1media/1957_Chevrolet_Corvette_XP-64-thumb.jpgmedia/Chevrolet_01.jpg2020-06-22T13:55:23-07:001954 Chevrolet Bel-Air6plain2020-08-27T19:31:46-07:00Model Jane Ohnstad poses next to a Chevrolet Bel-Air at Griffith Park Observatory. The iconic landmark, which was closely associated with space exploration, was an ideal setting for marketing futuristic automobiles. The Bel-Air featured an advanced two-speed automatic transmission touted by the brochure, “The mighty ‘Blue-Flame 125’ engine teamed with Powerglide is the most powerful in Chevrolet history!” Interestingly, these early transmissions used a P-N-D-L-R sequence, which created safety problems. Drivers could easily overshoot the low gear and accidentally shift the car into reverse.
1media/1956_Chevrolet_Golden_Corona-thumb.jpgmedia/Chevrolet_04.jpg2020-06-22T13:58:04-07:001957 Chevrolet Corvette XP-644plain2020-08-22T17:36:13-07:00Seen here behind the wheel, automotive designer Zora Arkus-Duntov built this experimental car to show that Chevrolet could compete against legendary European giants Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche in high-profile races. Built of lightweight magnesium, this unique car featured retractable headlights and a wraparound windshield. Arkus-Duntov employed a stripped-down aesthetic for the interior, in keeping with the car’s single-minded focus on speed. While Chevy’s management initially ordered four XP-64s, only one was built due to the difficulty in procuring the required amount of magnesium.