Tråd: Billede special: 60 år af Chevrolet Corvette

Som den ikoniske Chevrolet Corvette sportsvogn går ind i sit sjette årti, vi ser tilbage på historien om den model. Chevrolet Corvette går ind i sin syvende generation med en helt ny model til næste år. Her er vores kig på den lange og varierede karriere af det mest Amerikanske af performance biler.
Corvette C1 1953
Oprindelige, men ikke meget brug som en sportsvogn. Dens lige 150bhp seks gav bilen meget i vejen for acceleration og to-trins auto gjorde et godt stykke arbejde med at reducere magten yderligere. Glasfiber kroppen blev brugt til at skære i omkostningerne, som var de 52 Chevy saloon fundament.
En V8 og manuelle transmissioner sorteret ydeevne og efter et par års håbløs salg, Corvette endelig blev en performance-ikon. Motor størrelse og udgange steg støt med den endelige 1962 brændstof-indsprøjtning biler at gøre 360bhp, men det var stadig bliver fodret gennem en live bagakslen suspenderet af bladfjedre.
C2 1963
En meget mere moderne, formålet designet bil, med en skræddersyet chassis og suspension, snarere end C1s saloon-afledte mekanikere. Så bagtil var en usædvanlig uafhængig konfigureres med en tværgående bladfjeder og et enkelt link på hver side, og chassiset blev stivere end C1s.
Men det var forbløffende styling, der virkelig har sat C2 fra hinanden. Helt moderne og meget flot, den fik bilen Stingray kaldenavn, der ville være forbundet med det brand for år.
Z06 (navnet er indstillingskoden) ankom i 63, med dens uprated bremser, glasfiber brændstoftank, begrænset slip diff og sparket generationer af høj spec, resultatorienterede korvetter.
Magt og motorens størrelse øges med hver årlig revision, kulminerede i den ultra-sjældne 560bhp L88 indstilling af 1967 – bare 20 C2 L88s blev lavet, og de nu kommando priser på omkring $600.000 (370.000.)
C3 1968
Det startede godt ud – de oprindelige 68 C3 var et skarpt stylet ting, selvom byggekvalitet glidende som 70 'er nærmede. Men stigende emissioner lovgivning ramte power output og motor og en ny metode til måling af hestekræfter betød erklærede udgange kiggede endnu lavere. GM undladt at udvikle teknologi til at holde, Corvette blev noget af en skygge af sit tidligere selv. I 1975 var den entry-level bil normeret til 165bhp, bare 15bhp mere end 1953 oprindelige.
Det gjorde ikke stoppe bilen fra sælger godt, og det var stadig er konkurrencedygtig på et marked, hvor hvert køretøj har lidt fra afmagrede udgange. For et stykke tid. Selv om GM formåede at øge magten og endelig genindførte brændstofindsprøjtning i 1982, at år var salg ned til 25.000.
C4 1984
Digitale instrumentbrætter, en ikke-helt-kraftfuld nok V8 aluminium suspension og endelig rack og pinion styring lavet af C4 en blanding af meget forbedret og lidt vaklende. Stadig, det fordoblet salg fra hvor C3 slap, konvertible returneres i 86 og bilen fik nogle temmelig avanceret tech-blokeringsfri bremser, elektrisk variabel rente dæmpere, en seks-speed manuel kasse.
Den mægtige ZR-1 forvandlet en superbil, med en sub 5 Corvette. 0sec 0-60 mph tid.
C5 1997
Mens de tværgående bladfjedre boede (foran og bagtil), C5 indført en transaxle for at forbedre vægtfordeling og en ny 345bhp 5. 7-liters V8, selv om det anvendte stødstænger og havde bare en knastaksel. Ligesom sin forgænger var nysgerrig blanding af høje og gamle tech, så det kom med en hovedet op display fra 1999.
ZO6 tilbage, som række-topper, og fortsatte med at tilbyde superbil præstationer for real-world penge, med en titanium udstødning og 405bhp.
C6 2005
Ligner C5, men faktisk var næsten helt ny, med en ny 400bhp, 400lb ft 6. 0-liters V8, nye suspension (bag stadig brugt en bladfjeder, omend fremstillet af kulfiber), en meget forbedret interiør og masser af lineær shove. Det var også lettere og mindre end C5 og kombinerede massive ydeevne med en lav pris.
