- March 26
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring +5000 class, 9th overall, is the Penske Racing #9 1966 Corvette 427-ci L88, driven by George Wintersteen and Ben Moore.
- Finishing 2nd in Grand Touring +5000 class, 11th overall, is the Harold C. Whims #8 Corvette, driven by Don Yenko, Dave Morgan, and Harold Whims.
- Richard Thompson and Dick Guldstrand race the Penske Racing #10 Corvette Grand Sport #001 with 427-ci engine in Prototype +5000 class. After 65 laps, the car is out due to an accident; the engine is broken and the frame bent.
[64.83] [181.32] [106.6] [151.90] [104.151] [140.79] [211.47] [309.22] [337.64] [345.17] [423] [454.94] [518.193] [534.47] [580.201] [585.99] [720.26] (Grand Sport #005 [348])
- April
- Larry Shinoda is promoted to Chief Designer at Chevrolet Studio 3. [242.26]
- John Penske sells the Sunoco Special 1966 Corvette L88 to Joe Welch. [811.55]
- The Mako Shark II show car is displayed at the New York Auto Show. [74.73] [104.68,138] [539.65] [580.206]
- (month unknown)
- The next-generation Corvette is delayed from 1967 to 1968 model year so that Engineering and Design departments can complete the Camaro. [454.134]
- Ozzie Olson of Swedish Crucible Steel sells his 1964 Corvette Styling car to an employee. [576.104]
- Car and Driver magazine readers vote the Corvette as Best Value for Money. [580.231]
- July
- Production of 1966 model Corvettes ends. [148.46]
- July 30
- Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation releases the film Batman in theaters in the USA. A Nassau Blue 1965-66 Corvette convertible appears very briefly. [798]
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
- (month unknown)
- George Wintersteen races his Grand Sport Corvette roadster in the Can-Am Series, unsuccessfully. [106.6]
- Roger Penske sells Corvette Grand Sport #001 to John Mecom. [151.90] [211] [325.15]
- Testing of the XP-819 Corvette test car begins. [35.45]
- August
- The A.O. Smith company begins making bodies for 1967 Corvettes. [153.78]
- At the Bonneville salt flats races, Barry Brock sets the A Grand Touring record of 180.138-MPH in a 427-ci Corvette with Hilborn injection. [337.23] [580.201]
- September 1
- Production of 1967 model Corvettes begins. [148.48] [153.78]
- (month unknown)
- Chevrolet first begins affixing build sheets on top of gas tanks of new Corvettes. [218.14] [219.14] [523.75]
- November 27
- At the Riverside International Raceway in California, the American Road Race of Champions final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held.
- Finishing 5th in A Production class and 5th overall is the #61 Corvette Sting Ray driven by Herb Caplan.
- Finishing 7th in A Production class and 7th overall is the #64 Corvette Sting Ray driven by Gary Gove.
- Finishing 5th in B Production class and 12th overall is the #604 Corvette Sting Ray driven by Rick Stark.
- Finishing 8th in B Production class and 17th overall is the #603 Corvette driven by Ken Deckman.
[394.4] [423]
- December
- John Mecom sells Corvette Grand Sport #001 roadster to Jerry Hanna of Texas for US$4500. [211.47] [317.42] [325.15] [534.45]
1967
-
- Ralph Morrison of the Sunray DX Motorsports Program contacts Yenko Chevrolet regarding the purchase of a new Corvette for racing. [237.51]
- February 4
- In Daytona, Florida, the Daytona 24 Hours race is held. Tony Denman and Bob Brown race the Jim White Corvette Grand Sport #004, but do not finish the race. Five other Corvettes enter the race, but none complete it. [263] [423] [518.195] [534.47]
- February
- Due to a production accident in the production of small-block engine hoods, big-block hoods are used for all production Corvettes for several days. [273.81]
- March 6
- At the Corvette plant in St. Louis, a 1967 Corvette with an L-88 engine is built for the Sunray DX Motorsports Program. [237.52]
- March 7
- Yenko Chevrolet takes delivery of a new 1967 Corvette L-88 for the Sunray DX Motorsports Program. [237.52]
- March
- The New York auto show is held. The Astro show car debuts. It is mid-engined, with automatic transmission, and a transaxle rear. [203.19] [542.54]
- (month unknown)
- George Wintersteen places an ad in the April issue of Hot Rod magazine to sell Grand Sport #002 for US$5500. [572.45]
- April 1
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held.
- Dave Morgan and Don Yenko race the Sunray DX Oil #8 1967 Corvette L-88 in Grand Touring +5000 class. They set a new track record for the class. Forty minutes before the end of the race, brake failure puts the car into a sand bank, where the car still finishes 1st in Grand Touring +5000 class and tenth overall.
