Chevrolet Corvette (C1, 1953 to 1962)

The first Corvette was an open two seat sports car with a fiberglass body, introduced late in the 1953 model year after a concept shown at the General Motors Motorama in January 1953. It first used a six cylinder engine and Powerglide automatic, took a V8 in 1955 and a four speed manual in 1957, and the 1958 to 1962 cars had a common four headlight look. Sales were poor at first and the car was nearly canceled until Ford's Thunderbird and the V8 saved it. It is called the solid axle generation because independent rear suspension waited for the 1963 Sting Ray. Its model years run from 1953 to 1962.