The Complete Book of Corvette 5th Edition: Every Model Since 1953

by Mike Mueller

Overview

In this General Motors-official reference, relive the evolution of America’s legendary sports car, year by year, through stunning photography, technical specs, and engaging commentary.

Revealing a legacy of speed and innovation over more than seventy years of continuous production, the Corvette has evolved from its 1953 sporty-car debut to today’s world-class supercar. Its fascinating development story and stellar competition record across eight distinct generations are detailed in The Complete Book of Corvette, spanning:

• The 1953 debut model
• The all-conquering L88 of the 1960s
• The twenty-first century Z06
• The innovative E-Ray hybrid
• The 70th anniversary edition
• The 1,064-horsepower, mid-engine Stingray ZR-1
• Prototypes, racers, Indy pace cars, and limited-edition production models

They’re all here as are the key designers and engineers. Every model year is discussed with insightful text, key technical specifications, and beautiful photography culled from the author’s own images and GM’s photographic archives.
 
Chevrolet’s Corvette has consistently set the standard for American high performance and ingenuity, and The Complete Book of Corvette is the ultimate reference to that storied history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760394472
Publisher:	Motorbooks
Publication date:	06/10/2025
Series:	Complete Book Series
Edition description:	5th ed.
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	10.30(w) x 12.40(h) x 1.23(d)

About the Author

Mike Mueller has worked as an automotive photojournalist since 1987. A lifetime car enthusiast, Mueller has written and photographed more than 30 automotive and truck history books and contributed photography to at least that many more. His byline has appeared in countless magazines over the years, including Vette and Corvette Fever. Among his long list of titles are Motorbooks’ Chevy Chevelle 50 Years, The Complete Book of Classic Dodge and Plymouth Muscle, Camaro: 50 Years of Chevy Performance, and The Complete Book of Ford Mustang.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments..................................................................................10
Introduction: The Stuff of Dreams.........................................................12
01 The Solid-Axle Years........................................16
1953........................................................................................................21
1954........................................................................................................24
1955........................................................................................................26
1956........................................................................................................28
1956 SR-2...............................................................................................31
1957........................................................................................................33
1957 SS racer..........................................................................................36
1958........................................................................................................40
1959........................................................................................................42
1959 Stingray racer................................................................................45
1960........................................................................................................47
CERV I......................................................................................................49
1961........................................................................................................51
Mako Shark I...........................................................................................53
1962........................................................................................................54
02 Enter the Sting Ray...............................................58
1963........................................................................................................63
1963 Grand Sport....................................................................................68
1964........................................................................................................71
CERV II.....................................................................................................73
1965........................................................................................................74
Mako Shark II.........................................................................................77
1966........................................................................................................79
1967........................................................................................................82
03 Third Time’s a Charm.........................................88
1968........................................................................................................92
XP-882.....................................................................................................94
1969........................................................................................................96
Manta Ray Show Car............................................................................101
1970......................................................................................................101
1971......................................................................................................106
XP-895...................................................................................................110
1972......................................................................................................111
Rotary Corvettes...................................................................................112
1973......................................................................................................114
1974......................................................................................................117
1975......................................................................................................120
1976......................................................................................................122
1977......................................................................................................124
1978......................................................................................................125
1979......................................................................................................129
1980......................................................................................................130
1981......................................................................................................132
1982......................................................................................................136
04 Better Late than Never...................................140
1984......................................................................................................146
1985......................................................................................................149
1986......................................................................................................150
Corvette Indy.........................................................................................151
1987......................................................................................................154
1988......................................................................................................156
Corvette GTP.........................................................................................157
1989......................................................................................................158
Corvette Challenge racers....................................................................160
1990......................................................................................................161
CERV III..................................................................................................162
1991......................................................................................................165
1992......................................................................................................169
Sting Ray III...........................................................................................171
1993......................................................................................................172
1994......................................................................................................173
1995......................................................................................................175
1996......................................................................................................178
05 Long Live the King: ZR-1.............................186
1990......................................................................................................194
1991......................................................................................................197
1992......................................................................................................199
1993......................................................................................................200
1994......................................................................................................202
1995......................................................................................................203
06 50 Years Young.......................................................206
1997......................................................................................................210
1998......................................................................................................213
1999......................................................................................................216
C5-R racer.............................................................................................217
2000......................................................................................................219
2001......................................................................................................219
2002......................................................................................................222
2003......................................................................................................223
2004......................................................................................................226
07 Thoroughly Modern...........................................228
2005......................................................................................................231
C6.R racer.............................................................................................232
2006......................................................................................................233
2007......................................................................................................236
2008......................................................................................................238
2009......................................................................................................241
2009 ZR1...............................................................................................243
2010......................................................................................................246
2011......................................................................................................248
2012......................................................................................................249
2013......................................................................................................253
08 World Beater..............................................................258
2014......................................................................................................262
2015......................................................................................................267
2015 Z06...............................................................................................269
C7.R racer.............................................................................................273
2016......................................................................................................275
2017......................................................................................................277
2018......................................................................................................279
2019......................................................................................................281
09 Makin’ the Ol’ Man Proud...........................284
2020......................................................................................................292
C8.R racer.............................................................................................296
2021......................................................................................................296
2022......................................................................................................300
2023......................................................................................................303
2023 Z06...............................................................................................304
2024......................................................................................................307
2024 E-Ray............................................................................................309
2024 GT3.R racer..................................................................................313
2025......................................................................................................314
2025 ZR1...............................................................................................318
Epilogue................................................................................................322
Appendix...............................................................................................324
Index.....................................................................................................348

Editorial Reviews

"It IS a beautiful book with great photos supplied by GM and professional automotive photographers...what a tome it is. Clocking in at nearly 350 pages and weighs as much as a t-top. It is a must for any Corvette enthusiast.

—Tony Colombini, Blacktop Magazine

"If ever a book about the amazing, enduring, always-improving Chevrolet Corvette has had ALL the goods on the marque, this one, polished and tuned by Corvetteologist deluxe Mike Mueller is fully-equipped and fully deserving of the sobriquet. Go ahead, pick a page, any page, and dive headlong into this glowing and richly-illustrated history of the most important and most enduring American sports car ever (period)." 

—Doug Stokes, LACar.com

From the Publisher