The major redesign in 1961 was the rear end, adopted from the XP700, and this new design would go unchanged until 1968. Otherwise, GM made only minor changes to the Corvette. The round Corvette nose emblem disappeared and was replaced by the word "Corvette" spelled out in individual letters. You know the ones we love to wax around. The "unlucky" chrome tooth grill was replaced by wire mesh. The 1961 was the first Corvette with the new 315 horsepower fuel injected 283 CI V8, but the last year for the 283 CI engine. The engine was dubbed the RPO354. It was the last year for the wide whitewall tires and the last two-tone Corvette until '78.

Test Cars: Bill Mitchell's Sting Ray racer went on display at the Chicago Auto Show in February. In June, the Corvette Shark first appeared (XP-775). Ed Cole proposed a 4-seat version of the upcoming '63 Corvette based on the XP-720 prototype. Late in the year, a running concept car was complete, but died due to wide spread criticism.

DID YOU KNOW?: Sun shades and courtesy lights became standard equipment in 1961