General Motors used the acronym RPO SR to represent Regular Production Option Special Racing. These were options developed for racing, ultimately intended to become part of the 'Regular Production Option,' meaning available for any Corvette buyer.
Roadster
Chassis #: VE55S001194
View info and historyDuring the first full year of Corvette production, a mere 300 hand-built polo white examples were built. They had the right look but severely lacked the performance department. By 1955, a new V-8 engine was available, and the following year, a new body was displayed, complete with a new 'face' and side coves. The Corvette was raced since day one, but its stock-engine car kept it from being a serious contender. By 1956, Sebring had become the most important international race in the United States and second only to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Europe. Large crowds descended upon the small Florida town every spring to watch elite sports cars compete. In preparation for the 1956 race at Sebring, four production Corvettes were constructed at St. Louis and fitted with eleven RPO SR options, including cerametallic brake shoes and special drums and backing plates, brake cooling scoops, Halibrand magnesium quick change wheels, Firestone Super Sport 170 tires, heavy-duty suspension, a Duntov camshaft, a 37.5 gallon fuel tank, and a 4.11 limited-slip differential. The four cars built for Sebring by Raceway Enterprises were joined by additional road cars with the SR features.
Roadster
Chassis #: VE55S001194
View info and historyOne of the Corvette SR prototypes placed 9th overall (first in B Production) at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and this accomplishment plus its demonstration of performance and durability is credited with saving the Corvette from extinction. It was driven by John Fitch and Walt Hansgen and was the first Corvette to have a four-speed transmission and a 307 cubic-inch engine, which was the largest engine at the race. The Corvette wearing race number 6 was driven by Max Goldman and Ray Crawford to a 15th overall finish (6th in class).
by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2024
Roadster
Chassis #: VE55S001194
View info and history
Roadster
Chassis #: VE55S001194
View info and history
by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2024
Related Reading : Chevrolet SR-2 History
The Chevrolet Corvette SR2 was a project car designed and built by the countrys largest automaker, GM. During the mid-1950s, GM had annual sales of about 13 billion which was more than some countries and twice that of the second largest company in the US, Standard Oil of New Jersey. The company was very vast, and it needed a car that showed off its capabilities and its greatness. The Corvette....
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Related Reading : Chevrolet Corvette History
Very few vehicles elicit the same kind of satisfaction as the Chevrolet Corvette. The Vette is a symbol of childhood dreams and grown-up triumph. The only true American Sports car, this car stands for excellence and became an icon as a high-performance and dynamic sports vehicle. First introduced in January of 1953, the Corvette has only become more renowned as the years drift by. Undergoing many....
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Chevrolet Corvette Roars Into Its 60th Year
On June 30, 1953, the first of a new kind of Chevrolet – indeed, a new kind of American car – rolled off an assembly line in Flint, Mich. The car had only two seats. There were no roll-up windows, or exterior door handles, for that matter. Its body wasnt stamped from steel but, rather, molded from reinforced fiberglass. While the postwar Baby Boom was in full swing, this was definitely not....
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Corvette's Chassis Innovations Refined on the Race Track
Its been said that racing improves the breed, and when it comes to the Chevrolet Corvette, nearly six decades of checkered flags are the proof. As Corvette marks its 60th anniversary in 2013, the design of the chassis, suspension and other drivetrain features are rooted in the rigors of competition. Candidly, Corvette was not a high-performance car until Zora Arkus-Duntov fitted it with a V-8,....
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Chevrolet puts a groove into your ride
Hot summer day… roof top down… wind in your hair … smile in your face… and Little Red Corvette cranked up to its loudest setting. Theres nothing like music in the car to make a journey really fly by. But, did you know that, aside from Princes classic hit, more than 600 songs across all genres and multiple generations mention Chevrolet, Chevy or the name of a Chevrolet vehicle in their....
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