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With so many car names I know the meanings of, I realiized I really didn't know what a corvette is. So, it was off to the Websters.It states 1. formerly a sailing warship,larger than a sloop and smaller than a frigate,usually with one tier of guns 2. a small fast British warship of about 1000 tons,used for anti-submarine and convoy duty. Why is it important to know this? I don't have a clue. But at least I know the origins of the name Corvette, at least according to dictionary.
From: Hampton, VA Yea, i'm a redneck... but you love it
Cruise-In 8-9 Veteran
aka/Trunk Monkey/Banned For Life/Corvette For Life
The Corvette is named after a small fast British warship. They wanted a name that started w/ a C, b/c they thought that it was a more powerful sounding word. Someone mentioned corvette. everyone liked it, hence the name we all know and love today. it is a small but fast car
The EX-122 (original Corvette prototype) is named the Corvette, after a fast type of Royal Navy warship, by Myron Scott, of Chevrolet Public Relations. Strong consideration had been given to naming the car "Corvair". (name picked from a dictionary (Myron Scott was an employee of Campbell-Ewald, Chevrolet's advertising agency) (Harley Earl chose the name)
This is from "The National Corvette Museum" website
Here is something I find interesting:
1952
(month unknown)
A prototype fiberglass-bodied Chevrolet full-sized convertible is accidentally rolled during a test run. Because the body survives with little significant damage, the decision is made to adopt fiberglass for the production body material or the upcoming sports car.
They "rolled" a fiberglass bodied vert and it had "little significant" damage?
Hate to see what they would call "major" damage.