{"id":491658,"date":"2011-01-01T13:30:52","date_gmt":"2011-01-01T13:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/\/?p=36939"},"modified":"2024-12-27T01:26:03","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T01:26:03","slug":"racing-corvettes-early-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/racing-corvettes-early-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Racing Corvettes, the Early years"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 1953, the very first Corvettes hit Chevrolet Dealers\u2019 show rooms. Hailed by some as the long-awaited American sports car, for the most part they were derided by \u201cpurists.\u201d I can see why. During that time, my father was working as a salesman for a Chevy dealer and he was assigned a Corvette demonstrator. Having recently left the Army, I had used my mustering-out pay for a down payment on a used 1952 XK120.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>When my dad let me drive the Corvette, I was sorely disappointed. The \u201cshlushomatic\u201d transmission was a far cry from the magnificent Jaguar 4-speed, and the 6-cylinder overhead-valve Chevrolet engine wasn\u2019t in the same class as the overhead-cam Jaguar unit. I won\u2019t even try to compare the suspensions. Needless to say, the handling and performance left a lot to be desired by an enthusiast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n