The 1958 Chevrolet Corvette. With its new styling and facelift in 1958 by esteemed auto engineer and designer Harley Earl, the gentleman considered to be responsible for leaving the most influential and successful mark in the auto industry was the first person to connect the art world to the mass production in an automotive stance. His pioneering talents made him a global car designer superstar, while also contributing to America’s economic strength in the mid-twentieth century.
From begin dubbed as the inventor and innovator behind the “concept car”, to being the first to use full-size clay modelling, were to be some of many accolades under his belt; not to mention the successful Corvette restyling.
Infamously designing a new Corvette body that shaved the vehicles sides into ‘coves’ while adding the most shine to date with chrome trunk spears and accents all-round, along with a 9 tooth front grille, it was set as a new model that not only had an extra 10 inches in length and 2 inches in width, but packed a 283 cubic inch V-8 and 290 horsepower under the hood in its top of the line models.
With quad headlights and hood louvres, an extra 90 kilograms was added to the weight and a choice of six colours in an acrylic lacquer was part of the lineup. The design being benched as an American icon for its time with a volume of 9,168 units being produced (compared to only 300 units produced for the 1953 model), had reportedly helped finally turn a profit for General Motors (GM).
With the ‘solid axle’ or ‘first generation’ Corvette starting in 1953 and ending in 1962, today places some models with an asking value of well upward of $130,000 mark; its no wonder this relic holds its own on the road and as one of GM’s prized drives.
Stay dapper.
Robbie – Dapper Lounge
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