Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1992

January 6
  • In Detroit, Michigan, the 1992 North American International Auto Show is held. Chevrolet debuts the Sting Ray III show car, a styling preview being considered for the next generation Corvette. [38.43] [137.103] [141.12] [211.10] [542.57]
February
  • In Detroit, Michigan, the Society of Automotive Engineers Convention is held. Sylvania displays a 1991 Corvette with proposed new headlight and taillight systems. The front uses a four-lamp high intensity discharge headlight system. The rear uses neon gas tubing. [212.10]
February 23
  • In Miami, Florida, the Grand Prix of Miami is held. The opening round of the IMSA Bridgestone Potenza Supercar Series is held. Shawn Hendricks finishes second in a Bakeracing LT1 Corvette. [211.82] [212.114] [228.32]
(month unknown)
  • In Miami, Florida, the IMSA Exxon Supreme Series Grand Prix of Miami is held. Finishing third in GT Supreme division is Luis Rafeal Mendez of the Dominican Republic, in a Cervaza Presidente sponsored Corvette. [212.110]
  • Chevrolet and MTI Racing decide to halt production of a Corvette GTP race car, to redesign it based on clarification of IMSA rules regarding Group C chassis configuration. [212.114]
  • AMT/Ertl introduces a 1/32 scale SnapFast model kit of a 1984/85 Corvette. [228.16]
March 1
  • The ZR-1 Registry is formally founded as a club. [154.71]
March 13
  • Twentieth Century - Fox Film Corporatrion releases the film My Cousin Vinny to theaters in the USA. Someone explains that the 1960s Corvette was one of three American cars to have independent rear suspension, and "which could never be confused with the Buick Skylark.". [744]
March
  • In Knoxville, Tennessee, the Corvette Expo - Spring is held. 140 Corvettes are presented for auction, with one quarter selling. A 1967 Marlboro Maroon convertible with 427-ci 400-hp engine, both tops, bolt-on wheels, 51,000 miles, sells for US$31,700. [212.10] [221.12]
March 23
  • General Motors applies for a registered trademark of "STINGRAY". [146]
(month unknown)
  • At General Motors, the 1968 Astro-Vette show car is removed from storage, and a four-month refurbishment is initiated. [323.25]
April
  • The new model Corvette is delayed again, from 1996 to 1997. [137.118]
  • A demo tape is filmed for a remake of the Route 66 TV show, using a red 1961 Corvette owned by Stephen Speck. (Four episodes will air in mid-1993.) [344.41]
April 25
  • Chevrolet General Manager Jim Perkins announces at the Corvette Wind and Thunder meeting that there is a plan for a 1996 Corvette, but with no radical changes. [147.11]
(month unknown)
  • The Franklin Mint introduces a 1/24 scale die-cast metal 1956 Cascade Green convertible Corvette model, for US$90. [232.14]
  • The Franklin Mint introduces a 1/24 scale die-cast metal 1986 convertible Corvette model, for US$90. [232.14]

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  • Mini Exotics introduces a 1/25 scale resin model kit of a 1956 Corvette SR-2. Price is US$30. [228.16]
  • AMT/Ertl introduces a 1/25 scale model kit of a 1992 Corvette convertible. [228.16]
  • AMT/Ertl introduces a 1/25 scale SnapFast Plus model kit of a 1992 Corvette ZR-1. [228.16]
  • At the Firebird International Raceway in Arizona, the first race of the SCCA World Challenge series is held. Corvettes are entered in Class A.
    • Finishing first is Shawn Hendricks in a Valley Chevrolet Corvette.
    • In second place is Bill Cooper in a Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette.
    • In third place is R.K. Smith in another Dieline/Rippie Corvette.
