Latest news with #MauriRose
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Historic First V-8 Corvette Prototype Hits the Auction Block
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector A foundational piece of American automotive history is now up for grabs. Chassis EX87, the first Chevrolet Corvette ever fitted with a V-8 engine, has been listed on Bring a Trailer in a rare public offering that traces back to the model's turning point in the mid-1950s. When the Corvette debuted in 1953, it may have looked the part of a sleek sports car, but its performance was underwhelming. Powered by a modest inline-six engine, early models struggled to live up to their visual promise. That changed when Corvette visionary Zora Arkus-Duntov and fellow GM engineer—and three-time Indy 500 winner—Mauri Rose began experimenting with V-8 conversions. Their testbed? A 1954 Corvette that became known internally as chassis EX87. Equipped with a 307-cubic-inch V-8, the car was pushed to a staggering 163 mph at GM's Arizona Desert Proving Grounds, proving once and for all that the Corvette could deliver serious speed. The results convinced GM leadership to begin factory V-8 production by late 1955—a move that transformed the Corvette's destiny. Although its original engine and bodywork have long since been replaced, EX87 still retains immense historical significance. Over the years, it was updated to 1955 specifications, fitted with a body from another test car, and later received a 265-cubic-inch V-8 and a two-speed automatic transmission. The car served as a demonstrator vehicle before eventually being sold to a GM engineer and, in 1968, to its current long-term family owner. Today, EX87 features a 327-cubic-inch V-8 and wears a red paint finish. While not in factory-original condition, its legacy as the Corvette's V-8 pioneer remains firmly intact. With bidding currently exceeding $50,000 ahead of its May 19 closing, EX87 offers enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a genuine piece of Corvette—and American performance—history. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Historic First V-8 Corvette Prototype Hits the Auction Block
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector A foundational piece of American automotive history is now up for grabs. Chassis EX87, the first Chevrolet Corvette ever fitted with a V-8 engine, has been listed on Bring a Trailer in a rare public offering that traces back to the model's turning point in the mid-1950s. When the Corvette debuted in 1953, it may have looked the part of a sleek sports car, but its performance was underwhelming. Powered by a modest inline-six engine, early models struggled to live up to their visual promise. That changed when Corvette visionary Zora Arkus-Duntov and fellow GM engineer—and three-time Indy 500 winner—Mauri Rose began experimenting with V-8 conversions. Their testbed? A 1954 Corvette that became known internally as chassis EX87. Equipped with a 307-cubic-inch V-8, the car was pushed to a staggering 163 mph at GM's Arizona Desert Proving Grounds, proving once and for all that the Corvette could deliver serious speed. The results convinced GM leadership to begin factory V-8 production by late 1955—a move that transformed the Corvette's destiny. Although its original engine and bodywork have long since been replaced, EX87 still retains immense historical significance. Over the years, it was updated to 1955 specifications, fitted with a body from another test car, and later received a 265-cubic-inch V-8 and a two-speed automatic transmission. The car served as a demonstrator vehicle before eventually being sold to a GM engineer and, in 1968, to its current long-term family owner. Today, EX87 features a 327-cubic-inch V-8 and wears a red paint finish. While not in factory-original condition, its legacy as the Corvette's V-8 pioneer remains firmly intact. With bidding currently exceeding $50,000 ahead of its May 19 closing, EX87 offers enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a genuine piece of Corvette—and American performance—history. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Auto Blog
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Duntov's C1 Corvette that Brought a V8 to the Model is Up for Auction
The legendary test mule that paved the way for the V8 Corvette is up for auction on Bring a Trailer. Automotive test mules are not a new concept. Often used by automakers to test some new technology or powertrain, these test cars are either destroyed or kept in a private collection after their work is done. Seldom do they make their way into the hands of the general public, but when they do, you can bet they make headlines. Such is the case with the EX87 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Test Car on Bring a Trailer. 