virginia, SCCA National car races are held.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is Dick Thompson in the #211 Corvette.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is Jim Jeffords in the #155 Corvette.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall is Fred Windridge in the #99 Corvette.
- Finishing 4th in B-Production class and 4th overall is Bark Henry in the #114 Corvette.
- Finishing 5th in B-Production class and 5th overall is Leonard Butscher in the #53 Corvette.
- Finishing 6th in B-Production class and 6th overall is Walt Cline in the #16 Corvette.
- Finishing 7th in B-Production class and 9th overall is Eli Rose in the #145 Corvette.
[423]
- August
- Zora Arkus-Duntov is officially put in charge of any changes to Corvette production. [1] [260.29] [580.90]
- The final 1958 Corvette design is approved and locked in. A 1955 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket experimental car had been proposed by stylists as an all-new Corvette. [357.46]
- August 18
- In Montgomery, a car race is held for B-Production and C-Production cars.
- 1st overall is Bark Henry in a Corvette.
- 2nd overall is Dick Thompson in a Corvette.
- 3rd overall is Dean McCarthy in a Corvette.
[423]
- August 22
- Peter Brock submits sketches for a new Corvette design to Bill Mitchell. Mitchell orders the research division of Styling to proceed with Brock's design. (The car will emerge as the Sting Ray.) [454.44] (October [275.90])
- August 30
- The Corvette SS is on show at the Michigan State Fair, over ten days. [271.170]
- September 6
- Production of 1957 model Corvettes ends, with a total of 6339 built. [148.28] [271.9] [579.29]
- October 2
- At Bridgehampton, a car race is held for B-Production and C-Production cars.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is Fred Windridge in a Corvette.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is Bark Henry in a Corvette.
[423]
- October
- The first 1/4-scale clay model of the Q Corvette is ready for viewing. [353.46] [563.93] [580.95]
- October 14
- The first 1958 production Corvette rolls off the assembly line. This Corvette style is designated model J800. [148.30] [579.31] (October 31 [453.29] [871.22])
- October 27
- In Virginia, the SCCA National car races are held, for C-Production and F-Modified cars.
Finishing 2nd overall (C Production) is Leonard Butscher in the #135 Corvette.
[423]
- (month unknown)
- Richard Thompson wins SCCA B Production class title. [133.12] [148.14] [394.12]
- J.E. Rose, racing a Corvette, is SCCA B Modified points champion for the year. [133.12,72] [148.14] [337.24] [394.15]
- November 3
- In Palm Springs, the SCCA holds National car races.
- Finishing 1st overall is Jerry Austin in the B-Production class #58 Corvette.
- Finishing 2nd overall is Andy Porterfield in the B-Production class #283 Corvette.
[423]
- November
- A full-scale clay model of the Q Corvette is completed, ready for executive viewing. [353.46] [563.93] [579.90] [580.95]
- November 17
- At Riverside, the SCCA holds National car races.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is Jerry Austin in a Corvette
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is Carl Bailey in a Corvette.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 4th overall is Hugh Woods in a Corvette.
[423]
- December 1
- The Nassau Tourist Trophy race is held in the Bahamas. Finishing 1st in S8.0 class and 8th overall is the Bill France #92 Corvette SR-2 driven by Curtis Turner. [423] (1956 [231.32])
- The Nassau Governor's Trophy race is held in the Bahamas. Finishing 1st overall is the Bill France #92 Corvette SR-2 driven by Curtis Turner. [423] (1956 [231.32])
- December 8
- The Nassau Trophy race is held in the Bahamas. Curtis Turner races the Bill France #92 Corvette SR-2, but does not finish. [423] (November [271.47])
- December
- Jerry Earl sells his Corvette SR-2 to Jim Jeffords, with the Nicky Chevrolet racing team in Chicago. [18.57] [23.41] [42.37] [271.47] [325.36]
- The Q-Corvette project passes inspection at an Engineering Policy Group show. [454.60]
1958
-
- The Q-Car and Q-Corvette projects are halted, due to a recession in the automobile industry. [563.93] [580.96]
- March 2
- In Phoenix, a car race is held.
- Finishing 1st overall is Hap Sharp in a Corvette.
[423]
- March 22
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held, round 2 of World Sports Car Championship.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring 5000 class, 12th overall, is the Richard Doane #1 Corvette, driven by Jim Rathmann and Richard Doane.
- Finishing 2nd in Grand Touring 5000 class, 33rd overall, is the Richard Thompson #2 Corvette, driven by John Kilborn, Fred Windridge, and Dick Thompson.
- Jim Jeffords drives his #3 Corvette SR-2 in Grand Touring 5000 class. After 27 laps, the rear axle breaks. He places 59th overall.
[5.48] [104.151] [133.72] [263] [337.64] [348] [423]
- June 11
- The 39 millionth Chevrolet car is built, a 1958 Corvette. [579.42]
- June 29
- At Lime Rock, a car race is held.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is Fred Windridge in a Corvette.
