How Speed Could have Changed the Look of Corvette

How’s this for a piece of Corvette history? The Corvette CERV II: it certainly would rank as one of the wildest Corvettes built by Chevy, in my opinion.

The concept stems from a ’60s experiment centered on speed, and it will be on display at the upcoming Corvettes at Carlisle being held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on August 22, as highlighted in a Motor Authority report.

Dubbed “CERV” for Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle, the mid-engine ‘Vette featured four-wheel drive and a pair of two-speed automatic transmissions that link the car’s V8 engine to each axle.

Despite the highly awkward design, the CERV II, the brainchild of Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, was apparently a huge success in the speed department. The concept reportedly had a 0-60 mph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 200 mph. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the CERV II drag race a Porsche 911 Turbo S?

There was once talk of entering the CERV II into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the idea never quite panned out. Who knows? If it had, the modern Corvette could have taken on a completely different look altogether.

Just imagine the 2015 Stingray with a few of those styling cues.