- (month unknown)
- Astronaut Alan Shepard receives a 1962 Corvette from General Motors. [897.12]
- June
- At the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the XP-755 Corvette Shark show car is first demonstrated for senior staff of the Design Staff centre. The car incorporates a supercharged four-carbureter 327-ci engine, on a 1962 Corvette chassis. [5.71] [42.59] [104.136] [226.8] [274.70] [365.41] [580.150]
- (month unknown)
- Vernon Kispert sells his Corvette SR-2 to a wrecking yard in Terre Haute, Indiana. (The car is put on display for several years.) [231.32]
- July
- Production of 1961 model Corvettes ends. [148.36]
- (month unknown)
- A Corvette finishes first in class at the Pike's Peak Hill Climb. [3.124] [104.151] [613.67]
- Edward Cole proposes building a four-seat version of the Corvette for the 1963 model year, based on the XP-720 prototype. He assigns Larry Shinoda to the project. [90]
- August
- Production of 1962 model Corvettes begins. [148.38]
- (month unknown)
- Chevrolet switches the Borg-Warner T-10 manual transmission in Corvettes from cast iron to aluminum. [28.43] [103.23]
- Second season of the Route 66 televison show features a Fawn Beige 1961 Corvette. [274.48] [614.20]
- October
- The Paris Auto Show is held in France. Italian coachmaker Carrozzeria Vignale shows a 1960 Corvette with body design by Gordon Kelly via the Brooks Stevens deisgn firm. The car has an oval nose section with eggcrate grill, and egg-shaped fastback rear. [542.53] (October 1960 [454.78])
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- October 22
- At the Laguna Seca raceway in California, the United States auto Club holds the Monterey Pacific Grand Prix. Dave MacDonald drives the 1961 MacDonald Corvette Special, 7/8 scale, 1750 pounds, qualifying 16th place, but spinning out on oil in the race. [880.70]
- (month unknown)
- Richard Thompson, racing a Corvette, is points champ in SCCA B Production class. [5.57] [133.12] [148.15] [394.12]
- Semon Knudsen, general manager of Chevrolet has Chevrolet Engineering build a copy of the Shark show car for his daily driver. It is serial number 148. [175.24]
- A second work shift assembling Corvettes is added. [6] [777.82]
- A four-seat version of the XP-720 (1963 Corvette) is created as a running prototype. The car is widely criticized, and the project is cancelled. [90]
- December 24
- The final design of the next generation Corvette is approved by management. [104.52]
1962
- January
- Zora Arkus-Duntov tests the CERV test car at Daytona, with a 380-hp 327-ci fuel-injected engine. A top speed of about 167-MPH is reached. [314.46] [343.102] [579.165]
- Zora Arkus-Duntov tests a 1963 prototype chassis in a 1962 body at the Sebring raceway. [90] [138.35] [208.48]
- February 11
- At Daytona Beach, Florida, the three hour Daytona Continental race is held.
- Finishing 1st in GT +5000 class and 13th overall is the Grady Davis/Gulf Oil #11 Corvette driven by Dick Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd in GT +5000 class and 19th overall is the Grady Davis/Gulf Oil #10 1960 Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
- Finishing 3rd in GT +5000 class and 20th overall is the Red Vogt #20 Corvette driven by Marvin Panch.
- Finishing 4th in GT +5000 class and 21th overall is the Delmo Johnson #25 Corvette driven by Dave Morgan.
- Finishing 5th in GT +5000 class and 23th overall is the John Walker #75 Corvette driven by Jack Knab.
[423] [452.16] [498.128] [518.84] [771.50] (February 14 [181.29]) (#11 is 7th overall [132.69] [175.30])
- March
- The Corvette group tests its development projects at Sebring. [208.48]
- March 24
- At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held, round 2 of the International Championship for Manufacturers, round 1 of the Challenge Mondial, and round 1 of the FIA Coupe des Sports.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring +4000 class, 18th overall, is the Grady Davis #2 1962 Corvette, driven by Duncan Black and M.R.J. Wylie.
- Finishing 2nd in Grand Touring +4000 class, 19th overall, is the Grady Davis #1 Corvette, driven by Don Yenko and Ed Lowther.
- Finishing 3rd in Grand Touring +4000 class, 21st overall, is the Johnson Chevrolet #4 Corvette, driven by Delmo Johnson and Dave Morgan.
- Finishing 4th in Grand Touring +4000 class, 31st overall, is the Fuller Murry Race Cars #7 Corvette, driven by Bill Fuller and Harry Washburn.
- Pat Pigott and Jerry Grant drive the Don Campbell #5 Corvette in Grand Touring +4000 class. After 148 laps, the car is out with a broken fuel pump. They place 39th overall.
- Johnny Allen and George Robertson Jr drive the Red VoGrand Touring #3 Corvette in Grand Touring +4000 class. After 59 laps, the engine fails. They place 47th overall.
- Rodger Ward and Bob Johnson drive the Ronnie Kaplan #6 Corvette in Grand Touring +4000 class. After 34 laps, the car is out with suspension failure. They place 55th overall.