0:08 / 0:09 Nissan's revolutionary self-driving tech hits Japan's streets Watch More 1955 Chevrolet Corvette EX87 — Source: Fantasy Junction/Bring a Trailer A story of technical innovation The story of the chassis EX87 Corvette test car is long and convoluted, so let me try to break it down. When it was first released, the Chevrolet Corvette C1 was not as big a sales hit as Chevrolet wanted it to be. In an effort to boost those sales, legendary engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov proposed that the automaker build a Corvette that could break the 150 mph speed record then held by the Chrysler 300. With the help of Chevrolet engineer and former Indianapolis 500 race winner, Mauri Rose, they took an unsold 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and began modifying it for the high-speed run. The pair bored and stroked a 307ci V8, paired it with a special high-lift camshaft, now known as the 'Duntov Cam,' and installed it into the test Corvette, marking the first instance of a V8-powered Corvette before the introduction of the 265 cu in (4.3 L) small-block in 1955. Body modifications included a low-cut windscreen, a passenger-side tonneau cover, a head fairing, a unique belly pan, and a three-speed manual transmission. Chassis #EX87 and Body #5951 became the Corvette EX87/5951, and was driven by Smokey Yunick to 163 mph at the GM Arizona Proving Grounds. GM planned to build a 1956 Corvette for official high-speed runs at Daytona Beach, so the car was separated into the chassis, EX87, and the body, 5951. 1955 Chevrolet Corvette EX87 — Source: Fantasy Junction/Bring a Trailer Where are they now? The modified 5951 body now sits on a normal 1955 Corvette frame in the Lingenfelter Collection and was reunited with the speed record Yunick engine back in 2003 after 50 years apart. The EX87 chassis had a 1955 Corvette body from car #6903 mounted on it, along with a 265ci V8 engine and a two-speed automatic transmission. It spent the next few years as a 1956 demo car before it was later sold to a GM engineer. The current owner's husband purchased it from that engineer in 1968 and went on to enjoy it as a regular show Corvette before several judges and aficionados at those shows tipped him off to the car's history, and its whereabouts were thus documented. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. After the 265ci engine failed, it was replaced by a 327ci V8, and the car was repainted red with a beige convertible top in the 1970s. The odometer currently shows 21,000 miles, although its true mileage is unknown. 1955 Chevrolet Corvette EX87 — Source: Fantasy Junction/Bring a Trailer Final thoughts Any test mule has an incredible story within its sheet metal, but one for a car as important as the Corvette has a special allure that few can replicate. This chassis gave birth to the V8-powered Corvette we know and love to this day. To call it an automotive icon is still an understatement. After 57 years of ownership, chassis EX87 is now up for grabs with no reserve. Upon purchase, the new owner will receive historic correspondence from GM, literature, service records, spare parts, and a clean California title that lists the car as a 1955 Chevrolet. At the time of writing, the auction ends in just under eight days, with a current bid of $52,500. To put a price on something with this much historical importance is a nearly impossible task, but by the end of this auction, we'll at least have an idea of its worth to someone.
Miami Herald
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Duntov's C1 Corvette that Brought a V8 to the Model is Up for Auction
Automotive test mules are not a new concept. Often used by automakers to test some new technology or powertrain, these test cars are either destroyed or kept in a private collection after their work is done. Seldom do they make their way into the hands of the general public, but when they do, you can bet they make headlines. Such is the case with the EX87 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Test Car on Bring a Trailer. The story of the chassis EX87 Corvette test car is long and convoluted, so let me try to break it down. When it was first released, the Chevrolet Corvette C1 was not as big a sales hit as Chevrolet wanted it to be. In an effort to boost those sales, legendary engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov proposed that the automaker build a Corvette that could break the 150 mph speed record then held by the Chrysler 300. With the help of Chevrolet engineer and former Indianapolis 500 race winner, Mauri Rose, they took an unsold 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and began modifying it for the high-speed run. The pair bored and stroked a 307ci V8, paired it with a special high-lift camshaft, now known as the "Duntov Cam," and installed it into the test Corvette, marking the first instance of a V8-powered Corvette before the introduction of the 265 cu in (4.3 L) small-block in 1955. Body modifications included a low-cut windscreen, a passenger-side tonneau cover, a head fairing, a unique belly pan, and a three-speed manual transmission. Chassis #EX87 and Body #5951 became the Corvette EX87/5951, and was driven by Smokey Yunick to 163 mph at the GM Arizona Proving Grounds. GM planned to build a 1956 Corvette for official