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09/12/2025 5:11 pm
1973 Chevrolet Aerovette & 1968 Chevrolet Astro II (Astrovette XP_880 Concept)
Here are two concept Corvettes produced by GM. They were shown at the Cobble Beach Concourse d’Elegance in 2022.
1973 Chevrolet Aerovette.
The mid-engine Aerovette began as concept to showcase GM's newly acquired rotary engine technology. Bill Mitchell's design team gave the car a bold almond shape, bi-fold gullwing doors and a clear large rear window over the engine compartment to show off the experimental four-rotor engine. It was exhibited as the Four-Rotor Corvette with sterling silver paint and a silver leather interior. After GM abandoned its rotary engine program, Bill Mitchell gave the car a new life by replacing that engine with a small-block Chevrolet V8 and christening the stunning and dramatic design as the Aerovette. This is the second, Chevrolet V8 version.
1968 Chevrolet Astro II Experimental (Astrovette XP-880 Concept)
The Astro II was designed in collaboration between GM Design and GM Research as a prototype for possible production mid-engine Corvette vehicles of the 1970’s. The test bed car had a welded steel backbone frame, a radiator mounted in the rear and a Mark IV V8 engine driving the rear wheels via a 2-speed transaxle. The aft body section of the Astro II could be raised directly behind the passenger compartment to access engine and rear storage areas. The height of the vehicle was but a mere 43.7 inches
09/12/2025 5:46 pm
I remember a 1/24 or 1/25 model kit of a concept VETTE but not sure by what company. AMT or Monogram. This was in '68-69. Steve ... dayum spell ck 🤬
09/12/2025 5:49 pm
I like the clean uncluttered looks of that blue Astro lol. I might like it even better than the current C8. Steve
09/12/2025 6:27 pm
I like both of them very much. I had heard that briefly the silver Aerovette was considered for production, but tooling costs etc., nixed putting it into the Chevrolet line-up.
09/12/2025 6:48 pm
Both are nice, but the blue one is outstanding, wow!!! Thanks David.😊😎
09/12/2025 7:22 pm
both are nice...favoring the blue.
And yes, thank you David!
John Bono
North Jersey
09/12/2025 7:40 pm
I remember a 1/24 or 1/25 model kit of a concept better but not sure by what company. AMT or Monogram.
I remember seeing the Areovette model as kid and thinking, "Yeah right, no way.... this will never happen."
🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄
10/12/2025 3:09 am
as mentioned in my 1/24 post I love concepts and these 2 are great thanks David. And yes I'll go with the blue too.
I have a vague recollection of seeing one ages ago Steve, thanks for the reminder, I'll start looking againI remember a 1/24 or 1/25 model kit of a concept VETTE but not sure by what company. AMT or Monogram. This was in '68-69. Steve ... dayum spell ck
Tony Perrone and David Green reacted
10/12/2025 7:05 am
Yeah, I remember these. And I recall all the buzz around the rotary engines that most of us Corvette owners, at the time, shunned.
Thanks for the great pics and reminders David!
Geoff Jowett and David Green reacted