1963 Chevrolet Corvette GS-II
Despite being labeled as a Corvette by GM marketing, the GS-II was an experimental race car that paralleled Chaparral development. The project was headed by F.J. Winchell, vice-president of GM engineering, who wanted to build a mid-engine Sportscar that would out perform and become an extension of the Grand Sport (GS-I) Corvettes. He probably named it Corvette to avoid Chevrolet bureaucracy while at the same time using it to test highly advanced racecar engineering.
The design was loosely based around the Monza GT concept car which used Corvair running gear in Chevrolet's first monocoque design. But unlike the Monza GT, the GS-II took the theme several steps further by using light-gauge steel, an experimental 327 V8 engine that was all-aluminum and a one-speed transmission.
Despite being labeled as a Corvette by GM marketing, the GS-II was an experimental race car that paralleled Chaparral development. The project was headed by F.J. Winchell, vice-president of GM engineering, who wanted to build a mid-engine Sportscar that would out perform and become an extension of the Grand Sport (GS-I) Corvettes. He probably named it Corvette to avoid Chevrolet bureaucracy while at the same time using it to test highly advanced racecar engineering.
The design was loosely based around the Monza GT concept car which used Corvair running gear in Chevrolet's first monocoque design. But unlike the Monza GT, the GS-II took the theme several steps further by using light-gauge steel, an experimental 327 V8 engine that was all-aluminum and a one-speed transmission.