    [228.24] [237.31] [297.82]
  • CUI releases the 1953 Corvette Limited Edition Collectors Stein. It is 8.375 inches tall, stoneware with pewter lid, painting of Corvette beach scene by G.E. Geivett, topped by a 1953 Corvette figurine. Price is US$89.95. [547.7]
  • Ak-Sar-Ben Hobby Company releases the 1/43 scale solid pewter 1963 Grand Sport coupe model. [547.11]
  • Brasilia Press releases the 1/43 scale 1963 Corvette coupe model. [547.11]
  • AMT/ERTL releases the 1/25-scale 1972 Corvette LT-1 Convertible model. [547.11]
June 5
  • In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the official ground-breaking ceremony for the National Corvette Museum is held. Zora Arkus-Duntov drives a bulldozer with cardboard cut-out Corvette sides. Zora, David McLellan, and NCM President Dan Gale share in the official ground-breaking with a ceremonial shovel. The American Sunroof Corporation presents a check for US$100,000 to the museum. Kentucky governor Brereton Jones presents a check for US$400,000 to the museum. [163.103] [229.20] [232.23,48] [236.68] [547.14] [774.12] (March [149.20]) (June 2, 1990 [13])
June 25
  • At the McLean County Fairgrounds in Bloomington, Illinois, the Bloomington Gold / Corvettes USA show is held, over four days. Over 32,500 people attend. The Special Collection IX display includes 33 1967 Corvettes, including CERV III, Sting Ray III, and a recently restored 1967 Corvette L-88, originally raced by the Sunray DX Motorsports team at Sebring in 1967 to first in GT class. Some auction highlights:
    • 1955 automatic, 265-ci, 195-hp, Bloomington Gold-certified $50,500;
    • 1966 convertible, 4-speed, 427-ci, 390-hp, both tops, air-conditioning, knockoff wheels, $48,000;
    • 1967 convertible, 4-speed, 427-ci, 390-hp, air-conditioning $41,000.
    [212.B4] [226.46a] [235.46] [237.73] [297.10,64]
June 28
  • At the Watkins Glen raceway in New York, round 4 of the IMSA Bridgestone Potenza Supercar series race is held. Finishing 5th is the Quaker State / Boy's Town Corvette LT1, driven by Shawn Hendricks. [211.82] [297.86]
(month unknown)
  • Monogram releases a 1/24-scale model kit of a 1992 Corvette convertible. [238.16]
  • (early 1990s) Dick Guldstrand manages the Corvette Dream & Drive program for Chevrolet, to expose non-Corvette customers to the Corvette. (At the end of the four-year program, an estimated 50,000 people participated, giving a Corvette sales increase of 10 percent.) [884.78]
July 2
  • At 2:22 PM, the one millionth Corvette is built. It is an Arctic White LT1 convertible, with red interior and black top. Chevrolet donates the car to the National Corvette Museum. [71.S8-12] [72.D4] [73.S5-3] [96.47] [97.36] [123.41] [104.117] [148.96] [108.64] [208.46] [232.38] [236.14] [344.22] [395.64] [452.44] [453.150] [454.176] [547.14,50] [565.73] [773.63] [774.113] [871.128]
  • Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones announces that the state would donate US$400,000 to the National Corvette Museum. [232.38]
  • Chevrolet introduces the new 1993 model cars to the press. [208.46]
July 11
  • In Des Moines, Iowa, the second race of the SCCA World Challenge series is held.
    • Finishing 1st is the Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports #2 Corvette LT1, driven by R.K. Smith.
    • Finishing 2nd is the Quaker State / Bows Town / Valley Chevrolet Corvette, driven by Shawn Hendricks.
    • Finishing 3rd is the Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette, driven by Bill Cooper.
    • Finishing 5th is the Outpost Hunt & Sport Corvette, driven by Jay Sperry.
    [237.31] [297.82]
July 19
  • In Watkins Glen, New York, the third race of the SCCA World Challenge series is held.
    • Finishing 1st in Class A is the Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette, driven by Bill Cooper.
    • Finishing 2nd in Class A is the Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports #2 Corvette, driven by R.K. Smith.
    • Finishing 3rd in Class A is the Bakeracing Corvette ZR-1, driven by Jim Minneker.
    • Finishing 4th in Class A and 21st overall is the Bakeracing Corvette, driven by Kim Baker.
    [237.31] [297.84]
July 20
  • At the Laguna Seca Raceway in Laguna Seca, California, the 5th round of the IMSA Bridgestone Potenza Supercar series is held.
    • Finishing 5th is the Quaker State / Boy's Town Corvette LT1, driven by Shawn Hendricks.
    • Finishing 12th is the Corvette L98, driven by Sean Roe.
    [211.82] [297.88]
July 31
  • The Corvette Americana Hall of Fame opens in Cooperstown, New York. [148.96]
(month unknown)
  • In Lime Rock, the fourth race of the SCCA World Challenge series is held.
