15 cars that impacted America
The Corvette was the first modern American sports car. Its original design debuted in 1953, but the sleek exterior (so sleek it lacked exterior door handles) masked an anemic six-cylinder engine. It was not a hit. Later models boosted the engine to eight cylinders (equal to the rival Thunderbird), improved suspension, and added a fuel injection system. Corvettes were run in the Le Mans auto race - and starred in the TV series "Route 66."
By 1979 Corvettes ranged from 350 to 435 horsepower.
Credit: Chevrolet
