The First Super Sport... [PIC]

Within the first few years of Corvette production, Zora Arkus Duntov believed that winning Corvette race car would translate into increased sales. Four Corvettes were outfitted with an "RS" package of upgrades of varying degrees with some modicum of local success. But for the internation circuit where the prestige would be, it was decided that Corvette would need a dedicated race car... a first for Chevrolet. Initial idea was to buy and modify a D-Type Jaguar, which they bought, and cut it up to fit their 283 V8 and Borg-Warner 4 speed. The only trace of this project would be the aerodynamic cues of the Jag. Next, they bought a Mercedes 300SL, and, in Duntov's skunkworks at GM, removed the body and the chassis cut and modified for a Chevy drivetrain and a Duntov designed rear suspension. This first chassis was used to build a fiberglass bodied test mule and templates were made for the later magnesium bodied car. It was decided that the body include enough C1 styling cues to establish its Corvette lineage (hence the absolutely worthless toothy grill). The two Corvette SS cars (Project XP-64) were completed with mere weeks before their target race at Sebring and then to Le Mans. Both the mule and the single completed Corvette SS were taken to Sebring for test runs with the fiberglass mule, unlike the magnesium production car, offering reasonable insulation to the driver where the other conducted the heat right into the cockpit.  After a series of parts swapping between the two cars, the production SS was entered. In the race itself, more failures were experienced from minor design flaws and mistakes in assembly. Numerous problems forced driver John Fitch to retire after 23 laps. Right after Sebring, the AMA ban on American factory racing went into effect and GM shut the project down. As an epilogue, Bill Mitchell bought the test mule for $1, and later, one of the 3 remaining inbuilt chassis for $500. Later they were used in the '59 Sting Ray. The SS was stowed away and was eventually donated to the Indy Museum.