1967 Corvette History

The 1967 Corvette is regarded by many to be the greatest Corvette ever. This 1967 model year was a second-generation representative of the Chevrolet Corvettes. With it being called the Sting Ray, one of the most common errors that folks make is confusing it with the C3 or third-generation Corvette Stingray that happened to run from 1968 to 1982. It’s unquestionably different. Second generation Corvettes offer an aura about them that any time you experience it, you will never forget it.

The 1967 Corvette wheelbase of the convertible as well as the coupe models ended up being both 98 inches. Length was 175.1 inches. The width of the 1967 Corvette was 69.6 inches. The curb weight was 3360 pounds for both the coupe and the convertible. The standard axle ratio was 3.55.1. The small block V-8 came back as well as the 390 big block that jutted out the hood scoop.

The 1967 Corvette included 11 inch disc brakes on the front and back. It came with a standard three speed manual tranny, however you could possibly select a four speed manual or a 2 speed powerglide.

Some of the options involved features such as leather-based seats, power windows, headrests, soft Ray tinted glass, auxiliary hardtop, shoulder belts, air conditioning (amazingly only 3788 people added this option), vinyl covering, positraction rear axle, special front and rear end suspension, air injection reactor, transistor ignition system, heavy-duty brakes, the 390, 400, 435, 350, and 430 hp engines, aluminum cylinder heads on the L71, four speed manual transmission (close ratio or heavy-duty), powerglide tranny, 36 gallon fuel tank on the coupe, off-road exhaust system, side mount exhaust system, telescopic steering column, power steering, cast aluminum bolt on wheels, redline tires, speed warning indicator, AM/FM radio.

The L88 had several options that were mandatory by Chevrolet include transistorized ignition, positrain, power brakes, and a heavy-duty suspension system. You will possibly not believe this, but only 20 of these cars were sold new in 1967. You have to think that those people were the ones that love power. Heck, they were only $1500 over the base price, but now they are very expensive and uncommon cars on today’s market.

The year of 1967 was the year in which Corvette’s sales drop by 5000 units, due to a new redesign that was coming out. However, the 67 Corvette is considered one of the quintessential collector cars of all time. Its impact on the car collecting world has been tremendous.

Learn more about old cars for sale & 1967 Corvette for sale at Buy Old Cars.com.

How the 57 Chevrolet Corvette Made Automotive History!

The 1957 Chevrolet ‘Vette almost didn’t make it to 1957 and almost died a death a few years prior. Why did this automobile, which has won the hearts of many, come close to being canceled?

Chevy initially presented the two-seat Corvette (or ‘Vette’ as it’s affectionately known) in 1953. It was the obsession and brainchild of the prominent designer Harley Earl. Earl had been designing for Chevrolet since the late 1920’s and at long last managed to persuade Chevrolet to build a two seater sports car, rather like the MGs, Alfas and other European autos that were being introduced to the US market by GIs returning from the war.

While the 1953 Chevy ‘Vette was hailed for its killer good looks and terrific body, its engine performance was unquestionably unexciting, unadventurous and just plain bad. The Ford Thunderbird further threatened the future life of the automobile that would ultimately go down in the records of American auto history as ‘the only true American sports car’, by outselling the Corvette by 24 to 1. Ouch!

While the T-bird was looking great on the highways and byways of America, the Chevy Corvette (not yet the 57 model) was still looking hopefully at potential buyers in the automotive showrooms. It was during this time that GM considered killing it off, or in the words of an devotee ‘murdering it’. Things were not looking good.

Enter the V8 engine and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Zora, who rather wrongly became known forever after as the father of the Corvette, inspired the V8 design and spec for the 1957 Corvette. The V8 engine is recognized with being the single most important modification made to the Corvette up to that point.

Enough of the auto history. Given a new engine the 57 Corvette zoomed from so-so to muscle in performance and was reborn as a true sports car.

While the 1957 Chevrolet is as synonymous with the American dream as Mom’s home-made apple pie, the Americans do not have the monopoly on vehicles in thoughts. The ‘Vette started appearing in the dreams of car-lovers the world over and began attracting fans all over the globe. They were introduced to the car through the medium of its frequent guest TV appearances, where it often got its own listing in the show credits! How’s that for a comeback?

The 57 Chevy Corvette is coveted and collected by classic auto enthusiasts from Asia to Antarctica. They are being bought at car auctions for anywhere from $70,000 upwards, with apparently no shortage of adoring collectors. The automobile world is now anxiously waiting for the unveiling of the C7 Chevrolet Corvette anticipated to arrive sometime in 2010.

Find Out More About the 57 Chevys! Here’s FREE Information!

Now that you know something about this great auto, want to know more? Want to see photos? What about actual 57 Corvettes for sale? Click on over to 1957 Chevys for Sale and see all the great cars available!

Learn About A 1967 Corvette From Alex Schult And Smokinvette

The 1967 Sting Ray Corvette was the best Corvette made. It was refined to the limit. The changes were modest and this was the cleanest Sting Ray. A less chunky appearance from the flat finish rockers and ribbing from the five small vents replaced the three larger fender vents. The new feature, the unique single backup light that is mounted above the license plate is new.

