On June 28, 1953, workers at a Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, assemble the first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that would become an American icon. The first completed production car rolled off the assembly line two days later, one of just 300 Corvettes made that year.
The idea for the Corvette originated with General Motors’ pioneering designer Harley J. Earl, who in 1951 began developing plans for a low-cost American sports car that could compete with Europe’s MGs, Jaguars and Ferraris. The project was eventually code-named “Opel.” In January 1953, GM debuted the Corvette concept car at its Motorama auto show at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It featured a fiberglass body and a six-cylinder engine and according to GM, was named for the “trim, fleet naval vessel that performed heroic escort and patrol duties during World War II.” The Corvette was a big hit with the public at Motorama and GM soon put the roadster into production.
On June 30, 1953, the first Corvette came off the production line in Flint. It was hand-assembled and featured a Polo White exterior and red interior, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, a wraparound windshield, whitewall tires and detachable plastic curtains instead of side windows. The earliest Corvettes were designed to be opened from the inside and lacked exterior door handles. Other components included a clock, cigarette lighter and red warning light that activated when the parking brake was applied–a new feature at the time. The car carried an initial price tag of $3,490 and could go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 11 or 12 seconds, then considered a fairly average speed.
In 1954, the Corvette went into mass production at a Chevy plant in St. Louis, Missouri. Sales were lackluster in the beginning and GM considered discontinuing the line. However, rival company Ford had introduced the two-seater Thunderbird around the same time and GM did not want to be seen bowing to the competition. Another critical development in the Corvette’s survival came in 1955, when it was equipped with the more powerful V-8 engine. Its performance and appeal steadily improved after that and it went on to earn the nickname “America’s sports car” and become ingrained in pop culture through multiple references in movies, television and music.
Stella's Place 
Welcome, Stellars, to the San Juan Island archipelago containing over 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles in northwest Washington’s upper Puget Sound. Have a beautiful Wednesday!
Lime Kiln Lighthouse, San Juan Island…
Fisherman Bay, Lopez Island…
Sunrise, Orcas Island…
Mt. Constitution, Moran State Park, Orcas Island…
The stone observation tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936.
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What an adorable Corvette! Thanks, Stella!
Dinah Shore at NBC Studios…
See the USA in your Chevrolet.
America is asking you to call.
Drive your Chevrolet through the USA.
America’s the greatest land of all.
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Mornin’ y’all!
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Wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
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Mornin’ Mom!
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Mornin’ Wee. 🙂
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Me neither, aus! Every stupid and pathetic thing is bound to happen with this Administration.
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Good afternoon Wee! Order 10 at a time…
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Mornin’ Lucille, Wee and all ya’all! Hotter again, maybe 100* today, with the consolation that at Audubon Park in 1980 the highest temp since the mid-1800’s was 104*.
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Mornin’ Czarina!
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Keep cool
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Good day to you, Czarina! It’s a beautiful day in my neck of the woods. I’m inside doing the wash.
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I’ll start with the two interesting ones, then deteriorate to the minor celebrations. Sorry, no food today.
National Alaska Day and National Paul Bunyan Day
National Parchment Day, National Caps Lock Day, National Logistics Day, National Insurance Awareness Day, National Body Piercing Day
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I’ll take National Parchment Day for $100, Alex! “At the end of June each year, National Parchment Day brings innovation and convenience to the kitchen.”
Too bad we don’t have a “National Put Criminals in Jail” Day!
Top Dem Congresswoman Appears to Have Violated Federal Law in Big Way
https://www.westernjournal.com/top-dem-congresswoman-appears-violated-federal-law-big-way/
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Mornin’ All. 61* and sunny here. It actually was very comfortable. I think my patio, which is enclosed on three sides, holds the cold air of the night. It did not feel 60*.
I have an eye appt today. I don’t know if I will get a shot or not. But, that is what I have to look forward to today.
Stay safe, and have a nice day.
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Morning everybody! Nicer today, and warmer.
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Do you believe this announcement of “sleep apnea” for a second? Something is afoot! First woman U.S. President coming up!
Published June 28, 2023 – SMG News Wire
BULLETIN: Biden Placed on CPAP Machine, WH Confirms
https://www.toddstarnes.com/politics/biden-placed-on-cpap-machine-wh-confirms/
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