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The 57 Chevrolet ‘Vette almost didn’t make it to 1957 and nearly did a crash and burn a few years earlier. Why did this automobile, which has won the hearts of many, come within a hair’s breath of being canceled?

Chevrolet initially presented the two-seater Corvette or ‘Vette’ in 1953. It was the passion and brainchild of the prominent automobile designer Harley Earl. Mr. Earl had been designing for the company since the late 1920’s and at last managed to persuade Chevrolet to manufacture a two seater sports car, rather like the MGs, Alfas and other European autos that were being introduced to the US market by returning GIs.

While the 53 Chevy ‘Vette was lauded for its killer looks and fabulous body, its engine performance was distinctly unexciting, unadventurous and somewhat frigid. Ford’s Thunderbird additionally threatened the future of the car that would in due course go down in the records of American automotive history as ‘the only true American sports car’, by outselling the Corvette by 24 to 1. Ouch!

While the T-bird was looking great on the highways of America, the Chevy Corvette (not yet the 57 model) was still languishing in the automotive showrooms. It was about this time that GM was said to have been considering killing it off, or in the words of an enthusiast ‘murdering it’. Things were not looking good.

Enter the V8 engine and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Zora, who somewhat incorrectly was designated forever after as the father of the Corvette, inspired the V8 design and spec for the 57 Corvette. The V8 engine is credited with being the single most significant modification made to the car up to that point.

Enough of the history. Baptized with the new V8 engine the 1957 Corvette went from so-so to power in performance and was re-christened as a serious sports car.

While the 57 Chevrolet is as synonymous with the American dream as Mama’s home-made apple pie, the US does not have a monopoly on autos in dreams. The ‘Vette began appearing in the dreams of sleepers all over the world and started attracting a global fan base. The unsuspecting public was introduced to the car through the medium of its numerous guest TV appearances, where it often achieved its own listing in the show credits! How’s that for a comeback?

The 1957 Corvette is coveted and collected by car enthusiasts the world over. These beauties are selling at car auctions for anywhere from $70,000 on up, with apparently no lack of adoring buyers. The automobile world is now holding its breath, waiting for the introduction of the C7 Chevrolet Corvette expected to come sometime in 2010.

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