Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • MotorTrend

    STUDIO X

    by Words Gary Witzenburg Images GM Media Archive and Heritage Center Dec 28, 2017 7 minutes
    Source: Bill Mitchell had the stunning Stingray concept created in an earlier secret studio then finished in Studio X. Successfully raced in 1959–’60, its design evolved into the 1963 production Corvette.

    It was a cold November morning in 1957 when William L. “Bill” Mitchell, heir apparent to General Motors’ industry-dominating design team, strode unexpectedly and atypically alone into the automaker’s basement Research B styling studio. Just back from the Turin, Italy, motor show, Mitchell was thinking how great a second-generation Corvette could look if it borrowed some themes he had seen on the streamlined Italian sports cars at the show.

    But Mitchell faced a seemingly impenetrable barrier: On June 6 of that year, the all-powerful Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) had forbidden American automakers from participating in any performance or motorsports activities—which included the building, selling, or advertising of performance-oriented products.

    This ban was a delayed response to the horrific crash at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, which had killed 77 people and injured as many more. The strong-willed Mitchell—a brilliant designer and racing and performance enthusiast soon to replace the legendary Harley Earl as GM’s styling chief—was told the AMA prohibition meant Chevrolet’s still-struggling Corvette would be removed from the lineup. In response, he reportedly said: “Bullshit! I’m not going to let that happen.”

    An XP-873 Mini-Camaro study.

    The 1959 Stingray racer/show car.

    So he decided to do what most anyone in his position (and possessing huge

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from MotorTrend

    MotorTrend2 min read
    1988 Nissan Pathfinder: What Was The Competition Like?
    The downsized Blazer, as its name illustrates, was based on Chevy’s S-10 pickup. For its 1983 debut, it offered cargo space comparable to the legendary full-size Blazer in a significantly smaller package. Like the Pathfinder, the S-10 Blazer initiall
    MotorTrend5 min read
    Your Say …
    After subscribing to MotorTrend for exactly 27 years straight, I was extremely disappointed to learn it would switch to a quarterly print publication. I read Ed Loh’s special note in the February 2024 issue about the need for a major change to the Mo
    MotorTrend3 min read
    2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty
    PROS Strong engines • Hugely capable haulers • Functional interior layout CONS Looks and feels old • Mediocre unladen ride quality • Loose steering The heavy-duty truck world moves more slowly than other pickup classes, and progress comes in spurts.

    Related