The 1961(XP-775) Mako Shark by Bill Mitchell
As we think back over the history of the Corvette, several cars stand out to us. Among them are the shark inspired Corvettes. Including the Sting Ray, Mako Shark, and Manta Ray. Out of these, the Sting Ray (excluding 1959 Sting Ray) was the only one that made it to production, while the others were prototypes that had features incorporated into production cars through the generations.
Bill Mitchell started investing his time, and his own money to create a Corvette race car. He finished it in 1959, and called it the "Sting Ray" later to be changed to "Stingray". It sported a high-compression 283. Dick Thompson drove the car in races, and it became the National Champion in the C-modified class. After the 1960 racing reason, The Sting Ray was removed from the track. Mitchell then had it modified, so he could drive it on the street! The 59 Sting Ray had a great influence on the C2 Generation.
1961 was a special year for Corvette as behind the scenes Larry Shinoda designed yet another vision of Bill Mitchell. In 1961, he designed the Mako Shark or later to be renamed Mako Shark I. He made it resemble a Mako Shark he had caught while fishing, and had mounted in his office. The planning for the Mako Shark 1 inspired C2 Generation took root in 1961.
1961 Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark I Show Car
The 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark (XP-755 Shark) show car was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of GM Design head Bill Mitchell as a concept, for future Chevrolet Corvettes. A mako shark captured off the coast of Florida by Mitchell inspired the basic lines of the show car. At the time, Mitchell was a Vice President of General Motors Styling Staff; now know as General Motors Design Center. After a period, Mitchell removed the original body and redesigned it as the "Mako Shark II" in 1965. The original Mako Shark was then retroactively called the "Mako Shark I".
The Mako Shark was very similar to the 1963 Corvette, with some alterations. These included adding two more brake lights in the rear (six total), making the nose of the car longer and more pointed, creating a clear glass roof with a periscope like rear-view mirror, and remodeling the interior.
The Mako was finished in a vary-colored paint scheme based on an iridescent blue upper surface that blended into a white side and lower body resembling the natural coloring of the shark Bill Mitchell landed.
A number of experimental engines have been tested in the Mako, including a super-charged engine with four side-draft carburetors, a fuel injected engine and a V8 engine with two four-barrel carburetors. The present engine is a production 1969 427 cubic inch ZL-1 Chevrolet V8. This engine has an all aluminum block, heads and intake manifold. It is equipped with a single four-barrel carburetor that produces upwards of 425 horsepower.
The Mako Shark was built on a slightly modified production Corvette chassis and was fitted with cast magnesium wheels. The Mako Shark 1 also inspired the C2 Generation.
Later we will look closer at the Mako Shark II and Manta Ray as these were the inspiration for the 3rd generation of Corvette.
