year by year

1953 - 1962
First generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

1963 - 1967
Second generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

1968 - 1982
Third generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

1984 - 1996
Fourth generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

1997 - 2004
Fifth generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

2005 - Present
Sixth generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

Future
Seventh generation Corvette...

details  advertising...

 

1960 Corvette

Year By Year Specifications:
[1953] [1954] [1955] [1956] [1957] [1958] [1959] [1960] [1961] [1962]

The 1960 Corvette was virtually indistinguishable from the 1959, but there were some power increases made to the top two engines. Solid lifters and higher 11.0:1 compression boosted the most potent 283 fuelie to 315 bhp at 6200; a second version with hydraulic lifters for easier maintenance pumped out 275 bhp at 5200 rpm. Because of these gains, the Powerglide automatic transmission was no longer available with the fuel injected engines -- it simply couldn't handle the torque. Carbureted engines remained much the same as before. The tamest was still the 230-bhp unit with single four-barrel carburetor, followed by a dual-quad 245-bhp hydraulic-lifter version and the solid-lifter 270-bhp engine with twin four-barrel carbs.

Mechanical refinements for 1960 included new aluminum clutch housings for manual transmissions, which allowed the car to shed 18 pounds, and aluminum radiators for cars running the Duntov cam. A power-saving thermostatically controlled cooling fan was a new option, as was a long-range, 24-gallon fuel tank. A larger-diameter front anti-roll bar, matched by a new rear bar were made standard. These changes, plus an extra inch of rear-wheel travel in rebound, yielded a smoother ride and more neutral handling.

Despite the shift away from racing in favor of promoting the Corvette as a smooth, no-fuss touring car, there were still plenty of reasonably priced performance options available for 1960. Aside from the 315-bhp engine at $484.20, you could still order Positraction ($43.05) and the four-speed gearbox ($188.30). The metallic brake linings (RPO 687) returned as a $26.90 option. A set of blackwall 6.70 X 15 nylon tires cost only $15.75 (5.50 X 15 whitewalls remained standard).

Early in the 1960 model year, Chevy offered cylinder heads cast from a high silicon aluminum alloy as an option for the two fuelie engines. Based on a design that was first tried with the Corvette SS prototype racer from Sebring in 1957, they maintained the stock 11.0:1 compression but featured improved intake and exhaust. The high silicon content prefigured the block construction of the four-cylinder Vega engine of a decade later, which proved to be just as troublesome. The aluminum heads were fine in theory but tended to warp if the engine overheated, and Chevy had quality-control hassles with the castings and the option was quickly withdrawn.

Lending credence to the rumors of an all-new Corvette in the offing was the track debut of a dramatic special called Stingray that was being "privately" campaigned by GM design chief Bill Mitchell. The fact that Mitchell had succeeded to that position upon Harley Earl's retirement in 1958 convinced many Corvette watchers that the Stingray was the shape of things to come for America's sports car. In some ways, it was.

Meanwhile, Bill Mitchell had been working diligently to breathe new life into the existing Corvette styling, which had been around in its basic form since 1956. But though his studios had no shortage of ideas, the Corvette would see relatively few changes through 1962. Chevrolet had other priorities, among them the Corvair. Once more, the Corvette would have to soldier on with relatively minor changes.

Even so, the 1961-62 models are regarded as the best Corvettes since the "classic" 1957. Mitchell executed a tasteful exterior makeover that took a welcome step back from the chrome-laden 1958-60 models. Accompanying this body redesign were assorted mechanical modifications aimed at improved efficiency and higher performance. The result was two years worth of vintage Corvettes that stand as the ultimate expression of the original 1953 concept.

 

Select Image to Enlarge
Select Image to Enlarge

Route 66

Also noteworthy for 1960 was the fall premiere of a TV show that would help boost the Corvette's cache -- an hour-long CBS series called Route 66. The premise was simple: Two guys in a sports car traversed the highways of America looking for adventure. Chevrolet sponsored the program, of course. (It was common at the time for an automaker to sponsor a show and, in the process, ensure that all the characters drove that particular brand of car.)

Actors Martin Milner and George Maharis (later replaced by Glenn Corbett) co-starred each week with a shiny new Corvette. This was initially a 1960 model, but with each new season the boys got a new model just like the ones at local Chevy dealerships. The car was revealed to be a bequest from Milner's character's late father, but how the duo managed to trade it in with each successive season for what would have been one of the first new models out of the factory was anyone's guess.