123.000 ZR-1 (den dyreste Corvette nogensinde) forøgede magt til en AMG-jobmuligheder 638bhp og det kunne ramme 62mph i 3. 9 sek.
C7 2013
Grund til at blive lanceret på Detroit motor show, C7 er rygter om at få en twin-turbo V6 (selv om den v8 ' ere ophold, alt for), og det bør være lettere end C6.
Dan Stevens

As the iconic Chevrolet Corvette sports car enters its sixth decade, we look back at the history of the model. The Chevrolet Corvette enters its seventh generation with an all-new model next year. Here's our look at the long and varied career of this most American of performance cars.
Corvette C1 1953
The original, but not much use as a sports car. Its 150bhp straight six didnt give the car much in the way of acceleration and the two-speed auto did a good job of reducing the power further. The fibreglass body was used to cut costs, as was the 52 Chevy saloon underpinnings.
A V8 and manual transmissions sorted the performance and after a couple of years of hopeless sales, the Corvette finally became a performance icon. Engine size and outputs steadily increased with the final 1962 fuel-injected cars making 360bhp, but it was still being fed through a live rear axle suspended by leaf springs.
C2 1963
A much more modern, purpose designed car, with a bespoke chassis and suspension, rather than the C1s saloon-derived mechanicals. So at the rear was an unusual independent set up with a transverse leaf spring and a single link on each side, and the chassis was stiffer than the C1s.
But it was the astonishing styling that really set the C2 apart. Entirely modern and very striking, it earned the car the Stingray nickname, which would be associated with the brand for years.
The Z06 (the name is the option code) arrived in 63, with its uprated brakes, fibreglass fuel tank, limited-slip diff and kicked off generations of high spec, performance-oriented Corvettes.
Power and engine size increased with each yearly revision, culminating in the ultra-rare 560bhp L88 option of 1967 – just 20 C2 L88s were made, and they now command prices of around $600,000 (370,000. )
C3 1968
It started out well – the original 68 C3 was a sharply-styled thing, even if build quality was sliding as the 70s approached. But increasing emissions legislation hit power outputs and engine sizes, and a new method of measuring horsepower meant stated outputs looked even lower. GM failed to develop the technology to keep up, the Corvette became something of a shadow of its former self. In 1975 the entry-level car was rated at 165bhp, just 15bhp more than the 1953 original.
It didnt stop the car from selling well, and it was still competitive in a market where every vehicle suffered from emaciated outputs. For a while. Although GM managed to increase the power and finally reinstated fuel injection in 1982, by that year sales were down to 25,000.
C4 1984
Digital dashboards, a not-quite-powerful enough V8, aluminium suspension and finally, rack and pinion steering made the C4 a mix of much improved and a bit wobbly. Still, it doubled sales from where the C3 left off, the convertible returned in 86 and the car gained some fairly advanced tech – anti-lock brakes, electric variable rate dampers, a six-speed manual box.
The mighty ZR-1 turned the Corvette into a supercar, with a sub 5. 0sec 0-60mph time.
C5 1997
While the transverse leaf springs stayed (at the front and at the rear), the C5 introduced a transaxle to improve weight distribution and a new 345bhp 5. 7-litre V8, although it used pushrods and had just one camshaft. Like its predecessor, it was curious mix of high and old tech, so it came with a head up display from 1999.
ZO6 returned as the range-topper, and continued to offer supercar performance for real-world money, with a titanium exhaust and 405bhp.
C6 2005
Looks similar to the C5 but in fact was almost entirely new, with a new 400bhp, 400lb ft 6. 0-litre V8, new suspension (the rear still used a leaf spring, albeit made from carbonfibre), a much improved interior and plenty of straight-line shove. It was also lighter and smaller than the C5 and combined massive performance with a low price.
The 123,000 ZR-1 (the most expensive Corvette ever) upped power to an AMG-rivalling 638bhp and it could hit 62mph in 3. 9sec.
C7 2013
Due to be launched at the Detroit motor show, the C7 is rumoured to get a twin-turbo V6 (although the V8s stay, too), and it should be lighter than the C6.
Dan Stevens