[423]
- (month unknown)
- A Corvette finishes first in sports car class at the Pike's Peak Hill Climb. [3.124] [104.151]
- At the Bonneville salt flat races, Glen Minder races a 1957 Corvette to 153.327-MPH. [337.22]
- NASCAR abandons the idea of building a sports car oval circuit, and sells the EX-87/5951 Corvette to Duane Church of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. [522.27]
- General Motors management cancels the Q sedan project, including the Q Corvette. [274.69] [353.47]
- The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show in Reading, Pennsylvania, includes a Snowcrest White 1958 convertible in its show, jumping ramps. [723.15]
- July 7
- A federal law is passed, requiring automobile manufacturers to attach a label to the window of new cars displaying options and prices, transport and freight charges, and manufacturer's suggested retail price. The law will come into effect September 1. [523.74]
- July
- Bill Mitchell assembles the XP-700, a highly modified 1958 Corvette with a long oval nose, twin-bubble clear plastic roof, and periscope rear mirror. (The rear design is later adopted for the 1961 model.) [3.36] [30] [34] [104.136] [314.44]
- August 17
- At Montgomery, SCCA holds National car races.
- Finishing 1st overall is Jim Jeffords in a Corvette.
- Finishing 3rd overall is Moore in a Corvette.
[423]
- August 20
- Production of the 1958 model ends. Sales of the model reach 9168, enough to turn a profit for the Corvette for the first time. [3.31] [84.9] [148.30] [579.31] [580.99]
- September 1
- As of this date, all cars produced in the United States must have a manufacturer's label attached to a window displaying options and prices, transport and freight charges, and manufacturer's suggested retail price. [523.74]
- September 2
- Production of 1959 model Corvettes begins. [148.32] [579.67]
- September 20
- At Watkins Glen, the SCCA holds National car races.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is Jim Jeffords in the #1 Corvette.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is Ben Moore in the #118 Corvette.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 4th overall is Ed Leavens in the #51 Corvette.
- Finishing 4th in B-Production class and 5th overall is Robert Mouat in the #84 Corvette.
- Finishing 5th in B-Production class and 7th overall is Homer Dasey in the #220 Corvette.
- Finishing 6th in B-Production class and 9th overall is Tom Kerr in the #10 Corvette.
- Finishing 7th in B-Production class and 11th overall is Ed Myers in the #177 Corvette.
[423] [579.55]
- October 5
- In Virginia, the SCCA holds a National car race.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is the #69 Corvette driven by Frank Dominianni.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 16th overall is the #181 Corvette driven by Alvin Forsyth.
[423]
- October 12
- At Riverside, a car race is held.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 1st overall is the C. S. Mead #58 Corvette driven by Skip Hudson.
- Finishing 2nd in B-Production class and 2nd overall is the Bob Dickson #166 Corvette driven by Bob Dickson.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 3rd overall is the Bob Hoffman #32 Corvette driven by Bob Hoffman.
- Finishing 4th in B-Production class and 4th overall is the Dean Geddes #243 Corvette driven by Dean Geddes.
- Finishing 5th in B-Production class and 5th overall is the Scott Briley #41 Corvette driven by Scott Briley.
- Finishing 6th in B-Production class and 13th overall is the Bill Kongelback #38 Corvette driven by Bill Kongelback.
[423]
- (month unknown)
- Jim Jeffords in his Corvette SR-2 Purple People Eater wins SCCA B Production championship. [5.48] [18.57] [148.14] [231.32] [394.12] (1958 Corvette [133.74]) (Purple People Eater Mk II [133.74])
- December 1
- Harley Earl retires from General Motors Styling department. [3.8] [6] [7] [34] [49.119] [53.74] (1959 [42.30])
- Bill Mitchell becomes General Motors' chief stylist. He changes the name of the department from Styling to Design. [3.28] [6] [7] [32] [34] [42.30] [49.119] [53.74] [104.46] [454.57] [539.45]
- December 3
- In Nassau, the Bahamas, the Tourist Trophy race is held.
- 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Jim Jeffords.
[423]
- December
- Bill Mitchell buys the XP-87 Corvette SS "White Mule" chassis from Chevrolet for US$1, to use it as a test car for a styling study. This is not the actual Corvette SS, but a second test car used for testing the chassis. (It becomes the Sting Ray racer.) [3.44] [5.156] [29.80] [42] [203.16] [353.47] [580.102] ($500 [579.75])
- Larry Shinoda joins Bill Mitchell's Studio X, to finish design work on the Sting Ray racer. [242.26]
- Zora Arkus-Duntov, in the Corvette SS, hits 183 MPH on the General Motors Proving Grounds in Phoenix, Arizona. [12] [25] [271.151] [580.85]
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