Early 1953 Photo

[Gary H.]

I was going through some of my Corvette literature and came across this magazine that I got years ago and stuck away.
At first glance there is nothing unusual, the famous photo of the first three Corvettes produced in June 1953. Then I noticed the date
of the magazine, I'm not suggesting this is the first use of this picture but it must be one of the earliest.

[Eric F.]

Re: Early 1953 Photo

Yes, I have seen that photo many times but this is the first time I have seen it dated in 1953. Thanks for sharing it Gary!

[Jerry K.]

Re: Early 1953 Photo

These photos were taken of the cars that were assembled at the then G.M.I. as the photo shoot was for June 30,1953. The plant was not ready and the hubcaps are 53 Bel Aire. There is questions on how many cars that were produced and that some of these GMI cars were later used as mules for further development of the 54 and 55??????

[John H.]

Re: Early 1953 Photo

These photos were taken of the cars that were assembled at the then G.M.I. as the photo shoot was for June 30,1953. The plant was not ready and the hubcaps are 53 Bel Aire. There is questions on how many cars that were produced and that some of these GMI cars were later used as mules for further development of the 54 and 55??????

Clearly the photo was staged at the time, but it was taken in the temporary assembly plant that was cobbled together for six months in the back of the Flint Assembly Customer Delivery Building on Van Slyke Road; I worked in that building as Senior Process Engineer - Passenger Cars from 1964-1970 when it was the Chevrolet Pilot Line (and, later, the GM Assembly Research Center). You don't forget the shape of those old hinged steel-frame windows when you spent almost every day out on that plant floor.