Post by grandsport3 on Jan 14, 2022 13:45:20 GMT -8
Afternoon Fellows,
Yes, Virginia, there were SIX "Lightweight" Corvettes but THIS was the FIRST and a concept Test "Mule" made of the REAR half of a '62 Corvette and a pre-production '63 Sting Ray nose rather crudely bonded together. The '62 Vette was wider and longer than the '63 and the windshield cowling was narrower and windshield angle different. This car was tested at Daytona and Sebring in 1962 by Zora Duntov with Mickey Thompson and Dick Thompson driving and pit crewing. Sports Car Graphic Editor Jerry Titus did two short articles on the testing with photos of the Hybrid at speed and in the pits and a description of how the car differed from a production '62 and an early '63 Sting Ray. He did mention the "Mule" had a tubular chassis and IRS. This was my 1st COVID project and has languished but finally done. I made the chassis from slightly smaller diameter tubing more like a Cobra than the larger diameter Grand Sport tubing (which I feel is actually TOO large). It was probably tested with a single 4 bbl carb but I took some "Artistic License" adding an AMT '65 Sting Ray "Grand Sport" hood because I believe the "Mule" was actually tested at some point with the experimental Chevy 377 cu in SOHC sidedraft fuel injected engine from the Hot Rod magazine Secret Chevy Motor cover edition hence the big hood scoop. There is a photo in some mid '60s magazine showing the other Downdraft injected 377 SOHC in a Sting Ray or GS but I cannot find it, but it WAS published. so, there you have it, I believe it, John Mecom said there were SIX GS's. I hope someone has some more "Mule" test photos and can put them on this site. Sorry for the fuzziness of the lower photo. Thanx, John 
