Corvette Pictures
Few automobiles stir as much passion in their owners and fans as the Chevrolet Corvette. America’s pride for more than 50 years, the Corvette is as desirable today as ever and is packed with more heart-pounding performance than at any point in its storied past.
And what a past! The pictures on the following pages bring to life the Fifties dream machine that grew into a world leader in speed, style, and sophistication. These photos follow every generation of Corvette and celebrate top examples of important models for each.
When the first Corvette rolled out in 1953, the idea of the sports car
hadn't yet caught on with most Americans.
The grace and style of the Sting Ray, introduced in 1963,
gave Corvette an instant classic.
In 1968, the third-generation Corvette bowed. The so-called Shark carried on through war, civil unrest, burgeoning federal safety guidelines, fuel economy and pollution regulations, oil embargoes, rising fuel and insurance costs, runaway inflation, and a lingering recession. Despite these challenges, Corvette prospered through the period, even retaining its same basic form for an amazing 15 years.
The sleek fourth-generation Corvette wowed critics and buyers,
proving that Corvette was truly "America's sports car."
The thrilling C5 Corvette featured curvier styling, a roomy
cockpit, and improved handling.
The sixth and latest generation of Corvettes, beginning in 2005, has taken giant steps forward in performance and refinement. Smaller, more nimble, and more precise than its predecessor, the C6 carries a design that, while not retro, tips its hat to the beloved 1963-67 Sting Rays of the second generation.
No car’s history is more stimulating than the Corvette, and the pictures say it all. Go to each page and watch six generations of America’s favorite sports car come boldly to life. Enjoy the ride!
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1953-1962 Pictures
The first-generation Corvette, surprisingly, nearly died of slow sales at the tender age of three. But a landmark V-8 engine and superb styling saved it, while racing success proved it the equal of any rival. By 1962, it had secured a place in Chevy’s lineup and in America’s heart. Take a look at some of the highlights of the C1 below.
The very first Corvette came off the assembly line in
Flint, Michigan, on June 30, 1953.
 Only 700 Corvettes were built for 1955, but nearly all packed Chevy's brilliant new small-block V-8 engine. |
 The 1958 Corvette featured a flashy look that helped Corvette set sales records for the year. |
 The 1962 Corvette was the final model in its generation and featured a cleaner look along with an enlarged V-8 engine. |
| 1953 Corvette | 1954 Corvette | 1955 Corvette |
| 1956 Corvette | 1957 Corvette | 1958 Corvette |
| 1959 Corvette | 1960 Corvette | 1961 Corvette |
| 1962 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1963-1967 Pictures
With a brilliant new chassis and futuristic styling, the second generation of Corvettes, starting with the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, turned up the heat. Improved each year through 1967, the Sting Ray is considered by many the most desirable Corvette of all. Take a look at the highlights of the C2 below.
The Corvette Sting Ray bowed for 1963 with the previous year's engines
in a stunning all-new package with a trimmer 98-inch wheelbase
and first-time all-independent suspension.
 Corvette Sting Rays became ferocious with the mid-1965 debut of a big-block V-8 option, the 396 Turbo Jet. It delivered 425 bhp and a thumping 415 pound-feet of torque, and reduced 0-60 to well under six seconds. |
 Front-fender "gills," single backup lamp above the license plate, and central handbrake identified the last-of-the-line 1967 Corvette Sting Rays. |
| 1963 Corvette | 1964 Corvette | 1965 Corvette |
| 1966 Corvette | 1967 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1968-1982 Pictures
Born of the Sting Ray in 1968 and plagued by teething troubles, the shark-inspired third-generation Corvette faced hazards unknown to its predecessors. But it soldiered on through a remarkable 15 years of tightening federal regulations and frustrating gas shortages. Along the way, Corvette matured into a well-balanced speed machine. Here are some of the highlights of the C3.
Delayed a year by development problems, the new 1968 Corvette topped its
predecessor's chassis with a swoopy new body that stretched seven inches longer.
