The Corvette Then and Now

Corvette Then & Now continues our Our Legacy Series by contrasting iconic Corvette generations. The car’s evolution is presented with a front-engine 1954 model donated by the Richard O. Ullman family and a current C8-generation example.

The Corvette legend began when General Motors introduced the Chevrolet as a concept car at the 1953 New York Motorama.  The Corvette was low and sleek, inspired by the two-seat sports cars produced in Europe. It was unlike any other American car of its day and stood in stark contrast to the family-oriented vehicles being mass-produced by Chevrolet. Initial model year production in 1953 was limited to 300 units, all finished in white. The car remained virtually unchanged for 1954, although a few were finished in Pennant Blue, Sportsman Red, and Black.

Turner Chevrolet presents the C8-generation Corvette in the exhibit. Introduced in 2020, the Chevrolet Corvette C8 is the first Corvette generation to feature a mid-engine layout, a 6.2-liter V8, and an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, offering a unique blend of performance and daily usability.