    • Finishing first is Kim Baker in a Bakeracing Corvette.
    • In second place is Bill Cooper in a Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette, 0.825 seconds behind Baker.
    • In third place is R.K. Smith in another Dieline/Rippie Corvette.
    [237.31]
  • At the Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, the fifth race of the SCCA World Challenge series is held.
    • Finishing first is R.K. Smith in a Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette.
    • In third place is Kim Baker in a Bakeracing Corvette.
    • In fourth place is Jim Minneker in a Bakeracing Corvette ZR-1.
    [237.31]
August
  • At the Road America raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Chevrolet re-dedicates the bridge at Turn 6, displaying a large "Corvette" sign. The bridge was previously sponsored by Chevrolet from 1965 to 1973. The one millionth Corvette is on hand, its first public showing since its build date. [236.40]
August 5
  • At the General Motors Building in Detroit, a special display of Corvette and show cars is made available for public viewing for over a week. It includes 1953 Corvette, 1957 Corvette, Corvette SS, Sting Ray racer, Mako Shark, 1963 Corvette coupe, Grand Sport 001, 1967 convertible Corvette with 435-hp engine, Astro-Vette, 1978 Indy Pace Car, 1986 Indy Pace Car, Lola Corvette GTP Racer, 1989 ZR-1 pilot car, 1989 Corvette Challenger racer, 1990 ZR-1 record setter, and the one millionth Corvette. [236.42] [323.25]
August 15
  • At the Mosport Park Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, the sixth race of the SCCA World Challenge series race is held, the 24 Hours of Mosport, over two days.
    • Finishing 1st overall is the Bakeracing Corvette ZR-1 driven by Jim Minneker and Kim Baker.
    • Finishing 2nd overall is the Morrison Motorsports / Mobil 1 #98 Corvette, driven by John Heinricy, Stu Hayner, and Ron Nelson.
    • Finishing 4th overall is the Dieline Motorsport Corvette, driven by R.K. Smith, Bill Cooper, Peter Cunningham, and Boris Said.
    [216.78] [228.86] [237.32,78] [300.63]
August 21
  • At the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races are held, over three days. Noel Park wins in his class in a 1958 Corvette. [217.113] [228.87]
August 22
  • The seventh round of the SCCA World Challenge Series is held at Road America.
    • Finishing first place is Bill Cooper in the Dieline Motorsports Corvette.
    • In second place is Jim Minneker in the Mercruiser / Bakeracing Corvette.
    • In third place is R.K. Smith in a Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette.
    • In fourth place is Kim Baker in a Bakeracing Corvette.
    [208.75] [228] [237.33]
August 28
  • The 11th Corvettes at Carlisle is held, at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, over three days. Nearly 40,000 people attend. [152.65] [226.46a] [228.87]
  • Chevrolet announces that Corvette chief engineer Dave McLellan would take early retirement. [208.15] [235.26] [453.150] [871.128]
(month unknown)
  • Revell introduces the 1/18-scale die-cast metal model of a 1969 convertible Corvette, in LeMans Blue Metallic with 427-ci 435-hp engine, L89 aluminum cylinder heads, and side pipes, for about US$28. [236.14]
September 1
  • Corvette chief engineer Dave McLellan formally retires, staying on as a consultant until his replacement is named. [108.10] [173.73] [297.6] (August 24 [137.120]) (August 31 [96.52]) (August [152.27])
September 25
  • Chevrolet announces it would limit production of the ZR-1 to 380 cars for the 1993 model year. [242.14]
(month unknown)
  • Electronic Arts releases the Car and Driver video game for personal computers. Included is the Corvette ZR1. [544.7] [545.74]
October 3
  • The eighth and last race of the SCCA World Challenge Series is held at Sears Point Raceway, in Sonoma, California.
    • Finishing first is R.K. Smith in a Dieline Motorsport / Doug Rippie Motorsports Corvette.
    • In second place is Kim Baker in a Bakeracing Corvette.
    • Finishing fifth in class is Bill Cooper in another Dieline/Rippie Corvette.