- Finishing 2nd in Grand Touring +5000 class, 26th overall, is the Roger Penske #4 Corvette L-88, driven by Joe Welch and George Wintersteen.
- Or Costanzo, Gene Guy, and David McClain race Costanzo's #9 Corvette L-88 in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 141 laps, the car is out due to an accident. They place 38th overall.
- Wilton Jowett and Robert Mouat race Jowett's #69 Corvette L-88 in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 130 laps, the car is out due to engine failure. They place 40th overall.
[5.100] [175.84] [202.56] [235.53] [263] [337.64] [345.17] [348] [423] [563.100] [580.201] [720.26] (March [155.29] [237.24,52])
- April
- Chevrolet quietly makes the L88 engine option available for the Corvette. The 427 cubic inch engine delivers 560-hp with open exhausts, and features a 12.5:1 compression ratio. [56.54] [90] [104.62] [107.45] [140.71] [155.73] [203.18] [563.100]
- May 5
- The Nebraska Corvette Association is formed. [177.8]
- May
- Frank Winchell of Chevrolet Research and Development sees the Ford Mach 2, a street car version of Mark IV sports car. He assigns engineer Larry Nies to design a simple mid-engined Corvette prototype. The project number is XP-880, later called Astro II. [5] [176.44] [296.65] [580.244]
- Zora Arkus-Duntov becomes seriously ill, and is hospitalized for almost two months. [90] [229.28] [580.215] [774.35]
- (month unknown)
- The Corvette engineering department is absorbed into Chevrolet Engineering's passenger car program under chief engineer Alex Mair. Zora Arkus-Duntov's position is transferred to special assignments. [90] [229.28] [274.48] [454.137] [774.35]
- June 11
- (to June 12) In Paris, France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is held. California car dealer Dana Chevrolet enters the #9 1967 Corvette coupe with 427-ci L-88 engine, driven by Dick Guldstrand, Don Yenko, and Bob Bondurant. The lone Corvette is the heaviest car in the race, and runs at 4th overall briefly. Dick Guldstrand sets a new record speed of 171.5-mph on the Mulsanne straight, 22-mph faster than the GT class-winning Ferrari. In the 17th hour, the engine fails due to weak wrist pins, ending the race for the Corvette. At the time, the car had a 3-4 lap lead in GT class. [5.100] [34] [132.13] [138.38] [202.56] [203.18] [216.52] [260.59] [263] [325.59] [325.93] [328.30] [337.65] [345.17] [400.81] [423] [580.201] [832.45] [884.77]
- (month unknown)
- Chevrolet introduces a stronger Powerglide automatic transmission for hydraulic-lifter 427-ci engines. [28.43]
- A Chevrolet designer buys the red 1963 Corvette styling car from Semon Knudsen (or Chevrolet Engineering). [219.42]
- Joel Rosen, founder of Motion Performance, approaches the Baldwin Chevrolet dealership to negotiate an arrangement for the Baldwin dealer to sell Motion-modified cars. (Over the next eight years, they produce many high-performance Corvettes, including ten Phase III GT Corvettes.) [299.47]
- July
- Production of 1967 model Corvettes ends. [148.48]
- (month unknown)
- Zora Arkus-Duntov arranges for the Corvette SS to be transferred from General Motors to the Hall of Fame Museum at the Indianapolis Speedway. [205.56] [271.151] (1975 [113.27])
- Mike Golas buys Grand Sport Corvette #003. [106.8]
- August
- At the Bonneville races, Bob Hirsch races Bill Scace's 427-ci L88 Corvette with Hilborn fuel-injection to a record 192.879-mph in A Grand Touring class. Mark Dees races a 270-ci Sting Ray to 203.27-MPH. [260.59] [337.23] [345.18] [358.66] [580.201]
- The 1968 model Corvette is shown to the press for the first time. [90]
- September
- Production of 1968 model Corvettes begins. [148.50]
- Chevrolet formally introduces the 1968 Corvette. [229.24]
- (month unknown)
- Ralph Morrison, director of Sunray DX Oil Company's motorsports program, takes delivery of first unofficial 1968 L88 Corvette. [327.38]
- The 198th 1968 Corvette, an International Blue convertible, is delivered to Chevrolet Styling. (The car will later emerge as the Astro-Vette show car.) [323.24]
- October 13
- David Zeigler buys a 1967 Corvette with L88 engine from Curtis Chevrolet in Washington, D.C. (Zeigler and the Corvette soon become known as The Flying Dutchman in races.) [257.24]
- October 18
- United Artists premieres the film Clambake, starring Elvis Presley, in the US. The red sports car driven by Presley's character is the 1959 Sting Ray racer. [584] [609.18] [750]
- November
- James Garner picks up three 1968 L88 Corvettes for his American International Racing team. [327.39]
- Jerry Thompson makes a sponsorship deal with Sunray DX to race a Corvette at the Daytona 24 and Sebring 12 races. He teams with Tony DeLorenzo in Troy, Michigan, to build a race car from new 1968 L88. [851.25]
- The December 1967 issue of Car and Driver magazine attacks the 1968 Corvette, with editors refusing to give it a road test due to "the car's shocking lack of quality control". [90]
- November 26
- At the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, the American Road Race of Champions final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held.
