conceptcarz.com

1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer

Bill Mitchell loved Corvettes, so it's fitting that his first secret Studio X car, and perhaps the most historically significant, was his 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer.

'I knew they had three or four chassis that Corvette Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov had built,' Mitchell told historian David Chippen in a 1985 interview. 'It had a tubular frame, de Dion suspension, inboard brakes, everything! And I went down in the hammer room and designed this Corvette Stingray in clay. Nobody in the corporation knew about it.'

The Corvette Stingray Racer began life as a challenge from William L. 'Bill' Mitchell who tasked a group of young designers to develop a revolutionary theme for an all-new Corvette. Research B Studio consisted of chief designer Bob Veryzer and his team of Peter Brock, Gene Garfinkle, Chuck Pohlmann and Norm Neumann.

Two full-size models were created: a coupe based on a theme by Brock and a roadster variant done by Pohlmann. Final design for these cars was by a team led by Larry Shinoda and Tony Lapine working in a secret studio.

The Stingray Racer debuted on the racing circuit with a red livery in 1959 but did not wear a Chevrolet or Corvette badge because of GM's adherence to the AMA ban on factory-supported racing. Powered by a fuel-injected, high-performance version of Chevrolet's 283 cubic-inch Small Block V8 engine, Dr. Dick Thompson (a dentist from Chicago) drove the car to an SCCA C-Modified class championship in 1960. More importantly, it introduced the folded-crease styling that would become a trademark of Mitchell's 1960s designs and the beginning of the path to his revolutionary 1963 production Corvette Stingray. 'When it came time to face-lift the Corvette,' he told Crippen, 'I took the lines right off that car.'

1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Related Automotive News

The Ultimate Beach Cruiser: The 1974 Volkswagen Acapulco Thing

The Ultimate Beach Cruiser: The 1974 Volkswagen Acapulco Thing

The Volkswagen Type 181 – commonly referred to as The Thing – has always been a fun summer classic for drivers who enjoy a cool and wildly original type of ride. The removable doors, retractable soft top and folding windshield provided a driving experience...
The Mid-Engine Corvette at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

The Mid-Engine Corvette at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

With the recent introduction of the Chevrolet C8 Corvette, the first production mid-engine Corvette sports car, the 2020 Amelia Island Concours dElegance took the opportunity to tell the story of the mid-engine Corvette legacy. The canvas...
Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance

Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance

The 2018 Radnor Hunt Concours dElegance celebrated its 22nd year with featured classes for Rolls-Royce and Bentley, European StyleAmerican Power, and Fastbacks. The featured motorcycles classes were Indian Motorcycles (1902-1953), Italian Motorcycles...
Races and Awards Decided at Conclusion of Memorable Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrating Featured Marque Nissan

Races and Awards Decided at Conclusion of Memorable Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Celebrating Featured Marque Nissan

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to host next years event honoring IMSA on August 15-18, 2019 MONTEREY, Calif., August 26, 2018 – Beautiful weather, incredible racing vehicles from historic eras of motor racing and unforgettable memories defined...
HURLEY HAYWOOD HONORED WITH RRDC'S 2014 PHIL HILL AWARD

HURLEY HAYWOOD HONORED WITH RRDC'S 2014 PHIL HILL AWARD

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2014) - Hurley Haywood, winner of more endurance classics than any other driver in racing history, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2014 Phil Hill Award. RRDC president Bobby Rahal presented Haywood...