Slotted six inch Rally wheels with chrome beauty rings and lug nuts concealed behind small chrome caps replaced the previous model’s old fashioned wheel covers. Interior alterations included revised upholstery and the handbrake moved from beneath the dash to between the seats. A fad on all cars at that time was the optional hardtop which is offered with a black vinyl cover.

Power trains hardly changed. The two small-block V-8s returned, as did the 390-bhp big-block (hulking beneath a redesigned hood scoop). But the top two 427s now developed 400 and 435 bhp with a switch to triple two-barrel carburetors. As before, they differed in compression ratios — 10.25:1 and 11.0:1, respectively — and the solid lifters and transistorized ignition that went on the 425-bhp unit. The latter, RPO L71, was also available with special aluminum heads (instead of cast iron) and larger-diameter exhaust valves as RPO L89, though with the same grossly understated horsepower.

This ultimate Corvette engine for 1967, was coded L88 which was an even wider L89 that was close to a pure racing engine that Chevy offered. The car came with lightweight heads, bigger ports, hotter cam, aluminum radiator, small diameter flywheel, stratospheric 12.5:1 compression and a single huge Holly four barrel carburetor. The result was no less than 560 bhp, again at 6400 rpm.

There was one problem, you had to use 103 octane racing fuel. This was available only at certain service stations. This certainly was not an engine for the average person. Chevy made several individual options mandatory when the L88 was ordered. These are the positraction, the transistorized ignition, heavy duty suspension, power brakes and RPO C48. These deleted the normal radio and heater to cut down on weight and discourage the car being used on the street.

For more info or questions in regards to 1967 Corvettes please send all messages to Alex Schult at www.smokinvette.com

Corvette, Mustang, and Cadillac: 3 Cars You Can’t Forget

If you’re looking for ideas for great cars, the Mustang, the Corvette, and the Cadillac (pick a Caddy model, they’re all good) can be really great choices. They all have a lot to offer to people who like different kinds of cars, so it’s easy to see why they’ve remained popular for such a long period of time. Not everyone sees the allure of these great cars, but most people understand how important they’ve been to a lot of people through the years and how they look like they’ll be staying that way.

For business owners and others, the Cadillac brings the largest amount of prestige to the equation. Sleek, black Cadillacs are often stretched and made into limousines, and even those that are standard cars are popular and beautiful. Cadillac is a brand that has a reputation not only for quality but for luxury as well, and that drives many people to want to own one so that they can show their success to the world.

Cadillac has made everything from big, luxury cars to smaller, sportier ones, as well as a less-expensive, manual-transmission car that they called the ‘Cimarron.’ Sportier models and SUVs are becoming more common in the Cadillac brand now, and the ’standard’ Cadillac is also changing because redesigning and keeping up with what people look for in their cars is something that the company recognizes is very important. A few people who really loved the Cadillac in the past aren’t happy with the way it looks now because it doesn’t look like the Cadillacs of old, but most people are very happy with the changes and the redesign that’s been done and they like the sleek and modern look.

If a Cadillac isn’t quite what you’re looking for and you want something really sporty, a Mustang or a Corvette might be more what you’re after in an unforgettable car. The Mustang has been part of Ford’s lineup for years, and it just keeps getting better and better, as Ford always seems to be making improvements to give its customers what they want and need in a sports car. For quite some time after the discontinuation of the Chevy Camaro, the Ford Mustang was the only sports car out there that was still in an affordable range for a large majority of people.

People who have a little bit more money to spend and don’t mind having only a two-seater car can take themselves down to the local Chevy dealership and purchase a Corvette to satisfy their need for speed and horsepower. Corvettes have changed through the years just like the Mustang and others, but the car has always kept in touch with where it came from and the kinds of people who love it and want to drive it. In addition to keeping its sleek and sophisticated styling, Corvettes have gotten more powerful and they’ve gotten a lot of great features added to them so they are more comfortable, safer, and can handle more than they could in the past.

No matter whether someone chooses a particular model of Cadillac or whether he or she decides to go sportier and choose a Mustang or a Corvette, all of the cars have great things going for them. Not everyone likes the same kind of car, which is why car models (and car makers) come and go, but it’s pretty clear that Corvettes, Mustangs, and Cadillacs are not the kinds of cars that will fade away because people aren’t interested in them anymore. These cars have real staying power, which is something that can’t always be said for other brands of cars, many of which most people would probably not remember, or at least not remember fondly, anymore because they had too many problems in the past.

The companies that make these cars know that people need something that is just a little bit different while also needing something that makes them feel secure and safe, so a lack of conformity is both good and not good, depending on how far away from ‘normal’ it goes. The mark of a good car maker is to be able to handle the balance between what people need in order to feel safe and what they want in order to be just a little different. Cars that offer both of these things will remain on the roads, while cars that can’t change and adapt will not, and the Mustang, Corvette, and Cadillac clearly know how to adapt.