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Hi,
While taking a look at some old (1958) photos from the Chevrolet Design Studio I noticed this headlight design.
It looks like it made it to production 10 years later looking much like it does on the mock-up.
The car in the foreground is described as a Holden Corvette.
??
Regards,
Alan
58 was a bit early for me , but GM-Holden did make concept cars that were absolutely gorgeous , everybody that saw them wanted them made ,our local car magazine(s) used to run a story on them and get everyone's hopes up , but they never went into production.
Google Holden GTR-X and you will see a 1970 RHD version of the Banshee
I read in those same magazines in later years, with "spy" pics , that GM initially have been using a Holden ute as a test mule for every new corvette drive train .
And kind of on topic , there's another rumour going around now that Australia will finally get a RHD corvette or Camaro ! I believe that when I see it .Apparently it was a problem with the badges that GM proposed , they looked too much like a red cross symbol so they were denied , but supposedly it's all been sorted out and nothing is stopping GM now !!!!
The RHD Mustang is currently flooding the streets , the buggers are everywhere !
Hey Alan....even more interesting for me is not the HOLDEN in the foreground but the 63interior buck that the headlights were mounted on.
Obviously they were experimenting with the 'rotator' type lights and the pop-up lights way before the C-3 was a sparkle in Larry's eye.
unkahal
edit.....this configuration was done to 'prop up' the lights to the DOT height....I think we're looking at woodwork and thinking its foresight....how else do you prop up the lights???? {conjecture}.
Alan....in 1958 I lived in a small town of about 300 people. My 18 y.o. cousin entered a car design contest and won $100/big money in those days.
The point is....his winning design looked very much like a 1968 Corvette Coupe. If I can locate him I'll see if he still has the drawings and the clay model of the car he designed.
so, if one were to put headlights in lower grilles by turn signals, they would not be legal?
That would depend on the DMV in your State.... some have minimum height requirements.
The designers had to come up with something that would comply with ALL of them.
Hi L-46,
You could well be right!
I still think the headlights show a different idea than what the 63-67 cars ended up with.
Someone wanted to show that arrangement on that buck because the hood surround needed to be filled in on that side to get an idea of what a typical appearance would be.
???
Regards,
Alan
When you look through the design archives it's a mazing how many sketches were done and how many 'bits' of designs produced.
Hi,
While taking a look at some old (1958) photos from the Chevrolet Design Studio I noticed this headlight design.
It looks like it made it to production 10 years later looking much like it does on the mock-up.
The car in the foreground is described as a Holden Corvette.
??
Regards,
Alan
LOS of interesting things to look at.
Regards,
Alan
Look at all the sketches up on the wall!
Alan...I'm a total sucker for this stuff..
Let us not forget the Monza GT (Shinoda) and the XP882 (did I get this right) Shinoda...the horrific rear engine Corvette that Winchell foisted upon the design and engineering staff....both had similar pop-ups. Way before the 68.
To 13Bats....Beauty in the eyes of the beholder! Being as I own four sets of those pop up lights...I positively love them. They are one of the most significant features of the design. Okay, not very 'aero' but what was in 1968? (Chapparal 2C maybe).
Being an automotive historian like Alan...please harken back to the inception of the Porsche 928...with exposed headlights....SIGNIFICANT gnashing of teeth in the vox populii for the ugliness of the exposed 'bug-eyes'. I agree...hurt the nice design. This is another reason I'm not a C-6 guy....fugly lights. {edit...had a bug-eye Sprite....so whadda I know! LOL}
How to be an 'automotive historian' LOL Form 1040 EZ
1. Be old!
2. Have a good memory.
3. Collect rooms worth of printed material and stuff from the 50's/60's/70's 80's (90's too modern!)
4. NEVER THROW IT OUT!
5. Go to Chevy dealerships every year of your (car) sentient life and plead for brochures...knee pain may be involved in getting corvette brochures.
6. Keep all the crap semi-organized.
7. Maintain tons of Corvette 'effuvia' in your head....so much so you can't find your car keys.
8. Know the name of Zora's nephew. (Alex).
9. Hang around with yet MORE old guys! LOL.
so, if one were to put headlights in lower grilles by turn signals, they would not be legal?
Unless someone pops in that tgeir state is exempt and that can be looked up online for a long time all states have a minimum height requirement
And a c3 with lights in the grill is too low in all 50,
The issue isnt so much a ticket as the liabilty in an accident....
10. Zora wore sandals a LOT of the time showing his European (?) background?!?
Regards,
Alan
These were Belgian driving sandals, Osha approved!
I spent a week with him as his chauffeur on Martha's Vineyard....chain-smoking, sandal wearing....almost unintelligible accent....my car still smells! However 200 autographs later...he was a great gent.
I'm wedged between Mcllelan on the left and Zora on the right at the dinner table....Hardly spoke to Dave...Chief Corvette ADMINISTRATOR.
That is such a cool find, Alan. I am a sucker for any information on the making of the 68 Corvettes. I wish someone would have come out
with a book on that. A lot of the people involved are unfortunately gone by now. Lou.
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68-82 Headlight Design
I believe that when I see it .Apparently it was a problem with the badges that GM proposed , they looked too much like a red cross symbol so they were denied , but supposedly it's all been sorted out and nothing is stopping GM now !!!! 