[5.80] [132.69] [175.30] [181.29] [208.48] [263] [337.64] [348] [423] [585.98]
- April
- At the Coliseum in New York, the 6th International Automobile Show is held. Chevrolet debuts the XP-755 Corvette Shark show car, and the Corvette Kelly show car. [5.159] [140.8] [196.52] [203.16] [204.27] [226.8] [232.23] [291.82] [301.58] [306.37] [322.8] [454.100] [580.151] [820.67] [821.55]
- April 29
- At the Virginia International Raceway, in Virginia, an SCCA National race for A-, B-, and C-Production classes is held.
- Finishing 1st in A-Production class and 1st overall is the #11 Corvette driven by Dick Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd in A-Production class and 2nd overall is the #18 Corvette driven by Ben Moore.
- Finishing 3rd in A-Production class and 3rd overall is the #58 Corvette driven by Dick Lang.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 4th overall is the #12 Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
- Finishing 4th in A-Production class and 5th overall is the #41 Corvette driven by Robert Ryan Brown.
- Finishing 5th in A-Production class and 7th overall is the #47 Corvette driven by Roy Kumnick.
- Finishing 3rd in B-Production class and 8th overall is the #31 Corvette driven by Grady Davis.
- Finishing 4th in B-Production class and 12th overall is the #42 Corvette driven by George McKean.
- Finishing 6th in A-Production class and 15th overall is the #8 Corvette driven by Hank Mergner.
[132.69] [175.30] [423]
- (month unknown)
- Chevrolet begins assembling first pilot cars of 1963 model Corvette, for sorting out the manufacturing process, dealer previews, promotional films, and initial press appraisals. [3.60] [5.76] [454.105] [580.152]
- May 13
- At Cumberland, Maryland, an SCCA race for A- and B-Production classes is held.
- Finishing 1st in A-Production class and 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 8th overall is the Corvette driven by Ralph Salyer.
[132.69] [175.30] [423]
- May
- Ford and Chrysler call off their adherence to the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on sponsored racing. [3.48] [5.80] [42.44] [579.7] (March [454.85]) (June [454.117])
- June 3
- At Bridgehampton, an SCCA race for A-, B-, and C-production classes is held.
- Finishing 1st in A-Production class and 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd in A-Production class and 2nd overall is the Corvette driven by Robert Ryan Brown.
- Finishing 3rd in A-Production class and 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Frank Dominianni.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 6th overall is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[132.69] [175.30] [287.30] [423]
- June 13
- At Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, an SCCA race for A-, B-, and C-Production classes is held.
- Finishing 1st in A-Production class and 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 4th overall is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[132.69] [175.30] [423] [821.55]
- June
- Zora Arkus-Duntov proposes to Chevrolet general manager Semon Knudsen building a CERV II test car, as an open sports roadster with four-wheel drive and engine under 244-ci (4 litres), the limit allowed for prototypes racing at the Sebring 12-hour and Le Mans 24-hour races. Knudsen approves the project. (General Motors management cancels the project later in the year.) [454.97] [579.165] [580.134]
- Semon Knudsen is told by Frederic Donner to cancel the CERV II racing project. [580.137,166]
- June 15
- Semon Knudsen approves plans to build 125 special racing Corvettes, 25 for Chevrolet, 100 to be built by outside contractors between July 1962 and June 1963. (This is the start of the Grand Sport project.) [3.50] [5.82] [42.44] [310.14] [580.137]
- June
- Chevrolet begins showing the 1963 Corvette to the automotive press. [580.152]
- June 23
- In Le Mans, France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is held, over two days. Tony Settember and John Turner race Hugh Powell's Scuderia Scirocco #1 Corvette, but retire on the 14th hour with transmission and piston trouble. [337.65] [345.56] [423]
- July 4
- The Pike's Peak Hillclimb is held.
- Finishing 2nd in +2.0 class and 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Frank Peterson.
- Finishing 3rd in +2.0 class and 4th overall is the Corvette driven by Al Daniels.
[312.29] [423]
- July 8
- At Lake Garnett, Kansas, an SCCA race for A-, B-, and C-Production classes is held.
- Finishing 1st in A-Production class and 1st overall is the Corvette driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 3rd in A-Production class and 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Roy Kumnick.
- Finishing 1st in B-Production class and 4th overall is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[132.69] [175.30] [423]
- July
- Production begins on the Grand Sport, designed for racing in Sports Car World Championship races. Production is intended to be 125. [3.50] [7] [36] [151.90] [152.39] [309.12] (October [534.45])
- August 5
- At the Wisconsin Grand Prix, Richard Thompson races Gulf Oil's 1962 Corvette to a first in SCCA A-Production class. [132.69] [175.30]
- August
- Production of 1962 model Corvettes ends. [148.38]
- At the GM Proving Grounds, Bunkie Knudsen presents the 1963 models of Chevrolet cars to GM management. [820.68]
- August 21
- At the GM Proving Grounds, Chevrolet presents the 1963 model Corvette to news reporters. [820.69] (August 22 [822.28])
- August 26
- At Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Richard Thompson races Gulf Oil's 1962 Corvette to first place in both races. [132.69] [175.30]
- August
- Ed Cole instructs Bunkie Knudsen to build a four-passenger Corvette. [820.69]
- September
- Production of 1963 model Corvette begins. [148.40] [167.29]
- September 22
- At the Watkins Glen raceway in Watkins Glen, New York, an SCCA National race is held for A and B Production cars.
