Really Cool History of the C3 Corvette (You've Probably Never Heard!)

Yet another outstanding show, I always come away from your channel knowing something new. I honestly don't think I've seen a corvette that I didn't like. I believe the latest models have rocked the motoring world and given the Italians and the Germans a lot to worry about, anyways thank you so much for all your hard work and all the very best from Scotland buddy

I am the proud owner of a 1970, C3 with the L46, 350hp option. With a very rare option of an M22. One of only 17 made.

I was a huge Mako Shark mk 2 fan in 1966; when the 68 vette came out, with the similar styling, I was thrilled!

“I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” The most feared words in the human language.

Egg crate grille on the '70-'72 side vents make those my favorite C3 years. And those are some pretty nice lines @ 5:51.

I have a 1981 with an interesting story. I bought it from the original owner (a friend) in 1985. Before he purchased the car, it was apparently modified and used for racing by the dealer, Hustedt Chevrolet in Centereach, LI. It seems that the car had an experimental GM engine and drive train installed and was a titled winner at Lime Rock (later confirmed after I had the car in a car show by someone who recognized it). When my friend bought the car new, all of the original components were re-installed by the dealer. The serial number on my car indicates that the car was manufactured in St. Louis, but according to the window sticker the final assembly point was Bowling Green. My car is painted one of the new plants Grand Opening celebration 2-tone colors - Light over Dark Claret Metallic (featured on the new brochure). I surmise that the car started life in St. Louis, and was transferred to Bowling Green for completion. It also came with a 4spd, Gymkhana suspension, AM/FM/Cassette stereo, velour seats, and glass T-Tops. Today it has only about 27,000 miles on it and is in mint condition. I win shows in my category whenever I enter it in a Corvette show. It has all of the options available for a except a trailer hitch (who would want that on a Corvette anyway?). The only other missing option is cruise control, which was only available on Corvettes with automatic transmissions in 1981. Today the car breathes a lot easier because I removed the ECM and related components and replaced the carburetor and intake manifold with Edelbrock, replaced the exhaust manifolds with Hooker Headers, a new 2.2" stainless steel, x-pipe dual exhaust, and installed an MSD high spark ignition. Now it sounds and runs like a Corvette should.

The C3 will always be my all time favorite.

Joel Rosen always took a great design and made it a collectors item. His version of the Mako Shark was and is still my favorite version of the C3. Great Videos Thank You 🙏

Very well done! I had heard most of them, but not all (you would have won your bet!) A couple interesting things I've come across: 1) My dad was a patternmaker (built foundry tooling) and worked with a guy that built a mid-engine Corvette. I think he used the drive train from a Tornado for the transaxle. My dad says he remembers that once word got out about it, GM sent several engineers over to study it, and then GM bought it up and warehoused it, never to see the light of day again. 2) I've seen the Mako and Mako 2, as well as the Aerovette when I was lucky enough to visit the GM Heritage Museum in Sterling Heights, MI. If you ever get the chance, it is well worth the trip. There are many permanent exhibits as well as some that they rotate through. A V-16 Caddillac, the FIrebird II and Firebird III turbine concept cars, and some innovative airplane & marine engines were on display when I was there, too. Keep up the interesting videos!

I have a 1969 C3 convertible with an auxiliary hard top and the 427 l71 engine 4-speed manual it is such an awesome and beautiful car

Good information... I am one of the Corvette buffs that he mentioned and I actually HAD heard all of those stories before. One thing I DID want to mention was that actually the "430 HP" option that he mentioned for the 69 was the ACTUALLY available for 1967, 1968 and 1969... but it was the L-88 and NOT the ZL-1 The ZL-1 was essentially the same engine but it had an aluminum block - and the ZL-1 was also only available for Corvette available in 1969 (Camaro had the ZL-1 also)... so when he mentions that the ZL-1 427 in 1971 was only rated at 365 HP he was completely incorrect. The 427 was discontinued in the Corvette after 1969 and if you wanted a big block Corvette you got a 454. The 454 that he probably MEANT to reference in 1971 was available in two configurations, 365 HP and 425 HP I also assume that he MEANT to reference is the fact that the iron block LS-6, 454 ci engine that was in the 1971 Corvette was rated at 425 HP while the 1972 version of the LS-6 was rated at a scant 270 HP... but it was the same motor. Otherwise, good video.

My cousin had a 68 that he let me drive pretty frequently when we were in high school. It was a handful to drive with no power steering, fat tires and long clutch travel. It rattled, shook and leaked but always looked good doing it. It also hauled ass and made great noise from the side pipes. Many good times were had with it.

A somewhat little known fact is a few astronauts were given c3 corvettes for basically free and drove them to the NASA base on occasion.

Great video about tye C3 Corvette , lve always loved the C2 Stingray , but tye lines of the C3 are just as amazing 👏 👌 👍

Hi- Its actually John Silva, not Joe Silva, from the Boston Mass area. He was a customizer for years. He offered a Maco conversion for a fee, about 3 grand on my car and kept the peices removed which was everything except the doors and t-tops. . It was very heavy good quality fiberglas . Fit and finish was great. He probably did 15-20 of them. There were a dozen in the shop when mine was done in early 70s. The stories between him and rosen vary but it was a very short term thing. Other companies since have made the kits. Bumpers were extra, as were a few other options. The cibie headlites were not legal in some states and I replaced mine (not adhustable) with early 70s caprice quad retangular that were a perfect fit except for grille shortening. Most kits had no grille, lite or bumper availability as well as hinges. (55 chevy works). The low mounted lites can be an inspection issue in some states. And front bumper is only for appearance. But they do attract attention.

The design for the C3 was actually initially a Pontiac, the 1964 Pontiac Banshee, but when the GM execs got a look at it & saw it was going to rival the 'Vette they put an axe to the project. And then a few years later Chevy comes out with a car that is just a slightly reworked Banshee LMAO. Total coincidence I'm sure. Keep up the great work brother 🤙

Excellent vid! Thanks from a C5 Z06 owner

I am glad the C3 did not have a rear mid engine. With the technology we had in the 60's, 70's & early 80's I would hate to think where that engine would have ended up when in a rear collision.

Fantastic! Love my 1980 C3

Great information. I have a 1980. Bought April 24 2009.