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Corvette XP-64 concept racer: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:20, 23 January 2007
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| 1957 Corvette SS concept racer | |
|---|---|
| General Motors | |
| aka | XP-64<ref>"XP" was a GM designation for experimental (XP) concept cars.</ref>, Super Spyder<ref>Corvette Museum</ref>, Sebring SS |
| Production | concept |
| Class | Grand Prix - 24 hr. endurance |
| Body type | 2-door, 2-seater, canopy roadster |
| Drivetrain | Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine | Chevrolet V-8 OHC, aluminium heads |
| Power | 307 bhp |
| Year raced | 1957 |
| Head builder | Zora Arkus-Duntov |
| Successor | 1960 Corvette Stingray racer |
The Corvette XP-64 was a purpose-built, two-seater race car that was designed at Chevrolet's high-performance division exclusively to go up against Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche in the Grand Prix, endurance class at Sebring in 1957. The XP-64 was an experimental car, a two door, canopy roadster that incorporated an aerodynamic body over a lightweight chassis. It was built in 1956 by renowned automotive engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov for debut the following year.
Design
The design of the XP-64 borrowed heavily from the stylings of the D-type Jaguar, employing a wind-tunnel inspired monocoque that was made from lightweight magnesium<ref>November 16, 1956 Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes - Copyright © 1995-2007 Ken Polsson</ref> fitted to a rigid space-frame weighing a mere 150 pounds. Retractable headlights, like those on later Corvettes, a low-profile, wrap-around windscreen, and an impressive, teardrop-shaped headrest that extended well back of the cockpit, over the rear deck, were it’s most distinguishing features. The interior was bare-bones, with functional instruments that included a clock, installed to monitor the the long, endurance races at Le Mans and Sebring. The car was painted blue with white roundals, as per USA's colors in international road racing.
Power plant
The XP-64 was a front engine, rear wheel drive car with the motor mounted under a one-piece cowl that swung forward, well back of the front wheels for improved balance. Power came from a modified Chevrolet 283 in³ small-block engine that was fitted with aluminium heads, high-flow racing headers, and was fuel injected. Total output was 307 bhp at 6400 RPM. Gearing was controlled through a 4-speed transmission.
| Engine name | Engine type | Displacement in³ ( L) | Output bhp (kW) @ RPM | Torque Ft-Lbs (Nm) @ RPM | Carburetor series (bbl) |
| "XP-64"-8 | V-8 | 283 (4.6) | 307.00 (226)<ref>Concept Carz</ref> @ 6400 | NA (NA) @ 2000.00 | Fuel injection<ref>(month unknown) Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes - Copyright © 1995-2007 Ken Polsson</ref> |
Trivia
- Builder Zora Arkus-Duntov originally had orders to build four individual racers but eventually was limited to just one, due to difficulties in acquiring enough magnesium sheets that were used throught the body.
- The XP-64 carried a spare tire under the rear cowl, as was the custom with all Grand Prix cars competing at Sebring.
Footnotes
<references/>
See also
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