Was a metal bodied corvette ever produced by chevrolet? Perhaps a prototype model? Were there ever any metal replacement parts such as doors or fenders made by any aftermarket companys?I am trying to settle an argument and would appreciate your input. I say there were not any metal corvettes.
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Re: metal corvette?
NONE, NOPE, NADA, ZIP. ZERO .
jer -
Re: metal corvette?
Larren, The same Urban Legend rears its ugly head every ten years or so. Its amazing how the storys stay alive. I also loved the one about the Corvette for $100. Somebody died in the car and they didn't find him for 6 mo's. The car smelled so bad that you couldn't get within 10 feet of it. The fiberglass held the "stink" and there was no way to get rid of it! Remember that? I first heard that story in 1960. A bunch of us were going to drive up to Chicago to get it! The metal Corvette story hit my ears about 12yrs ago.
Texas Chapter NCRSComment
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Re: metal corvette?
I had the same talks in my country with guys saying that they knew metal corvettes. They were checking some reinforcements in doors (later sharks), body floor, etc. My 70 has a metal inner cage as all sharks but body is fiber as Jerry said, a trademark of corvettes. Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMCComment
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Re: Contrary belief: 2 magnesium mules
I hate to even inject this, but I think there were two magnesium bodied SS "mule" racers that Duntov had made in the late 50's early 60's. From what I remember (reading) they overheated so badly they were pitched. I'll see if I can't find the reference. TBarr #24014Comment
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Re: Correction
One magnesium bodied SS racer (1957), and one fiberglass bodied SS mule. Corvette Milestones, page 38. Complete with photos. TBarr #24014Comment
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Re: Correction
I maybe wrong but I believe the mag. body one is in the Indy Museum at IndyComment
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Re: On display
Yep. It is, or at least was when I saw it. I lived and worked in Indianapolis as a Regional VP for a year and that May kept finding myself out at the track every afternoon and hanging around the pits. Didn't feel so bad when some other top company execs found out I was there then they all started showing up from around the country. I would give them a personal tour. Anyway, it was over in the museum, and to me is one of the best looking Corvettes ever. TBarr #24014Comment
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Mules
I think the essence of the question lies in this,"Was a metal bodied Corvette ever produced by Chevrolet". Are they arguing about production Corvettes, (as I assumed) or mules ? BTW I owned a magnesium mule once , could hick a water bucket 300 yards.
jerComment
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Re: Mules
Jer,
I agree, the essence of the myth seems to always center around "what year" or "when" Chevrolet made a metal "production" Corvette. I really wouldn't have brought up the SS magnesium body if larren hadn't gone on to ask about prototypes and the like. Also, the one or two times I've been asked that question and I say something about production Corvettes, the person will invariably seem to go on and say something like "well, there WERE metal experimental ones though". It'll probably never die. TBarr #24014Comment
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Re: Magnesium SS Anecdote
I was at Sebring in '57 as Crew Chief on the first Manx-tailed 1100cc Cooper-Climax in the country (finished 1st in Class, 12th overall, as I remember), and watched the drama in the nearby Corvette SS pits with great interest. GM rented half of the Sebring Hotel, and most of the guests were from GM Styling (we REAL racers slept in our cars in the paddock), apparently on hand to pamper/detail the Corvette SS and to marvel at the beauty of their artistic creation - they were everywhere, buffing, shining, and polishing that car every minute; Fitch tolerated them, but it was obvious that he just wished they'd disappear. As you know, the mag-bodied car had ZERO development and even missed practice (delayed at the Tech Center to pretty-up the paint). After about 5 laps, Fitch brought it in nearly unconscious from the heat in the cockpit, and three engineers set about tearing off the louvered magnesium panels that covered the side exhaust pipes - they literally tore them off the car, and you could see the horrified looks on the Styling types as their creation was dismembered and the deformed pieces (with their 12 coats of hand-rubbed silver-blue lacquer)were unceremoniously ripped off the car and thrown in the corner of the pit box. The car went like Hell and ran with the leaders (Ferrari 335 Sports and Maserati 450S and 300S)for a while, then fuel leaked out of the filler pipe onto the left rear suspension bushings, destroying them, and the car became unmanageable and was withdrawn. Some development time on the track would have shown these shortcomings relatively quickly, but the paint job was more important than letting someone get it dirty by actually DRIVING it (the glass-bodied mule never showed these issues, as it had no covers on the exhausts and the fuel filler pipe was in a different location). Great memories.....
JohnComment
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Re: Magnesium SS Anecdote
Great story about the SS. Did you remember to see Fangio in those days? It is my understanding that he tested the Corvette SS (the Mule really) but finally he raced in a Maserati due to contractual problems. But in Fangio's opinion the car was very fast.
Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMCComment
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Another great story, John! (ntx)
ntxComment
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Green Eyed Monster
Hi John:
As we all hypothesize about this and that you stand alone in my book. I'm jealous as Hell and I;m not going to stand for it anymore
jerComment
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