Published on Nov 19, 2015
This video captures a Michigan NCRS seminar at Masterworks Automotive in Madison Heights, MI. hosted by Werner Meier.
Brett Henderson, a 1953-55 Corvette expert restorer and master craftsman, discusses the differences between 53 & 54 Corvettes and the 1954 Corvair recreation that he built. That Corvair was featured at Amelia Island last year.
Published on Nov 7, 2013
This is the first part of a three part lecture presented by Ken Kayser to the Michigan Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) on October 27, 2013 at Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn, Michigan.
Ken discusses the early history of the Corvette, the people involved, and various legends and myths associated with it.
Ken Kayser has authored over seventy five articles regarding the early history of the Chevrolet Corvette published in several different automotive hobbyist magazines since 1990. Mr. Kayser's book; "The "History of General Motors Ramjet Fuel Injection on the Chevrolet V-8 and its Corvette Racing Pedigree" was published in 2007 and was named the 2007 Corvette Book of the Year by the National Corvette Owners Association.
Published on Nov 7, 2013
This is the second part of a three part lecture presented by Ken Kayser to the Michigan Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) on October 27, 2013 at Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn, Michigan.
Published on Nov 7, 2013
This is the third part of a three part lecture presented by Ken Kayser to the Michigan Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) on October 27, 2013 at Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn, Michigan.
The 1953 Motorama held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in January was the first public view of the all new Corvette. This was the first car produced by GM styling and has several features that were not included in the subsequent production models such as the false air scoops on the top of the fenders and exterior push button door openers. The Corvette is shown around the 7:10 mark in the film.
In 1953, General Motors wanted to jump start consumer enthusiasm for its new cars. The auto shows hadn't started back up after the War so they decided to take matters into their own hands.
They staged a series of events dubbed the Motoramas, launching at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Here thousands of people could see the new cars and also some dream cars whipped up by GM's master of fantasy, design chief, Harley Earl.
This filmclip shows the effort spent in preparation of this important event, the first introduction to new production and concept GM cars for the year.
This video documents the steps involved in the production of the first 300 Corvettes built in 1953 at the Flint factory pilot plant before production moved to Saint Louis by early 1954. Production of the first cars were done here in an experimental pilot facilicy to figure out best assembly practice and attempt to work out many of the "bugs" before moving to a full production line.
Corvette advertisement from 1953, presenting the new Corvette to the public. Show in the film clip is the
Made by the famed Jam Handy Organization for Chevrolet, "Hall of Wonders" features Today Show host Dave Garroway talking about General Motors as an innovator in the field of automotive design. The film ends with a look at the brand new Chevy Corvette.
Being in the Industrial Design field, I was very interested in the film clip. GM asked its in house film team to show what is beauty. Inspired by nature with its abundance of beauty in sea shells, flower petals and birds in flight the filmmakers strove to find those shapes that occur in nature and are man made that are the essence of beauty.
This is what they hoped the stylists at GM and other industrial designers would bring to consumers.
A look at what we thought was the epitome of style in the early 1950s