As you know, I like to do the car models in a historical context and that can take quite a while to research, write and provide pics. This piece was to show the evolution of the first Stingray race/concept from Harley Earl's purchase of first a Jaguar D-Type, then a Mercedes 300SL whose altered chassis became the Corvette SS and then one of the 3 unbuilt chassis that was transformed into the Corvette Stingray under Bill Mitchell. All the programs suffered from fits and starts with the main impediment being the 1957 Automotive Manufacturers Association ban on racing. From start to finish, the plan was to develop a world class Corvette race car to hype up Corvette sales. So worried about the future of the Corvette, Mitchell bought the chassis to develop the Stingray w/o GM participation. Finally, when Mitchell succeeded Earl, he brought the car to his top secret "Studio X" in a building's basement to finish the car. The car was successfully raced in SCCA events as a privateer and Mitchell later installed passenger seat and took it for weekend drives.
So what am I complaining about? If you take too long writing your article, when you go to post, the program erases everything with a banner saying your data was incorrect. This has happened to me before, but this time, I'm not going to attempt to rewrite it. Sometimes, if I remember, I'll copy the narrative before I post in case the post "times out". This time I didn't. So I'm posting again the pics at least.
Thanks for taking the effort with these posts. They are full of useful information and I know I'm not alone in saying they're highly valued. (I always copy everything as universally, the digisphere 😃 just becomes more impatient.) The blue, 'Sebring Corvette' was a favourite of mine, as a small boy in the early sixties and I had no idea that these early Stingray prototypes were originally based on Jaguar and Mercedes themes.
I have one question. This blue, Corvette / Stingray was known as the 'Sebring Corvette' (certainly in schoolboy circles I moved in) because it famously raced at Sebring in 1957, yet Earl retired from GM in 1959. Perhaps Mitchell succeeded Earl as Head of Design yet remained Vice President?
Rich, if you use WORD, enable Auto Save. You can adjust the save settings for however much time you want it to save in between breaks.
@rich-sufficool As said, I've always loved this Stingray so seeing it alongside the D-Type - thanks to your piece - I shall see it in a new light and like it all the more.
Rich I really appreciate the amount of effort on your part to bring us your posts. Alway informative and great reads.
