Mid Engine Part 2

June 28, 2018 0 By Laura

Last week we talked about the rumors, pictures and videos showing the C8 Mid-Engined Vette and the first four, of eight in total, mid-engine Corvette prototypes GM made.

Here is a list of the other four prototypes (#5-#8):

#5 – XP-897GT also appeared in 1973 and was basically the same car as XP-895.

With the energy crisis in the 70’s, GM scrapped its rotary development work and all plans for a Wankel-powered car.

#6 – In 1976 Chevrolet was ready to produce the Aerovette one more time and was approved for production as a 1980 model.

With the rotary powerplant scrapped, a 350ci V8-powered engine was placed back in the Vette and the styling was updated, including gullwing doors. The production car had a target price between $15000-$18000.

What went wrong this time? Chief supporters Duntov, Bill Mitchell, and Ed Cole had all retired, imported rear mid-engine cars had poor sales, the Nissan 280Z was devouring Corvette sales and David R. McLellan (the new Chief Engineer) felt it would be better to keep the front engine design.

#7 – After around 10 years of no more mid-engine rumors, in 1986 GM introduced the “Corvette Indy”.

This was a very futuristic car with a 2.65-litre V8 from GM’s Indy car program, and very cutting-edge technology. The chassis was a composite monocoque, carbon-kevlar body, four-wheel-drive, and four-wheel-steering. The suspension was developed by Lotus, and instead of shocks and springs, used a complex, fully-hydraulic arrangement where microprocessors determined the exact position of each wheel based on acceleration values.

The new design proved to be very expensive, and customers were worried about a computer-controlled Vette, so once again, the mid-engine Corvette was canceled.

#8 – The CERV III was shown at the International Auto Show in Detroit in 1990.

Powered by a twin-turbo, quad-cam, 32-valve 5.7-litre V8 producing 650hp and 655 lb.-ft. of torque, giving the CERV III a theoretic top speed was 225 miles per hour and 0-62 mph of 3.9 seconds. The same engine, but without the turbos, would make its way into the 1990-1995 ZR1.

Again, it was just too expensive to build and sell. It was estimated the car would cost between $300,000 to $400,000 in 1990 dollars.

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We Came! We Were Judged! We Conquered!

2 Bloomington Golds. 1967 L88 Yellow Coupe and 1968 L88 Silver Convertible. And 3 Gold Collection Certificates as invited participant!!

Here’s a great video on the L88 gathering of last weekend. Never again will you see this many together. Never before have they been on the track together. The red 69 convertible with the hardtop in the far corner is the last one built, the silver 68 convertible with the hardtop and the yellow 67 coupe with black stripe will all be in my shop this Friday. They are a must see.

Click Here’s for good video from Dave & Dana Noble…

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1968-1969 L88 Holley 4bbl carburetor
Completely rebuilt (by Jerry Luck) and ready to install. 1968/1969 L88 application. 3925519 R4054A 861.

Price: $4,500 $3,500

1965 L79 – Factory AC!

Originally sold new out of Hulac Chevrolet in Omaha, NB. And the owner must have wanted to bring some CA. sunshine into his life, because he ordered it in Goldwood Yellow with White interior! And it’s absolutely stunning!

The car was ordered with just about every option including a rare Goodwood Yellow exterior, White interior, White soft top, L79 327ci/350hp engine, 4-spd. manual transmission, Air conditioning, Telescopic steering column, Power steering, Power brakes, Power windows, Knock off wheels, Gold line tires, Side exhaust, Positraction rear end, Tinted glass, AM/FM radio and C & C Group.