high-speed runs at Daytona Beach, so the car was separated into the chassis, EX87, and the body, 5951. The modified 5951 body now sits on a normal 1955 Corvette frame in the Lingenfelter Collection and was reunited with the speed record Yunick engine back in 2003 after 50 years apart. The EX87 chassis had a 1955 Corvette body from car #6903 mounted on it, along with a 265ci V8 engine and a two-speed automatic transmission. It spent the next few years as a 1956 demo car before it was later sold to a GM engineer. The current owner's husband purchased it from that engineer in 1968 and went on to enjoy it as a regular show Corvette before several judges and aficionados at those shows tipped him off to the car's history, and its whereabouts were thus documented. After the 265ci engine failed, it was replaced by a 327ci V8, and the car was repainted red with a beige convertible top in the 1970s. The odometer currently shows 21,000 miles, although its true mileage is unknown. Any test mule has an incredible story within its sheet metal, but one for a car as important as the Corvette has a special allure that few can replicate. This chassis gave birth to the V8-powered Corvette we know and love to this day. To call it an automotive icon is still an understatement. After 57 years of ownership, chassis EX87 is now up for grabs with no reserve. Upon purchase, the new owner will receive historic correspondence from GM, literature, service records, spare parts, and a clean California title that lists the car as a 1955 Chevrolet. At the time of writing, the auction ends in just under eight days, with a current bid of $52,500. To put a price on something with this much historical importance is a nearly impossible task, but by the end of this auction, we'll at least have an idea of its worth to someone. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
1955 Chevrolet Corvette Test Bed Is Our Auction Pick of the Day
This chassis, EX87, was the first Corvette to have a V-8. Piloted by Zora Arkus-Duntov and Indy 500 winner Mauri Rose, this car is steeped in GM history. The bodywork and V-8 are replacements, but the chassis still bears some tell-tale signs of its test-bed history. The current Corvette ZR1 features a midship-mounted, twin-turbocharged V-8 good for 1048 horsepower. That's not an expected power output, that's a resolution number for your computer screen display. But wind the clock back and you can draw a direct line from the most powerful Vette of all time to this V-8-powered first-generation C1 Corvette. Bring a Trailer Pick of the day at Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is titled as a 1955 Chevrolet Corvette with a 327-cubic-inch V-8 fitted, but it is so much more than that. This is chassis EX87, the car driven by father-of-the-Corvette Zora Arkus-Duntov to more than 160 mph at General Motors' Arizona proving grounds, the test bed used to prove that a V-8-powered Vette was the way forward for the breed. Bring a Trailer The Corvette kicked off its lineage with three hundred hand-built Polo White examples in 1953. Think the beginning of the Fallout Netflix series of 1950s Americana: lots of futuristic optimism, chrome, and shiny curves. The Corvette was America's idea of what a sports car might look like, but while the front-to-rear weight distribution was pretty balanced, the six-cylinder powerplant wasn't really up to the task. Mauri Rose, a GM engineer and a three-time Indy 500 winner, knew that a V-8 was just what the Corvette needed. He had, after all, headed up the team that created the Chevy small-block V-8. Originally an unsold 1954 model, EX87 was the first Vette fitted with V-8 power by Rose, then later handed off to Arkus-Duntov for further development. Bring a Trailer By 1956, GM had a dedicated V-8 Corvette ready to go, so chassis EX87 was separated from its bodywork (which was fitted to another car) and had its Duntov-tuned 307-cubic-inch V-8 and manual transmission replaced with a two-speed auto and a 265-cubic-inch V-8. Later, a 327-cubic-inch V-8 replacement motor was fitted. The bodywork is 1955 spec, but the spine of this car is infused with early Corvette history. Had Rose and Arkus-Duntov not convinced GM's bean counters with this machine, the Corvette may well have gone the way of the Ford Thunderbird. Instead, the modern, mid-engined Vette is the kind of thing that has Ferrari owners mopping their sweaty brows like in that scene from Airplane. The ZR1 is a beast, and this is its genesis. Bring a Trailer Further, this example has been in the same ownership for 57 years, a lifetime by collector-car standards. It comes with the expected reams of documentation and correspondence, and some neat test-car features like a tow hook for mounting speed-measuring equipment. It's a very pretty car, in a Richard Scarry–looking sense, but the history here is the draw. Indiana Jones might tell you that this proto V-8 Corvette belongs in a museum. Instead, you have the chance to park it in your garage. The auction ends May 19. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
