Chevrolet Corvette second generation

This in my opinion is must be in top ten most beautiful cars ever made.The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car by the Chevrolet division of General Motors that has been produced in six generations. The first model, a convertible, was designed by Harley Earl and introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept show car. Myron Scott is credited for naming the car after the type of small, maneuverable warship called corvette.^[1] Originally built in Flint, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri, the Corvette is currently built in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is the official sports car of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The National Corvette Museum documents the car's worldwide history and hosts the annual event.

Second generation-C2 (1963–1967)he second generation Corvette referred to as mid-years was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous concept design called the "Q Corvette" by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell. The design had several inspirations. The first was the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, one of which Bill Mitchell owned and enjoyed driving frequently. Mitchell also sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Sting Ray" in 1959 because Chevrolet no longer participated in factory racing. This vehicle had the largest impact on the styling of this generation, although it had no top and did not give away what the coupe would look like. The third inspiration was a Mako Shark Mitchell had caught while deep-sea fishing.

Production started for the 1963 model year and ended in 1967. Introducing a new name, "Sting Ray", the 1963 model was the first year for a Corvette coupe and it featured a distinctive tapering rear deck (a feature that reappeared on the 1971 "Boattail" Buick Riviera) with, for 1963 only, a split rear window. The Sting Ray featured hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents, and an independent rear suspension.^[2] Duntov never liked the split rear window because it blocked rear vision, but Mitchell thought it to be a key part of the entire design. Maximum power for 1963 was 360 bhp (270 kW) and was raised to 375 bhp (280 kW) in 1964. Options included electronic ignition, the breakerless magnetic pulse-triggered Delcotronic first offered on some 1963 Pontiac models.^[3] On 1964 models the decorative hood vents were eliminated and Duntov got his way with the split rear window changed to a full width window.

1965 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe

Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, as was a "big block" engine option, the 396 cu in (6.49 L) V8. Side exhaust pipes were also optional in 1965 and continued through 1967. The introduction of the 425 bhp (317 kW) 396 cu in (6.49 L) big block in 1965 spelled the beginning of the end for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396 cu in (6.49 L) option cost US$292.70 while the fuel injected 327 cu in (5.36 L) engine cost US$538.00. Few people could justify spending US$245.00 more for 50 bhp (37 kW) less, even if the FI cars offered optional bigger brakes not available on carbureted models.^[2] With only 771 fuel-injected cars built in 1965, Chevrolet discontinued the option the following year. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger 427 cu in (7.00 L) Big Block version, creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. Other options available on the C2 included the Wonderbar auto-tuning AM radio, AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (late 1963), a telescopic steering wheel (1965) and headrests (1966).

1967 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible

1967 was the final year for the C2 generation. It featured restyled fender vents, less ornamentation and the first use of all four taillights in red; back-up lamps were now rectangular, centrally located. (The all-four red taillight treatment continued on the first C3 in 1968 only and returned on the first C4 in 1984, continuing on all Corvettes since). 1967 had the first L88 engine option which was rated at 430 bhp (320 kW), but unofficial estimates place the actual output at 560 bhp (420 kW) or more.^[4] Only twenty such engines were installed at the factory. From 1967 (to 1969), the Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427 L89 (a US$368 option, on top of the cost for the high-performance 427).^[5] Despite these changes, sales slipped over 15%, to 22,940 (8,504 coupes, off close to 15%, and 14,436 convertibles, down nearly 19%).^[6]

1969 third gen.Corvette

Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov came up with a lightweight version of the C2 in 1962. Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, GM planned 100 Grand Sport Corvettes but only five were built. They were driven by historic drivers such as Roger Penske, A. J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. Today the cars 001-005 are all held by private owners, and are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built.



The C3 was originally intended to be introduced for the 1967 model year; however, quality issues delayed its introduction until the following year.

Ford Octane Academy

Ford decided to search for talents.They've launched Ford Octane Academy,and the teachers are Ken Block, Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan şi Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Dodge Challenger third generation

On December 3, 2007, Chrysler started taking deposits for the third-generation Dodge Challenger which debuted on February 6, 2008 simultaneously at the Chicago Auto Show^[10] and Philadelphia International Auto Show. Listing at US$40,095, the new version was a 2-door coupe which shared common design elements with the first generation Challenger, despite being significantly longer and taller. The chassis is a modified (shortened wheelbase) version of the LX platform that underpins the 2006–Current Dodge Charger, 2005–2008 Dodge Magnum, and the 2005–Current Chrysler 300. The LX platform was adapted from the Mercedes E Class, reflecting the German company's ownership of Chrysler at the time and quest for economies of scale. All (7119) 2008 models were SRT8s and equipped with the 6.1 L (370 cu in) Hemi and a 5-speed AutoStick automatic transmission. The entire 2008 U.S. run of 6,400 cars were pre-sold (many of which for above MSRP), and production commenced on May 8, 2008; Chrysler Canada offered a further 670+ SRTs uniquely badged as the Challenger 500 (paying homage to Charger and Coronet 500s) all of which were shipped to Canadian Dodge dealers. Chrysler of Mexico offered only 100 of these cars for that country with a 6.1 liter V8 and 425 brake horsepower (317 kW) (SAE); the version of which was the SRT8. Chrysler auctioned off two 2008 SRT8 for charity with the first car going for $400,000 to benefit the notMYkid non-profit organization. A "B5" Blue No.43 car fetched a winning bid of $228,143.43 with proceeds going to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.^[11]

