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Corvette XP-700 concept.JPG: Difference between revisions

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{| border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="float:right; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:250px; background:#fff; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile"
#REDIRECT [[Corvette XP-700 concept]]
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#996; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" | [[Image:1958_Corvette_XP-700_concept.JPG|centre|300px]]
|- style="color:#fff; background:#996; font-size:larger;"
! colspan=2 | '''1960 Corvette concept'''
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal; background:#ddb;" | [[General Motors]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| aka
| XP-700<ref>"XP" was a GM designation for experimental (XP) concept cars.</ref>
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Production
| [[Concept car|concept]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Class
| [[Sports car]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Body type
| 2-door, 2-seater, canopy [[coupé]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Length
| 190 in. (est.)
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Width
| 72.8 in.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Height
| 51 in.
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Wheelbase
| 102 in.
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
| Curb weight
| 3,500 lbs. (est.)
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Drivetrain
| Front engine, rear-wheel drive
|- style="vertical-align:top;
| Engine
| Chevrolet V-8 OHC
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Transmission
| 4-speed manual
|- style="vertical-align:top;
| Power
| 230 bhp
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Designer / builder
| William L. "Bill" Mitchell
|- style="vertical-align:top;
| Predecessor
| [[Chevrolet Corvette#First Generation (1953-1962)|1958 Corvette]]
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:#f0f0f0;"
| Successor
| 1961 "XP-755" Mako Shark
|}
 
The '''Corvette XP-700''' was a one-off, two-seater [[Sports car|sports car]] that was intended by [[General Motors]] to be a concept but was actually a prototype that used components from available Corvettes at the time and was modified with subtle embellishments to the body style. It was built under the personal supervision of GM Chief Designer William L. "Bill" Mitchell<ref>[http://www.gmphotostore.com/prodinfo.asp?number=53217567 GM Store] 1958 Chevrolet Corvette XP-700 - ©2006 General Motors, All Rights Reserved</ref> (1912-1988) and driven by him for the first year of its life, after which it was redesigned and put on public display the following year.  The ''XP-700'' was a two door, canopy [[coupé]] that incorporated a Grand Prix-inspired body over a conventional chassis. It was debuted officially to the public in 1960. In 1961 the chassis was re-used for building its successor, the 1961 Mako Shark<ref>[http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31923 Digital Corvettes] "According to Mark Jordan, son of GM designer Charles M. Jordan, the XP-755/Mako Shark was built on the XP-700, explaining it's disappearance". Forum entry on 06-14-2005, 02:16 PM - Copyright ©2000 - 2007, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. and © 2003-2007, DigitalCorvettes.com, Inc. - All Rights Reserved</ref>. 
 
== Design ==
The design of the ''XP-700'' was built upon the [[Chevrolet Corvette#First Generation (1953-1962)|1958 Corvette]], borrowing chiefly the fibreglass monocoque that was fitted to a box-tube chassis to start with. Setting it apart from the '58 it freatured wilder visual cues that    carried over to later models, and boasted dual headlights and a duck-tail rearend. Unique to this 'Vette' however was the protruding grill snout that looked similar to a 1957 [[Ferrari]] 410, one of the more successful [[Race car|race cars]] in Europe, and a typical Grand Prix look at the time. As was the fashion  with most concepts conceived of in the mid to late 50s, the most breakaway feature on this 'Vette' was the futuristic cockpit enclosure, a one-piece plastic canopy that was sprayed with vaporized aluminium<ref>[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:L6QvPb02_JoJ:www.corvettecenter.com/_junkfiles/concepttoshow.htm+Corvette+XP-700&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=4  Corvette Center] Bruce Glueck Chevrolet's, Corvette XP-700 - © Bruce Glueck Chevrolet 2005</ref> to restrict solar penetration, and a rearview periscope<ref>[http://www.idavette.net/prototyp.htm  The Idaho Corvette Page] Corvette XP-700 - Copyright © 2005</ref> that was accessed through an opening in the roof. Just in front of the wind screen, on both front fenders, were functional air scoops similar to those on the [[Pontiac Bonneville Special]], and below conventional doors were fitted the "sidewinder" exhaust pipes.
 
== Power plant ==
The XP-700 was a front engine, rear wheel drive car with the motor mounted under a conventional hood that swung forward. Power came from a conventional Chevrolet 283&nbsp;in&sup3; small-block engine that was fitted with steel heads, factory manifolds, and was naturally aspirated through a single, four-barrel carburetor. Total output was 230 bhp at 4800 RPM. Gearing was controlled through a 4-speed manual transmission.
 
{|border=1
|'''Engine name''' || '''Engine type''' || '''Displacement &nbsp;in&sup3; (&nbsp;L)''' || '''Output bhp (kW) @ RPM''' || '''Torque Ft-Lbs (Nm) @ RPM''' || '''Carburetor series (bbl)''' 
|-
| "Small-block" || V-8 || 283 (4.6) || 230.00 (204) @ 4800 || 300 (NA) @ 3000.00 || Rochester Quadrajet (4)   
|-
|}
 
== Trivia ==
 
* The XP-700 was features in Motor Trend Magazine in February of 2002.
== Footnotes ==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
</div>
== See also ==
{{commonscat|Chevrolet Corvette C1}}
{{Concept automobile}}
[[Category:Concept Automobiles|Corvette XP-700]]

Latest revision as of 22:58, 23 January 2007