Photography by Ray Thursby
Greased Lightning
December 2, 2004
AAT CE53 Corvette
People seldom ask “what is it?” when they see this car. Even those with only a casual interest in such matters instinctively know it is a Chevrolet Corvette. Some, including more knowledgeable enthusiasts, are, however, uncertain about which Corvette it might be. Yes, it does have many of the styling cues of a distinct early-1950s kind, including rounded front fenders flanking an egg-crate grille, rocket-exhaust rear lamps on their swept-back pods, and other detail delights typical of early jet-age car design. But the overall stance and shape are clearly those of the latest Corvette.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
It’s 1953 all over again with AAT’s CE53 Corvette, which combines design cues from the original Corvette with technology from the current model. (Click image to enlarge)
Think of the Advanced Automotive Technologies “1953–2003 Commemorative
Edition” Corvette as being the best of two worlds. All the safety, comfort, and
performance features of today’s car are there to be enjoyed, spiced up by unique
styling that captures the essential flavor of the very first version without
being a slavish copy.
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
When Harley Earl designed the Corvette back in 1952, he almost certainly
did not envision its eventual elevation to icon status. In fact, within two
years, Earl, head of General Motors’ styling department, must have wondered
whether it would survive at all, as demand for the early 6-cylinder Corvettes
was tepid, to say the least. The story of the two-seater’s evolution from crude
underperformer to world-beating supercar with a fanatical following is long and
complex; suffice it to say that the efforts of enthusiasts within the company
paid off, and “America’s Sports Car” has now passed its 50th anniversary,
solidly entrenched in automotive history. (Click image to enlarge)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Earl’s Corvette design lasted a mere three model years (1953–55).
Subsequent Corvettes were largely shaped by Bill Mitchell, Earl’s successor, and
others who followed him. With each change, the car’s appearance moved further
from its roots, though each new model has been an unmistakable member of the
family tree. And yet there is magic in the original, and the Commemorative
Edition takes full advantage of that. One can imagine Earl himself, given a
modern Corvette platform to work with, sketching a car that looks very much like
this one; he surely would have appreciated this tribute to his
genius. (Click image to enlarge)
advertisement
