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I remember when I bought my first 58 Corvette someone made the remark to me "too bad it is not a 57, they are a milestone car"
There was no internet back in those days but I had a pretty good idea of what it meant.
Looking for a definition today on the net I find this.
"an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development." Which is pretty much what I thought back in the day.
This all prompted me to search for a list of milestone cars. Maybe the list has changed over the years or who know what but I was surprised to see they are listing 1953-1970 Corvettes rather than just the 57 as I was told years ago. I even Googled "list of milestone sports cars" and got no list.
There actually used to be an organization called The Milestone Car Society - they had a pretty slick publication as well. I'm not certain what their selection criteria were, and I don't even know if they still exist anymore.
A milestone is a first at something. Your 58 was the first year for four headlights.
Well, that is correct but I think the 57 qualified on several levels as being 1st with it's improved handling and braking available options as well as the option for a 1 to 1 ratio of cubes to h.p.
There actually used to be an organization called The Milestone Car Society - they had a pretty slick publication as well. I'm not certain what their selection criteria were, and I don't even know if they still exist anymore.
My list of truly milestone Corvettes (with truly important improvements):
- 1953 - The First Corvette - started it all
- 1955 - First V8 - lighter, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than the I6
- 1957 - Fuel Injection
- 1963 - Independent Suspension and significantly more modern appearance
- 1965 - Introduction of a solid lifter big block and disc brakes
- 1966 - The first Corvette that needed to respond to emissions requirements (in California with the AIR) - a reality for all future Corvettes
- 1971 - Perhaps in a bad way - the last old school high performance Corvette in the LS6
- 1973 - First Corvette with radial tire technology
- 1980 - The First Computer Controlled Corvette
- 1984 - The first "modern" Corvette - the basic vehicle platform for all future Corvettes
- 1985 - The first Corvette with modern computer controlled fuel injection
- 1990 - The LT5 powered ZR-1 - the lotus design provided the impetus (both technologically and emotionally) to the latest high performance Corvette
- 1997 - First OHV all AL engine and first platform with a balanced lightweight systems driven low NVH design approach
- 2009 - First use of superchargers to achieve significant power to weight
- 2013 - First use of direct injection
I remember when I bought my first 58 Corvette someone made the remark to me "too bad it is not a 57, they are a milestone car"
There was no internet back in those days but I had a pretty good idea of what it meant.
Looking for a definition today on the net I find this.
"an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development." Which is pretty much what I thought back in the day.
This all prompted me to search for a list of milestone cars. Maybe the list has changed over the years or who know what but I was surprised to see they are listing 1953-1970 Corvettes rather than just the 57 as I was told years ago. I even Googled "list of milestone sports cars" and got no list.
Anyone have any OLD info on this subject?
Don't worry so much what some self-appointed expert decides is the criteria for a completely subjective status.
There's someone else who thinks it's something else.
My list of truly milestone Corvettes (with truly important improvements):
- 1953 - The First Corvette - started it all
- 1955 - First V8 - lighter, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than the I6
- 1957 - Fuel Injection
- 1963 - Independent Suspension and significantly more modern appearance
- 1965 - Introduction of a solid lifter big block and disc brakes
- 1966 - The first Corvette that needed to respond to emissions requirements (in California with the AIR) - a reality for all future Corvettes
- 1971 - Perhaps in a bad way - the last old school high performance Corvette in the LS6
- 1973 - First Corvette with radial tire technology
- 1980 - The First Computer Controlled Corvette
- 1984 - The first "modern" Corvette - the basic vehicle platform for all future Corvettes
- 1985 - The first Corvette with modern computer controlled fuel injection
- 1990 - The LT5 powered ZR-1 - the lotus design provided the impetus (both technologically and emotionally) to the latest high performance Corvette
- 1997 - First OHV all AL engine and first platform with a balanced lightweight systems driven low NVH design approach
- 2009 - First use of superchargers to achieve significant power to weight
- 2013 - First use of direct injection
Very good list of "firsts" for Corvettes!
I must confess, as the owner of a '66, I prefer to think of that year as the first year when a 427 was offered...
I have always thought the 58 would be the one to own if you are a chrome guy! And then because I like custom and personalized, I have yet to see one around anymore where they crazy chrome more and everything else on one! Chrome isn't my thing, but I could appreciate a 58 done up like that!
I have always thought the 58 would be the one to own if you are a chrome guy! And then because I like custom and personalized, I have yet to see one around anymore where they crazy chrome more and everything else on one! Chrome isn't my thing, but I could appreciate a 58 done up like that!
55 is the milestone year for the corvette in making the corvette a true sports car. V8 is introduced, first corvettes to have manual transmissions, 4 barrel carbs and the electrical system goes to a 12v system. 56 improvements made the car attractive to the everyday driver with functional windows and the improvement in tops. I do not know that they really went the right direction in 57 with fuel injection. It would have been interesting to see GM test superchargers and maybe that might even have led to some early turbos.
55 is the milestone year for the corvette in making the corvette a true sports car. V8 is introduced, first corvettes to have manual transmissions, 4 barrel carbs and the electrical system goes to a 12v system. 56 improvements made the car attractive to the everyday driver with functional windows and the improvement in tops. I do not know that they really went the right direction in 57 with fuel injection. It would have been interesting to see GM test superchargers and maybe that might even have led to some early turbos.
So can we all agree that 53-67 are all milestone cars except for 64 of course.
What about '68's? Forget complaints about build quality they were the American Miura! I prefer '64's (as everyone with a lick of sense does, right?) but I admit '68's and 69's turn my head every time.
Last edited by ChattanoogaJSB; 05-18-2017 at 08:36 PM.
05-17-2017, 05:48 PM
Milestone cars??
Well, that is correct but I think the 57 qualified on several levels as being 1st with it's improved handling and braking available options as well as the option for a 1 to 1 ratio of cubes to h.p.