[edit] 2009

Production of the limited edition 2008 SRT/8s ended in July 2008, and production of the expanded 2009 line-up started in early August of the same year. The expanded offering was the same as had been unveiled earlier that spring at the 2008 New York Auto Show. Chrysler debuted the full Dodge Challenger line for 2009, with four different trims – SE, R/T, SRT8, and the SXT in Canada only. In addition to the SRT8, which remained unchanged except for the optional 6 speed manual, the line-up included the previously mentioned SE and SXT which offered the 250 HP 3.5-Liter V6. The R/T hosted a 5.7 Hemi sporting 370 hp (276 kW) and 398 lb·ft (540 N·m) of torque when coupled with the 5 speed automatic, and 375 hp (280 kW) with 404 lb·ft (548 N·m) when matched with the same Tremec 6-speed manual transmission as the SRT8.

[edit] 2010

For 2010, the vehicle cost $515 to $1,010 more than in 2009.^[12] The color, HEMI Orange, was initially dropped for the 2010 model year, then re-released later in the model year. Two new color schemes became available for the 2010 model year; Plum Crazy and Detonator Yellow.^[13] A third new color, Furious Fuchsia was announced in February 2010.^[14] But unlike previous special editions, the Furious Fuchsia version will have significant changes to the interior with white leather instead of the usual black seats. Chrysler also made a late-year addition to the 2010 model year with the limited edition Mopar '10 Challenger R/T. These cars, limited to only 500 examples, were metallic pearl black in color with three accent colors (blue, red, silver) of stripes to choose from. In addition, these cars were available with black R/T Classic-style rims along with a Hurst aftermarket pistol grip shifter, custom badging, Mopar cold air intake for a 10 horsepower increase, and Katzkin-sourced aftermarket interior. Units were built in Brampton, Ontario at the Brampton Assembly Plant and completed at the Mopar Upfit Center in Windsor, Ontario. There were 500 U.S. Units and 100 Canadian units built.
500 U.S. Units 320 Automatic Transmission 180 Manual Transmission
255 with Blue Stripes 115 with Red Stripes 130 with Silver Stripes
Out of the 255 with Blue Stripes 160 Automatics w/ T-Handle Shifters 95 Manuals w/ Pistol Grip Shifters
Out of the 115 with Red Stripes 74 Automatics w/T-Handle Shifters 41 Manuals w/Pistol Grip Shifters
Out of the 130 with Silver Stripes 86 Automatics w/T-Handle Shifters 44 Manuals w/Pistol Grip Shifters

 2011

For the 2011 model, Dodge will outfit the base model Challenger with the new Pentastar V6 engine, which boasts a significant increase in power, now up to 305 bhp (227 kW; 309 PS) and 268 lb·ft (363 N·m). The new engine will also be more efficient than the outdated version, featuring cylinder deactivation and dual variable valve timing. The bottom grille will also be flipped upside down, different from the 2008–10. Chrysler engineers cited airflow as a main reason for the change. For the new SRT8's, the chin spoiler was also reengineered and enlarged to create more downforce. It will resemble the '70 Challenger R/T.^[15] Later in the production year, a refreshed SRT8 will enter production, with the new 392-cubic-inch (6.4L) HEMI V8.^[16] The new engine will feature Variable Camshaft Timing, as well as the Multiple Displacement System featured on the 5.7L (345 c.i.d.) HEMI V8. The 392 has officially been rated at 470 horsepower (350 kW) and 470 lb·ft (640 N·m) of torque. Dodge engineers said they sacrificed peak horsepower ratings for low-end torque, stating a 90 horsepower (67 kW) increase over the outgoing 6.1-L (370 c.i.d.) Hemi V8 at 2900 rpm.^[17] Thanks to the revised engine, Chrysler engineers cited a quarter mile (~400 m) time of 12.4 seconds at 110 mph (180 km/h) – bettering the outgoing 6.1-Liter Hemi by 0.8 seconds, although that figure has varied wildly between automotive magazines. Car and Driver tested the 392 at 12.9 seconds at 114 mph (183 km/h)^[18] while Motor Trend's tester clocked in at 13.0 seconds at 111.3 mph (179.1 km/h) and Edmunds' number was far closer to Chrysler's claimed numbers at 12.6 seconds at 112.1 mph (180.4 km/h).^[20] Nevertheless, the new engine shows significant improvements over the 2008–2010 cars in trap speed and quarter mile times.

4th of July Aniversary !

Today because all Americans celebrate the great day of fourth of July my blog will dedicate all its articles today to America.God bless the USA !On this historic date 235 years ago was signed the Declaration of Independence.On the 235th birth of America I shall honor it today by writing articles only about American cars.During the time, USA has offered us many automotive marvels and I love this country for that !