Corvette through the years

The 1957 Corvette.

The 1960 Corvette. Styling evolved significantly during the first generation of the car but many design cues that would become synonymous with the Corvette were established, including the long dash-to-axle proportion, dual round taillamps and a dual-cockpit-style interior. All first-generation Corvettes were convertibles.

The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. The second-generation Corvette – dubbed Sting Ray, after a concept race car that influenced its design – represented a revolution in design, engineering technology and performance. Where the first-generation Corvette was based on a modified passenger sedan platform, the second-generation was a clean-sheet redesign based on a dedicated architecture. It enabled a lower center of gravity and lower, sportier seating position, while supporting an all-new independent rear suspension that dramatically transformed the car's road-holding performance.

The third-generation Corvette -- beginning with the 1968 model -- was the longest and the car evolved significantly during an upheaval in the auto industry. It was introduced for 1968 as the Stingray -- one word vs. two words with the second generation. Aficionados generally call these cars “shark” models, for their aggressive styling. From a performance standpoint, the C3 generation was transitional. Big-block engines rated at 435 horsepower were initially popular but the auto industry's shift to unleaded fuel, tighter emissions standards and changing consumer attitudes affected output over time. In 1975, the standard 350 small-block was rated at only 165 horsepower -- about 20 percent less than the original 195-hp small-block from 1955.

The 1977 Chevrolet Corvette. The sports car set an annual U.S. sales record of 42,571 in 1977 that stands today.

The 1979 Corvette.

The 1984 Corvette.

The all-new 1997 Corvette was larger overall than the outgoing C4 yet weighed nearly 100 pounds less.

The Corvette vision concept was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in 2009 and previewed the character Sideswipe in the movie "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." The concept was the creation of Corvette designers at GM and heavily influenced by the original Sting Ray race car introduced in 1959.

The 2020 Corvette is equipped with Chevrolet's next-generation 6.2-liter small block V-8 LT2 engine. It is the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment and generates 495 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.