The Corvette C3 was introduced in 1968, and while it only lasted 11 years before being replaced by the C4, it was one of the most iconic models of Corvette, spawning many variations and giving birth to new generations of the American sports car. You might know some of these facts about the Corvette C3, but what you don’t know might surprise you! Here are 10 facts about the Corvette C3 that you probably didn’t know.
1) The C3 was the first Corvette with a factory-installed sunroof.
The C3 was a revolutionary car that brought so many new changes to the world of Corvettes. It was a much more modern looking car than previous models, and it came with a factory-installed sunroof. The C3 was also the first Corvette to have an independent rear suspension and four-wheel disc brakes. It also featured power steering for the first time ever in a production car.
2) The Stingray name was originally used on a concept car.
The Stingray name was originally used on a concept car. The car’s name was changed to honor Chevrolet engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, who made many contributions to the design of a sports car, including giving it its signature trident insignia. The first-generation Corvette Stingray was introduced in 1963 and is credited with helping make Chevrolet into an American icon.
3) The C3 was the first Corvette to be built entirely in St. Louis.
The Corvette is an American sports car that has been produced by Chevrolet since 1953. The name Corvette is a shortened version of CORVETTE, which is itself a truncation of co-ROTATING VEeTTE. It was originally powered by a small six-cylinder engine, but became famous for its large displacement V8 engines in the 1960s.
4) The C3 was the first Corvette with a rear window defroster.
The Corvette is a popular American sports car that was first produced in 1953. The third generation of Corvettes, called C3s, were produced from 1968-1982. They were the first Corvettes to have a rear window defroster as well as other innovations like an integrated spoiler and optional undercoating.
5) The C3 was the first Corvette with four round tail lights.
The Corvette has seen many changes over the years and with each new model, there are always some surprising facts that make them unique. The first generation of Corvettes, known as the C1, had four rectangular tail lights. The next gen was a big change when they switched to four round tail lights in 1953.
6) The C3 was the first Corvette with chrome bumpers.
The third generation of Corvettes were built from 1968-1982. The first generation was 1954-1962, the second 1962-1967, and the fourth 2005 to present. The third generation of Corvettes was available in coupe and convertible styles and came with many different engines including a 350 cid V8 engine that produced 250 horsepower. They also had chrome bumper covers as opposed to rubber bumpers which had been used in previous generations.
7) The C3 was the first Corvette with a fiberglass floorpan.
The Chevy Corvette is one of America’s most iconic cars. This post will teach you some interesting facts about the first generation of Corvettes, which were made from 1963 to 1967. First off, you might not know that these cars were some of the first ever with a fiberglass floorpan. Fiberglass is lighter and more durable than steel, so this was a pretty big deal in car design at the time. Another cool thing to note is that they had an optional fully-automatic transmission!
8) The C3 was the first Corvette with power windows.
While there are many great qualities of the C3, one of its most memorable features is its power windows. This was a new feature for Corvettes and a big innovation that changed not just how we drive our cars but how we live in them too. Previously, drivers had to open their window with a crank handle and then crank it back up again when they were done. Now, all you need to do is push a button!
9) The C3 was the first Corvette with an AM/FM radio.
A lot of people don’t know this, but the 1975 Corvette was the first to have an AM/FM radio. It was also one of the first cars in its class to offer optional air conditioning. For a long time, it was only available with a 350-cubic-inch V8 engine, which made it slower than some other sports cars on the market at that time.
10) The C3 was the first Corvette with a tilt-telescoping steering column.
The Corvette C3 was a significant leap from the previous models. The design of this car is largely attributed to Larry Shinoda, who also designed some of the first Corvettes. The C3 was unique for many reasons, but one that stands out is that it was the first Corvette with a tilt-telescoping steering column. The steering wheel and column are adjustable so that drivers of different heights can comfortably drive.
