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Did Chevrolet ever.......................

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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 10:55 AM
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Default Did Chevrolet ever.......................

We all know Chevy wasn't into racing (yeah...........right), but does anyone know if they ever assigned any special project numbers or any unique designations to "special purpose" cars they built? For example, if they built a Corvette or Camaro or other high perf car for evaluation of certain parts or even body components, and they "loaned" said car to a race team.................. Just wondering if they assigned any project numbers or "prototype numbers in such cases? What about Corvette "bodies in white" (stripped down body and frame only) supplied to racers? Chrysler used to do it with their drag cars in the 60's...................bodies only that were acid dipped in order to lighten them. Anybody have any information on GM ever doing such with Corvettes?
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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr L-88
...does anyone know if they ever assigned any special project numbers or any unique designations to "special purpose" cars they built?...
Not after the legal eagles told them to stop due to liability reasons. Duntov's five Grand Sports were probably the last of the bunch. That is not to say parts and Chevrolet engineering expertise were not proivded on a regular basis through the back door.

...What about Corvette "bodies in white" (stripped down body and frame only) supplied to racers?...
Why sell only a body and a frame when you could sell a complete car?

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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
That is not to say parts and Chevrolet engineering expertise were not proivded on a regular basis through the back door.
And there were certain race teams, actor James Garner comes to mind, that got the lastest and greatest while others did not. As far as I know, GM did not do things the Chrysler way. Thank goodness.

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Old Sep 27, 2011 | 12:49 PM
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Get your hands on a copy of this book

http://www.amazon.com/Chevrolet-Raci.../dp/0768005299
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Old Sep 28, 2011 | 09:52 AM
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Looks like an interesting read. It's also interesting Chevrolet's approach to racing (from the brief description of the book) and R&D and what the other car companies were doing with their racing programs. I guess the bottom line was a Chevrolet winning on Sunday and not so much the engineering as to how you won.
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Old Sep 28, 2011 | 01:01 PM
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You can read most of the e-book version here: http://www.ccebook.org/preview/07680...ence-1957-1970 if you'd rather not invest in the hardcover coffee table edition.

Last edited by 69 Chevy; Sep 28, 2011 at 01:08 PM.
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