- Results of Corvette drivers for A Production class: 2nd Tony DeLorenzo, 5th Rex Ramsey, 6th Dave Morgan, 7th Bob Johnson, 8th Scott Briley, 9th J. Clark Silver.
- Results of Corvette drivers for B Production class: 4th Kurt Reinold, 6th Phil Warder, 7th Tom Dutton, 10th Carl Simons, 12th Bob Fryer, 13th Bill Petree, 15th Frank Search, 17th Allan Barker.
[345.18] [394.4]
- (month unknown)
- Car and Driver magazine's Readers' Choice Poll votes the 1968 Corvette "Best All-around Car In The World". [454.137] [580.231]
1968
- January 1
- Effective this day, the 1968 model Corvette with L88 engine is recognized by the FIA as a Group III touring car. [580.219]
- January
- Motor Trend magazine, in the February 1968 issue, names the 1968 Corvette Sports Car of the Year. [366.51]
- (month unknown)
- The Corvette Engineering group is reassembled, and Zora Arkus-Duntov is named Chief Engineer of the Corvette. [5.32,53,114] [90] [113.30] [229.28] [274.48] [454.137] [578.63] [716.68] [773.61] [774.37] (after February 1969 [6])
- February 3
- In Daytona, Florida, the Daytona 24 Hours race is held. James Garner's American International Racing team enters two 1968 L88 LeMans Blue Corvettes. This is the racing debut of the 1968 model Corvette.
- Finishing 1st in GT class and 10th overall is the Sunray DX Oil #31 1967 Corvette L88 coupe, driven by Jerry Grant and Dave Morgan. The car reached a speed of 194-MPH, and spent under 60 minutes in the pit area in total.
- Finishing 3rd in GT class and 22nd overall is the Corvette Racing Associates #28 Corvette, driven by Ed Ross and H. Craige Pelouze.
- Finishing 4th in GT class and 25th overall is the Sunray DX Oil #29 1968 Corvette L88 convertible, driven by Peter Revson and Don Yenko.
- Finishing 5th in GT class and 27th overall is the Sunray DX Oil #30 1968 Corvette L88 convertible, driven by Tony DeLorenzo and Jerry Thompson.
- Finishing 29th overall is the American International Racing #44 1969 Corvette L88, driven by Dick Guldstrand, Ed Leslie, Scooter Patrick, and Dave Jordan.
- In 35th place, but not finishing the race, is the American International Racing #45 1968 Corvette L88, driven by Scooter Patrick, Dave Jordan, and Herb Caplan. They were leading GT class at lap 260 when a cylinder head bolt killed the engine.
[5.96] [7] [147.21] [155.30] [213.28] [235.53] [237.52] [260.46] [263] [309.24,31] [345.18] [368.86] [423] [518.195] [563.103] [580.219]
- February
- XP-880 mid-engined test Corvette is completed, with test running beginning. [580.246] [774.101]
- March 23
- In Sebring, Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring race is held.
- Finishing 1st in Grand Touring +5000 class, 6th overall, is the Sunray DX Oil #3 1968 Corvette L88, driven by Hap Sharp and Dave Morgan.
- Finishing 2nd in Grand Touring +5000 class, 19th overall, is the William H. Laughlin #80 Corvette, driven by Dan Torpy and E. Dale Keenan.
- Finishing 3rd in Grand Touring +5000 class, 27th overall, is the Slaton Chevrolet #7 Corvette, driven by Or Costanzo, William Harris, and Dave Heinz.
- Jerry Thompson and Tony DeLorenzo race the Sunray DX Oil #4 1968 Corvette L88 in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 48 laps, the car is out due to a broken drive shaft. They place 49th overall.
- Pedro Rodriguez and Don Yenko race the Sunray DX Oil #2 1968 Corvette L88 in Grand Touring +5000 class. After 43 laps, the car is out due to engine failure. They place 53rd overall.
