Birth of a Generation... [PIC]

GM's Chief of Styling, Bill Mitchell, was inspired at the 1957 Auto Show in Turin by cars like the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante and probably Bertone's B.A.T. Alfas. He loved the sharply delineated mid belt line and especially what was called the "Blip" or bulges over each wheel. Beginning as a sketch by Peter Brock and some refining by Larry Shinoda, Mitchell went all 'black ops' and began the project hidden from GM execs, accountants and divisional managers working in a series of inaccessible rooms including one hidden behind a false wall. He was on a mission to turn the next generation of Corvettes into world class racers at a time when the industry was still reeling from the '55 Le Mans disaster and the AMA ban preventing GM from factory racing. The finished product was devoid of any badges and scripts that would identify it as a Corvette or a GM creation. Mitchell prepped and raced the car funded by his own wallet. At the 1959 debut, racing as a privateer, It was powered by the fuel injected 283 V8 with a 4 speed and Halibrand quick change rear and magnesium wheels. The body had been fitted to the tubular framed chassis of the Corvette SS and the result was 1000 lbs lighter that the '60 production Corvette with further weight reductions to come. Disc brakes and a larger rear suspension rake to keep the car from going airborne at 140 mph were added along with engine mods yo include the 327 V8 and 350 V8 over time. In 1960, it went on to win an SCCA championship. About that time GM finally had Mitchell pull it off the track and, with a full length windscreen added, it became Mitchell's weekend driver. The car's significance was finally recognized and embraced by the GM Styling Studio.