    The champion of the series for the year is R.K. Smith, with Kim Baker second, and Bill Cooper third. [208.77] [232.88] [235.96] [237.33]
October 17
  • In Titusville, Florida, the Eckler's Corvette Reunion is held, over two days. The Stage II Carroll Supercharged LT1 Corvette debuts. [108.7] [228.19,68] [232.19,89] [235.98] [547.13,60]
October
  • The last (number 10) Callaway Twin Turbo Speedster Corvette is completed. [152.47]
October 19
  • Corvette program manager Russ McLean informs his staff that the GM Strategy Board has placed all projects after 1996 on hold or cancelled, including the 1997 Corvette. [137.17,122,133]
October
  • General Motors executives approve the design of the next-generation Corvette, with a target release year of 1997. [124.114]
November
  • The date of building 1997 Corvettes is planned to be September 3, 1996. [137.360]
  • David Hill, an engineer in General Motors' Cadillac program, accepts a job offer to become Corvette chief engineer. [137.130] [453.13]
  • The December issue of Motor Trend magazine presents its Top Ten article.
    • Top 10 Best Domestic Buys, Two-Seat Sports Car: Corvette.
    • Top 10 Dream Cars: includes Stingray III.
    [670.35]
November 19
  • Chevrolet Gemeral Manager Jim Perkins announces that David Hill will be the next Chief Engineer of Corvette. [565.14]
November 20
  • The 8th Annual Palm Springs Road Races are held, in Palm Springs, California, over three days. Chevrolet kicks off the 40th anniversary celebration of the Corvette, introducing the 1993 Corvette ZR-1, now with 405hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Among the cars on show and racing are the Sting Ray racer, Astro-Vette, a Scaglietti Corvette, world record-holding ZR-1 and L98 Corvettes, Sebring ZR-1 Corvette, 1956 SR-2, Mako Shark, Manta Ray, Corvette Indy, 1963 Golf Oil racer, 1962 Golf Oil racer, two 1963 Grand Sports, 1963 Z06 Corvette, 1969 Owens Corning Fiberglas L-88. [229.50] [232.24] [235.14] [297.13] [472.51]
(month unknown)
  • Monogram introduces model kit No. 2958, a 1:24 scale Callaway Corvette Speedster. [229.14]
  • In Las Vegas, Nevada, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show is held. Chevrolet displays the recently restored Astro Vette, Sting Ray III, and a 40th anniversary 1993 Corvette. [216.13] [323.25]
  • AMT/Ertl releases the 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Street Machine 1/25-scale model kit. [108.13]
  • AMT/Ertl releases a Special Edition 1992 One Millionth Corvette promotional model to Chevrolet dealerships. [242.12]
  • Mini-Marque "43" introduces a 1/43-scale die-cast metal 1962 Corvette, Fawn Beige Metallic with black top. A limited edition of 50 are to be made. Price is US$174.95. The model is also available in Honduras Maroon with black interior. [237.16]
  • At a car auction, a mint condition 1966 Corvette convertible with 427-ci engine sells for US$44,000. A 1954 roadster sells for US$33,500. [216.10]
December 4
  • David Hill begins work as new Chief Engineer of Corvette. [565.14]
December 5
  • The Corvette Club of Norway is organized. [217.11]
December 12
  • The National Broadcasting Company airs the Cheers TV show in the USA. The main story line is about the main character buying back his Corvette from the widow of the previous owner. [734]
December
  • General Motors announces that the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will not be on a "hit list" of plant closings. Chevrolet general manager Jim Perkins states that a new model Corvette will appear in 1996 or 1997. [216.13]
  • General Motors' Corvette group secretly contracts with TDM, Inc. to build a test car of the 1997 Corvette. The test car is officially called CERV-4 (Corvette Engineering Research Vehicle). Corvette directs the project, with Chevrolet paying for it. General Motors management is not told about it, for fear that they would cancel the project. [137.143]
  • The 22nd Annual Awards Banquet of the Society of Plastic Engineers is held.
    • The 1993 Corvette platform team is given the Environmental Award for creating the first North American vehicle to use of recycled sheet-molded-compound body panels.
    • Chevrolet is given the Trav Meister Hall of Fame award for 40 years of using fiberglass-reinforced body panels.
    [108.11] [237.24]

End of 1992. Next: 1993.

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Last updated: 2023 December 20.
Copyright © 1995-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/vettehis/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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