 An anti-theft system became standard on the 1972 Corvette due to the car's high "collectibility" among thieves. |
 Sales set another new record for the 1977 model-year Corvette at 49,213 -- amazing for a decade-old design. |
 Exterior appearance was little-changed for the 1981 Corvette, but mechanical improvements included a new fuel-saving lockup for the automatic transmission. |
| 1968 Corvette | 1969 Corvette | 1970 Corvette |
| 1971 Corvette | 1972 Corvette | 1973 Corvette |
| 1974 Corvette | 1975 Corvette | 1976 Corvette |
| 1977 Corvette | 1978 Corvette | 1979 Corvette |
| 1980 Corvette | 1981 Corvette | 1982 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1984-1996 Pictures
Unveiled as a 1984 model, the sleek fourth-generation Corvette proved to be another survivor, enduring 13 years of unprecedented competition. It hosted the return of the Corvette convertible and the birth of a new legend -- the mighty “King of the Hill” ZR-1. Take a look at the highlights of the C4 below.
The first Corvette convertibles in 11 years left the Bowling Green assembly
line starting in early 1986, an exciting, nostalgia-filled occasion
for workers and Corvette fans alike.
 In 1990, Corvette introduced the high-performance ZR-1 version. The ZR-1 looked much like any other 1990 Corvette coupe, something that disappointed many fans. |
 All 1993 Corvettes were "40th Anniversary" models. This convertible features special Ruby Red paint and matching leather-lined cockpit. |
 Like past Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Chevys, the 1995 Corvette was available as a replica. Buyers got the same special paint and graphics, but not the actual pacer's roof "hoop," light bar, and other track-required features. |
Learn more about the Corvettes in this generation:
| 1984 Corvette | 1985 Corvette | 1986 Corvette |
| 1987 Corvette | 1988 Corvette | 1989 Corvette |
| 1990 Corvette | 1991 Corvette | 1992 Corvette |
| 1993 Corvette | 1994 Corvette | 1995 Corvette |
| 1996 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
1997-2004 Pictures
A small-block Chevrolet V-8, two-seat cabin, and luscious fiberglass body secured the fifth-generation Corvette’s role in the tradition of America’s sports car. But the Corvette introduced in 1997 was in reality so fresh it contained more new components than the original 1953 model. Its advanced chassis design and world-class powertrain rocketed the legend into the twenty-first century. Its ultimate expression was the fire-breathing, 405-horsepower Z06. Here are the highlights of the C5.
Only a hatchback coupe was offered for the 1997 Corvette,
here posed with four of its grandfathers.
 For the first time, Corvette offered three separate models with the 1999 debut of a notchback hardtop coupe. |
 The hardtop Corvette (foreground) realized its performance potential in 2001 as Chevrolet transformed it into the Z06 with a new LS6 V-8. |
 The 50th Anniversary Edition was an option for the 2003 Corvette hatchback and convertible. Included were Anniversary Red paint, shale leather interior, "50" logos inside and out, and new Magnetic Selective Ride Control |
Learn more about the Corvettes in this generation:
| 1997 Corvette | 1998 Corvette | 1999 Corvette |
| 2000 Corvette | 2001 Corvette | 2002 Corvette |
| 2003 Corvette | 2004 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
2005-2007 Pictures
Introduced as a 2005 model, the sixth-generation Corvette was more an evolution of the C5 than an all-new car. Still, it upped the Corvette’s already high performance bar and maintained the Corvette’s rightful place among the world’s best sports car values. The 2006 Z06 followed and took Corvette performance to stratospheric heights. Take a look at some C6 models below.
A developmental C6 Corvette is tested at the
GM Desert Proving Ground in Mesa, Arizona.
 The C6 Z06 Corvette was unveiled in January 2005 at Detroit's North American International Auto Show, but it didn't hit the streets until that fall as an '06 model. |
Learn more about the Corvettes in this generation:
| 2006 Corvette | 2007 Corvette |
Looking for more information on Corvettes and other cars? See:
- Corvettes: Learn about the history behind each model year and see Corvette photographs.
- Corvette Specifications: Get key specifications, engine and transmission types, prices, and production totals.
- Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum draws Corvette lovers from all over the world. Learn more about the museum.
- Corvette Pictures: Find pictures of the hottest classic and current-year Corvettes.
- Muscle Cars: Get information on more than 100 tough-guy rides.
- Consumer Guide Corvette Reviews: Considering a Corvette purchase? See what Consumer Guide has to say.
