10 Classic Cars Versus Their Modern Iterations

Photo by kongjak1

8. Chevrolet Corvette

It didn’t set out to be America’s sports car when it was debuted as a prototype at GM’s Motorama in January of 1953, but the car was so highly praised that the first Corvette was completed on June 30, 1953. Their intention to capitalize nearly went bust, with low sales and bad reviews, likely due to a borrowed suspension, six cylinder engine, and 2 speed Powerglide automatic transmission. When Chevrolet introduced the V8, the fate of the corvette was sealed. The 6.2 liter V8 in the new corvette retains a pushrod activated valvetrain, but the similarities with the old 283CI pretty much end there. For over 60 years, Chevrolet has been continuously improving every aspect of the corvettes performance, bringing it from 1 horsepower per cubic inch in 1957 to almost double that ratio in 2015. The new Corvette offers some truly race bred technologies, like a 7 speed rev-matching manual transmission and a dry sump lubrication system, and brake cooling ducts. Available in hardtop and convertible, the Corvette is a functional combination of sporty comfort driving on the street and absolute domination on a race track, offering up to 29 MPG highway and 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. Now that’s what it means to be America’s sports car.