- Finishing 1st in A Production class and 1st overall is the Gulf Oil 1962 Corvette driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd in A Production class and 2nd overall is the Corvette driven by Frank Dominianni.
- Finishing 1st in B Production class and 3rd overall is the Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[132.69] [175.30] [423]
- (month unknown)
- Bill Mitchell begins work on the Mako Shark test car. [5.159]
- Chevrolet's Studio II receives two early production 1963 Riverside Red convertible Corvettes, for modifications to show off styling proposals. One is for the Chicago Auto Show in February, the other is for Harley Earl as a personal vehicle. The modifications include side mounted exhausts, four-wheel disc brakes, aluminum knock-off wheels, Cobalt Blue metallic paint, and blue/white leather interior. [219.40]
- October
- The restyled 1963 model is shown to the press. The 1963 Corvette is the first car with push-button operated pop-up headlights. [1] [226.8] [260.36] [262.96] [314.46]
- October 13
- At the Riverside International Raceway in California, the SCCA Los Angeles Times Three-Hour Invitational Grand Prix race is held. 1963 model production Corvettes make their racing debut, as does the Ford-powered Cobra. Four Z06-equipped 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected Corvettes with 36.5-gallon gas tanks are entered, but only one finishes.
- Finishing 1st overall is the Mickey Thompson #119 black 1963 Corvette Z06, driven by Doug Hooper. He averages 84-mph over the 250-mile course.
- The other Corvette drivers are Bob Bondurant (#614 silver), Dave MacDonald (#00 white), and Jerry Grant.
- The 260-ci Cobra leads by about a mile after an hour of racing when its left-rear hub carrier breaks.
[5.65,76] [31] [36] [42.39] [79.70] [90] [104.151] [106.82] [111.79] [131.55] [140.55] [184.29] [208.51] [216.13] [223.45] [229.36] [230.60] [325.13] [332.52] [337.22] [354.65] [365] [580.160] [825.88] [902.59] (October 4 [3.63]) (October 16 [133.83])
- October 14
- At the Thompson Raceway in Connecticut, a car race is held. Finishing 5th in C Modified class is the 1963 Corvette driven by John Caley. Caley also races as a guest in production class, finishing second. [825.88]
- October 18
- The four-passenger Corvette idea is decided against. [822.30]
- (month unknown)
- Quote of Zora Arkus-Duntov, Corvette Chief Engineer, on the 1963 Corvette: "For the first time, I now have a Corvette I can be proud to drive in Europe." [176.34]
- November 11
- In Caguas, Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican Grand Prix car race is held.
- Finishing 1st overall is the Grady Davis #41 Corvette Sting Ray Z06 driven by Richard Thompson.
- Finishing 2nd overall is the #49 Corvette driven by Don Yenko.
[5.82] [299.35] [423] [825.91]
- November
- Chevrolet Engineering Center completes building the first Corvette Grand Sport. [208.50] [580.171]
- (month unknown)
- Richard Thompson, racing a Corvette, is points champ in SCCA A Production class. [5.57] [133.12] [148.15] [208] [337.24] [394.12]
- Don Yenko, racing a Corvette, is points champ in SCCA B Production class. [133.12] [148.15] [337.24] [394.12]
- Semon Knudsen arranges for Chevrolet Engineering to produce a third 1963 Corvette styling car, based on photos and schematics for the first two. Two differences are that this car is painted with red metallic paint, and is given a red/white leather interior. [219.42]
- December
- Chevrolet announces it will remove RPO P48 knock-off wheels and larger fuel tank from the Z06 option. [571.44]
- December 14
- Chevrolet announces that the Z06 option can now be selected for the model 867 Corvette convertible, as well as the model 837 coupe. [571.56] [720.25]
- December 16
- At Sebring, Florida, Zora Arkus-Duntov test drives Grand Sport #001 with a L84 360 hp 327 ci engine. The car is run to within seconds of the track record. [3.51] [5.83] [31] [106.5] [133.92] [196.32] [208.48] [325.13] [534.45] [580.171] [704.20]
- December
- With the completion of test runs of the Corvette Grand Sport at Sebring, Chevrolet promises the FIA that it will build at least 100 before next June, to qualify the car as a production model. [79.70] [488.24]
- December 19
- Bunkie Knudsen meets with the General Motors executive committee of Fred Donner, Jack Gordon, Ed Cole, and others. He asks for exclusion of Corvette from the 1957 AMA racing support ban. Donner says he needs time to think about it. [822.30]
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