| The history of American sports cars is
| |
| | transmission and a standard Chevy 6
|
| the story not only of machines, but also
| |
| | cylinder engine. Sales stagnated.
|
| of the men who made and drove them.
| |
| | A Russian émigré and Chevrolet designer
|
| There have been many key players in the
| |
| | named Zora Arkus-Duntov took the reigns
|
| development of the modern sports car, but
| |
| | of the Corvette project after its second
|
| some stand out as truly significant
| |
| | lackluster year. He redesigned the new
|
| figures.
| |
| | Chevy V8 to fit in the Corvette and
|
| Among those innovators to remember are
| |
| | replaced the automatic transmission with
|
| Alexander Winton, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and
| |
| | a sportier 3-speed manual tranny. His
|
| John DeLorean. Each made a lasting
| |
| | design changes vaulted the Corvette to
|
| impression on the sports car scene.
| |
| | fame and admiration.
|
| Alexander Winton
| |
| | Arkus-Duntov continued his affiliation
|
| Alexander Winton was the first truly
| |
| | with Corvette, ushering it into its
|
| successful automotive magnate in the
| |
| | heyday as the most respected and admired
|
| United States. His cars participated and
| |
| | American sports car.
|
| excelled in virtually every major racing
| |
| | John DeLorean
|
| and touring event of the late 1890s and
| |
| | A brash young auto executive at Pontiac
|
| early 1900s. Winton cars were perceived
| |
| | named John DeLorean had an idea. He
|
| as the model of American automotive
| |
| | could take the under performing Pontiac
|
| engineering.
| |
| | Tempest, make a few minor exterior
|
| Winton's success and belief in his
| |
| | alterations, outfit it with a big and
|
| vehicles led him to accept a challenge
| |
| | powerful V8 engine and upgrade some of
|
| from an upstart from Detroit named Henry
| |
| | the other components. His revitalization
|
| Ford. In a much-ballyhooed 1901 contest,
| |
| | effort turned the lowly Tempest into the
|
| Ford and Winton squared off in one-on-one
| |
| | Pontiac GTO-the car that sparked the
|
| race.
| |
| | muscle car era in America.
|
| Winton's Sweepstakes racecar suffered
| |
| | DeLorean's efforts to build better and
|
| from mechanical problems during the
| |
| | more interesting sports cars continued as
|
| contest and his two-cylinder, 28
| |
| | he opened his own auto company. He
|
| horsepower racer finished a distant
| |
| | introduced the stainless steel DMC-12
|
| second to Ford, who found his career
| |
| | sports car later popularized in the Back
|
| revitalized after the publicized victory.
| |
| | to the Future movies. The innovative
|
| Despite often being remembered as the man
| |
| | vehicle was never a hot-seller but was an
|
| who lost to Ford, Alexander Winton was a
| |
| | inspiration for countless future designs
|
| true American sports car pioneer and laid
| |
| | from other automakers.
|
| the groundwork for many manufacturers who
| |
| | The controversial DeLorean was plotting
|
| followed in his footsteps.
| |
| | an economy-priced plastic sports car that
|
| Zora Arkus-Duntov
| |
| | was never released. He passed away while
|
| After World War II, American
| |
| | the vehicle idea was still in its
|
| manufacturers began to produce readily
| |
| | infancy.
|
| available sports cars, in contrast to the
| |
| | Sports car enthusiasts remember cars.
|
| limited production, high-dollar versions
| |
| | They can tell you the specs of many
|
| from earlier in history. After Ford made
| |
| | significant sports cars and can trace the
|
| a splash with the Thunderbird sports car,
| |
| | history of many sports car lines. It's
|
| Chevrolet sought to capture its share of
| |
| | important to remember these cars did not
|
| the growing market with the 1955
| |
| | materialize from thin air. There were
|
| introduction of the Corvette.
| |
| | men behind the cars who brought them to
|
| The Corvette, whose distinctive
| |
| | the limelight. Three of the great
|
| appearance was brought to light be famous
| |
| | innovators-Winton, Arkus-Dontav, and
|
| designer Harley Earl, was a beautiful
| |
| | DeLorean deserve to be as remembered as
|
| package containing a ho-hum gift. The
| |
| | any sports car to ever hit the road.
|
| car had a two-speed automatic
| |
| |
|