Though well received, the series lasted only through the 1963-64 season before running out of gas. Still, four years of weekly exposure in a successful prime-time TV series helped enhance the Corvette's image as a freewheeling vehicle for those with an innate sense of freedom and adventure.

 

 

1960 Corvette Specifications

The 1960 Corvette was virtually unchanged from the 1959 model, retaining its power and smooth ride. Here are the specifications for the 1960 Corvette:

Vehicle Specifications
Convertible
Wheelbase, inches 102.0
Length, inches
177.2
Width, inches
72.8
Track, inches
front: 57.0 rear: 59.0
Height, inches
52.3
Curb Weight, pounds
3,080

 

Mechanical Specifications (2-door convertible)

Suspension
front:Independent; upper and lower A-arms, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs, antiroll bar, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers
rear: Live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, tubular hydraulic shock absorbers, trailing radius rods

Wheels/Tires
6.70x15

Brakes
front: 11-inch drum
rear: 11-inch drum

Transmission
3-speed manual (std)
4-speed manual (opt)
2-speed Powerglide (opt)

Standard axle ratio
3.70:1

Engine Specifications

Type ohv V-8 ohv V-8 ohv V-8 ohv V-8 ohv V-8
Displacement, liters/cu inch 4.6/283
4.6/283 4.6/283 4.6/283 4.6/283
Bore x stroke, inches 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00
Fuel Management 1 x 4-bbl. 2 x 4-bbl. 2 x 4-bbl. 2 x 4-bbl. fuel injection
Horsepower @ rpm 230 @ 4800 245 @ 5000 270 @ 6000 270 @ 6000 290 @ 6200
Torque @ rpm, pound-foot 300 @ 3000 300 @ 3800 285 @ 4200 285 @ 4200 290 @ 4400

 

Published Performance Numbers

Acceleration
270 hp, 4-sp man.
0-60 mph, sec
8.3
0-100 mph, sec
NA
1/4-mile, sec @ mph
16.1 @ 89

Vehicle Production and Base Prices

Car Type
Production
Price
2-door convertible
10,261
$3,872.00

Options and Production

Option
Production
Price
Heater
9,808
$102.25
AM Radio, signal seeking
8,166
137.75
Parking Brake Alarm
4,051
5.40
Courtesy Lights
6,774
6.50
Windshield Washer
7,205
16.15
Temperature Controlled Radiator Fan
2,711
21.55
Sunshades
5,276
10.80
Wheels, 15 x 5.5
246
0.00
Whitewall Tires, 6.70 x 15
9,104
31.55
Powerglide Automatic Transmission
1,766
199.10
Auxiliary Hardtop
5,147
236.75
Power Windows
544
59.20
Two-Tone Paint
3,312
16.15
245 hp Engine
1,211
150.65
270 hp Engine
2,364
182.95
Power Operated Folding Top
512
139.90
250 hp Engine Fl
100
484.20
290 hp Engine Fl
759
484.20
Positraction Rear Axle
5,231
43.05
4-speed Manual Transmission 5,328
188.30
Metallic Brakes
920
26.90
Heavy Duty Brakes and Suspension
119
333.60
Blackwall Tires, 6.70 x 15 nylon
NA
NA
24 Gallon Fuel Tank
NA
NA

Color Choices and Production

Color Choice
Production Color Choice
Production
Tuxedo Black 1,268
Tasco Turquoise
635
Horizon Blue
766
Honduras Maroon
1,202
Roman Red
1,529
Ermine White
3,717
Sateen Silver
989
Cascade Green
140

 

 

 

 


© 2011 High Performance Web Sites. All Rights Reserved

Contents

Home
History
Year by Year
Prototypes
Pace Cars
Specials
People
Links

Other HRDU Sites

Hot Rod Events
Hot Rod History
Hot Rod Hall of Fame
Hot Rod Magazines
Hot Rod Books
Hot Rod Tech
Hot Rod Tours
Kustoms
Memorabilia
Show Rods
Land Speed Australia
Land Speed America
LSR History
LSR Historians

More HRDU Sites

All About 1934 Chev's
48-53 Chev Pickup's
History of the Corvette
Prototypes
Car Spotters Guide
Monaro Shrine
Aussie Utes
Wheelstanders
Scallops
Slopers

About

About Hot Rods Down Under
Contact Us
Copyright
Disclaimer
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Site Map

Hot Rods Down Under
Movies
Music
TV
Calendar
Links
Home