Awakenings: Let the top down, let's cruise!

This Day in History: June 28, 1953

What is it about sports cars that is so-o-o-o fascinating? Um-m-m-m...they have sleek body curves, an elegant exterior, fully loaded interior, technology beyond compare and they are totally exciting! Let the top down, let's cruise!

Sports cars resemble a fine wine that just gets better with age. Today's spectacular model is the epitome of that statement.

On Jun 28, 1953...

Workers assemble first Corvette in Flint, Michigan

A two-seater sports car, the Corvette - an American icon!

When first introduced in 1953, the Chevrolet Corvette was mostly an experiment, one thrown together at that. The initial production was limited to 300 units total, that's right, TOTAL! That meant sales of the entirely new model was NOT a problem.

It was not until June 30, 1953 that the first Corvette rolled off the assembly line with the first 15 cars being built all by hand. To top that off, they were built in the back of a customer delivery garage in Flint Michigan. As for the rest, they came from a new facility devoted to the Corvette located in St. Louis. This facility had a capacity to build 10,000 cars a year. Of the first 300 Corvettes, approximately 225 are known to still be in existence today. According to official records the first two were engineering test cars, thus, were destroyed. [Source: The Corvette Story]

That was the modest beginning for an American icon...enjoy the ride through the decades!