[104.151] [147.21] [205.103] [263.273] [309.24] [327.39] [345.18] [348] [423] [518.195] [580.220] [585.99] [832.47]
- (month unknown)
- Zora Arkus-Duntov and designers begin work on project XP-882, a mid-engined sports car prototype. [580.246] [774.101]
- April
- The FireFrost Blue metallic Astro II show car, with mid-mounted V-8 engine, is shown at the New York Auto Show. It was designated project XP-880 during development. [3.94,117] [5.164] [6] [42.86] [181] [196.52] [542.54] [580.246] [774.101]
- At a meeting of the International Motor Press Association, Zora Arkus-Duntov declares the entire scheduled production of 1968 model Corvettes sold. [90]
- (month unknown)
- Jerry Thompson and Tony DeLorenzo form a new sponsorship arrangement with Owens-Corning Fiberglass. [345.18] [851.29]
- May
- Anti-theft alarm RPO UA6 is made available on the 1968 Corvette model. [338.49]
- Larry Shinoda leaves General Motors to join Ford. [127.30] [242.26]
- (month unknown)
- The Chevrolet Styling studio completes the transformation of 1968 Corvette #198 to the Astro-Vette show car. The roadster features wrap-around plexiglas wind screen, combination roll-bar / air-foil, long nose and tail, spun aluminum disc wheels, rear wheel skirts, 3-speed automatic, pearlescent white exterior, black interior, narrow wheels, vent flaps to reduce underhood pressure, and 400-hp 427-ci L68 engine. [323.24] [542.54] [580.220]
- Mike Golas sells his Grand Sport Corvette #003 to Allen Foster of California. [106.8] (before 1968 [322.40])
- Gene Marquis and Wayne Wiley buy a Corvette SR-2 from an auto wrecking yard in Terre Haute, Indiana. The car was originally built for Jerry Earl in 1956. [231.32] [325.38]
- Bob Adams and Dick Boo race Grand Sport #004 for the last time. [310.14]
- George Wintersteen sells Grand Sport #002 to Jon Thorne for about US$5000. The engine with the car is a non-original Traco Engineering 427-ci. [310.56] [320.45] (US$6700 [534.47] [572.45]) (1967 early [580.183]) (January 1967 Roger Penske sells car to John Thorne [534.47])
- AMT releases model kit #809 Kar-Plak of 1968 Corvette T-Top, chrome-plated. [336.20]
- MPC releases the 1/20-scale model kit #2000 1968 Corvette T-Top, in red plastic. [335.39]
- MPC releases model kit #568 1968 Corvette T-Top, in white plastic. [336.20]
- MPC releases model kit #668 1968 Corvette convertible, in white plastic. [336.20]
- July 14
- In Watkins Glen, New York, the Watkins Glen Six Hour Enduro race is held. Finishing 1st in GT class and 7th overall is the Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corvette, driven by Jerry Thompson and Tony DeLorenzo. [263] [345.18] [371.101] (Robert Johnson is 1st in GT, 11th overall [423])
- August
- Production of 1968 model Corvettes ends. [148.50]
- (month unknown)
- At the long lead press preview, Zora Arkus-Duntov debuts a 1969 white Corvette convertible with ZL-1 427 engine, with an aluminum block, giving 585-hp. Price for the engine alone is US$4160. [155.73]
- September
- Production of 1969 model Corvettes begins. [148.52] [721.23]
- September 28
- In France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans race is held (postponed from June due to domestic disturbance). The Swiss racing team of Georges Filipinetti enters two 1968 Corvette L-88s.
- The Scuderia Filipinetti #3 1968 Corvette L-88 driven by Henri Greder and Umberto Maglioli leads the GT class until blowing a head gasket around 6-7 hours into the race.
- The #4 Corvette driven by Sylvain Garant and Jean-Michel Giorgi then leads, until crashing in the rain at around 13 hours.
[309.24] [325.60] [423] [720.28]
- (month unknown)
- Sunray DX Oil merges with Sunoco, ending the Sunray DX Motorsports Program. [563.103]
- November
- Tony DeLorenzo orders a specially-equipped 1969 Corvette for competition racing. It is paid for by Owens Corning Fiberglas, which had hired DeLorenzo's company, Troy Promotions Inc. to race Corvettes. The car bears the code: T.P.I. 003-69. [22.28] [35.39]
- November 24
- At the Riverside International Raceway in California, the American Road Race of Champions final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held.
- Finishing 2nd in A Production class and 2nd overall is the #4 Corvette driven by Tony DeLorenzo.
- Finishing 2nd in B Production class and 10th overall is the #25 Corvette driven by Jerry Thompson.
- Finishing 3rd in B Production class and 14th overall is the #34 Corvette driven by Dick Simon.
- Finishing 3rd in A Production class is the #3 Corvette driven by Michael Summers.
[175.85] [345.18] [394.4]
- (month unknown)
- MPC releases the 1/20-scale model kit #3002 1968 Spitfire Corvette funny car, in white plastic. [335.39]
- AMT releases model kit #6928 1968 Corvette T-Top, in white plastic. [336.20]
- Car and Driver magazine readers vote the Corvette as Best All-Around Car. [580.231]
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