December Corvette History

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Showcasing classic Corvette models to the 2003 Corvette, this Official Heritage Chevrolet Corvette Photograph is from the General Motors Media Collection




  • December 6, 1963:  At the International Bahamas Speed Week races in Nassau, the 112 mile Governor's Trophy race is held.  The Corvette Grand Sport, driven by Richard Thompson, blows its engine, ending its participation.  Grand Sport No. 003, driven by Roger Penske, takes first in prototype class and third overall.  Grand Sports No. 004 and 005 take second and third in class, and fourth and sixth overall.


  • December 6, 1963:  At the International Bahamas Speed Week races in Nassau, the 252 mile Nassau Trophy race is held.  Two Corvette Grand Sports are entered, No. 004 and No. 003.  No. 004 takes first in prototype class and fourth overall.  No. 003 takes third in class and eighth overall.


  • December 16, 1997:  Location of the ABS/Traction Control System brake pressure modulator is moved from the rear of the Corvette to behind the radiator.


  • December 24, 1953:  Production of 1953 Corvettes stops for the year, yielding a total of 300 Corvettes built for 1953.


  • December 1953:  Corvette production moves from the Flint, Michigan assembly plant to a General Motors Assembly Division plant on Union boulevard, in St. Louis, Missouri.


  • December 1954:  Production of the 1954 Corvette ends with a total of 3,256 built and 1,076 left unsold.


  • December 1958:  Bill Mitchell begins work on the Q-Corvette, with a rear-mounted transaxle andfully independent suspension.


  • December 1958:  Zora Arkus-Duntov hits 183 mph on the General Motors Proving Grounds, Phoenix, AZ in a Corvette SS.


  • December 1964:  Roger Penske races Jim Hall's Grand Sport Corvette #005 at Nassau against vast and powerful Cobra opposition, winning the race.  His win established the last General Motors victory over the Ford-powered Cobras for years to come.


  • December 1982:  At the Riverside International Raceway in California, Chevrolet previews the 1984 (not 1983) Corvette, where the automotive press tests the car. 


  • December 1992:  General Motors' Corvette group secretly contracts with TDM, Inc. to build a test car of the 1997 Corvette.  The test car is officially called CERV-4 (Corvette Enginnering Research Vehicle).  Corvette directs the project, with Chevrolet paying for it.  General Motors management is not told about it, for fear that they would cancel it.

Corvette history compiled by Ken Pollson.