Chevrolet Astrovette

Last updated
Chevrolet Astrovette
1968 Astro-Vette Front Passenger Side View.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Production1968
Body and chassis
Class Concept car
Body style 2-door roadster
Layout FR layout
Related Chevrolet Corvette
Powertrain
Engine 427 ci (7.0L) L68 V8
Transmission Automatic Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission

The Chevrolet Astrovette was part of an aerodynamic study to enhance the aerodynamics of the Corvette.

Introduced in 1968, it featured an extended nose, roadster windshield, closed rear wheel openings and an extended, tapered tail. It also featured pressure actuated flaps on the fenders designed open if pressure under the hood got too high (the flaps on the concept were just for display and were never made functional). [1]

The car is based on a blue 1968 Corvette convertible and the interior was kept stock except for a racing steering wheel. The engine is a 400 hp L-68 427 that came in the base car. In 1992 the car was restored to its original show car specs. [2]

Rear view 1968 Astro-Vette Rear Passenger Side View.jpg
Rear view

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette</span> American sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors (GM)

The Chevrolet Corvette is a line of American two-door, two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque since 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Impala</span> American full-size car

The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size car that was built by Chevrolet for model years 1958 to 1985, 1994 to 1996, and 2000 to 2020. The Impala was Chevrolet's popular flagship passenger car and was among the better-selling American-made automobiles in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvair</span> Compact automobile

The Chevrolet Corvair is a rear-engined, air-cooled compact car manufactured by Chevrolet in two generations between 1960–1969. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle, it was produced in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible, 4-door station wagon, passenger van, commercial van, and pickup truck body styles in its first generation (1960–1964), and as a 2-door coupe, convertible or 4-door hardtop in its second (1965–1969). Total production was approximately 1.8 million vehicles from 1960 until 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Kappa platform</span> Automobile platform by General Motors

Kappa was General Motors' subcompact rear-wheel drive automobile platform for roadster applications. The architecture debuted in the 2006 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky, and ended production in 2009. These vehicles generally have a "M" in the fourth digit of their VIN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transaxle</span> Combined transmission, axle and differential in one assembly.

A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel GT</span> Sports car manufactured by Opel

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car manufactured and marketed by Opel in two generations — separated by a 34-year hiatus.

The Pontiac Banshee is a line of concept cars designed by Pontiac, assuming the role previously established by General Motors' Firebirds of the 1950s. Four Banshee "dream cars" were fabricated through 1988 as design exercises intended to establish exterior and interior themes that could be modified for production versions of Pontiac sports and performance cars. Banshee was also the leading candidate for Pontiac's version of the Camaro before being named Firebird in light of any deathly associations of the word Banshee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Nomad</span> Motor vehicle

Chevrolet Nomad is a nameplate used by Chevrolet in North America from the 1950s to the 1970s, applied largely to station wagons. Three different Nomads were produced as a distinct model line, with Chevrolet subsequently using the name as a trim package.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette (C2)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Corvette (C2) is the second generation of the Corvette sports car, produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors (GM) for the 1963 through 1967 model years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette (C3)</span> Motor vehicle

The Chevrolet Corvette (C3) is the third generation of the Corvette sports car that was produced from 1967 until 1982 by Chevrolet for the 1968 to 1982 model years. Engines and chassis components were mostly carried over from the previous generation, but the body and interior were new. It set new sales records with 53,807 produced for the 1979 model year. The C3 is the third generation of the Chevrolet Corvette, and marks the second time the Corvette would carry the Stingray name, though only for the 1969–76 model years. This time it was a single word as opposed to Sting Ray as used for the 1963–67 C2 generation. The name would then be retired until 2014 when it returned with the release of the C7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette (C4)</span> Fourth generation of the Corvette sports car

The Chevrolet Corvette (C4) is the fourth generation of the Corvette sports car, produced by American automobile manufacturer Chevrolet from 1983 until 1996. The convertible returned, as did higher performance engines, exemplified by the 375 hp (280 kW) LT5 found in the ZR-1. In early March 1990, the ZR-1 would set a new record for the highest 24 hour-5,000 mile land-speed by going over a speed of 175 mph (282 km/h). With a completely new chassis, modern sleeker styling, and other improvements to the model, prices rose and sales declined. The last C4 was produced on June 20, 1996.

The Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (CERV) is a series of Chevrolet experimental cars. Chevrolet Staff engineer, designer, and race car driver Zora Arkus-Duntov started development of the CERV I in 1959, and began work on the CERV II in 1963. Chevrolet chief engineer Don Runkle and Lotus' Tony Rudd discussed creating a new show car to demonstrate their engineering expertise in 1985; It would become the CERV III. Corvette chief engineer Dave Hill unveiled the CERV IV in 1993, a test vehicle for the 1997 C5 Corvette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Performance</span> Automotive parts brand

Chevrolet Performance, formerly "GM Performance Parts", is an automotive performance parts brand that sells everything from camshafts and cylinder heads to high-performance crate engines and upgrades for late-model Chevrolet vehicles. It was founded in 1967 to support the Trans-Am Camaro race teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Europe</span> Former subsidiary company of GM Korea

Chevrolet Europe GmbH was a subsidiary company of GM Korea, founded in 2005, with headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland. It provided Chevrolet brand automobiles, most of which were made in South Korea for the European market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvette Stingray (concept car)</span> Motor vehicle

The Corvette Stingray Racer is a sports racing car and concept car that debuted in 1959. The car was developed in the styling studios at General Motors (GM) at the behest of Bill Mitchell, GM Vice President of styling. The design was based on a sketch by designer Pete Brock, and was further developed by Larry Shinoda. The car strongly influenced the styling of the second generation (C2) Corvette Sting Ray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvair Monza GT</span> Motor vehicle

The ChevroletCorvair Monza GT (XP-777) was a mid-engined experimental prototype automobile built in 1962 and based on the early model Chevrolet Corvair series. As it was essentially a concept car, the Monza GT did not enter production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hidden headlamp</span> Headlamps that are hidden while not in use

Hidden headlamps, also commonly known as pop-up headlamps, pop-up headlights, flip-eye headlamps, or hideaway headlights, are a form of automotive lighting and an automotive styling feature that conceals an automobile's headlamps when they are not in use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Corvette (C8)</span> Eighth generation of the Corvette sports car

The Chevrolet Corvette (C8) is the eighth generation of the Corvette sports car manufactured by American automobile manufacturer Chevrolet. It is the first rear mid-engine Corvette since the model's introduction in 1953, differing from the traditional front mid-engine design started in 1963. The C8 was announced in April 2019, and the coupe made its official debut on July 18, 2019, in Tustin, California. The convertible made its debut in October 2019 during a media event at the Kennedy Space Center to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. The racing version, the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, also made its debut that same month. Production officially began on February 3, 2020, delayed by the 2019 General Motors strike.

References

  1. "We Love Corvettes - Corvette Concept Cars". welovecorvettes.com. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
  2. "1968 Chevrolet AstroVette - Concepts". carstyling.ru (in English, Russian, and German). Retrieved 2024-05-29.