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Here's the story...
By the late '60s, automotive stylists and engineers were seriously looking at aerodynamics. Race cars were using all sorts of exotic wings and spoilers. Even hot street cars were using chin spoilers and rear deck spoilers or wings. C2 Corvettes always had a front end lift problem at high speeds. The new '68 Corvette had a small chin spoiler and a slight up-lip at the back end, but the car still had lift problems.
The Astro-Vette was an aerodynamic study to see how slippery the Corvette could be made. Although some criticized the car as being pure schmaltz, two notable styling features were picked up in 1973 and 1974. Pontiac was already offering "Endura" front bumpers on the GTO, so it looks like designers may have been thinking in that direction.
What they probably were not thinking about in 1968 was 5- mph front and rear bumpers. In 1973, when most cars got huge, chrome, front bumpers, Corvettes got the Astro-Vette treatment. Then in 1974, the tail end was restyled, a la Astro-Vette.
Designers went with the sex-appeal of a roadster. If they had really been serious, a coupe version with a low, tear-drop, C2 Sting Ray roof line would have been sweet.
The obvious features on the Astro-Vette were the extended nose, roadster windshield, closed rear wheel openings and extended tail. The nose was extended considerably and the grille opening was kept to a minimum. The long hood has no budge, indicating that the car was a small-block. Scribe-lines on the front fenders were to be pressure actuated flaps that opened if under-the-hood pressure was too high. Designers took advantage of the B-pillar by crafting an airfoil to minimize air drag. Taking cues from the hot cars of the '30s, the Astro-Vette had smooth wheel disks on very narrow tires, and rear fender skirts that were hinged at the top for tire access. Like the front, the back end was extended and tapered. Designers even added partial front and rear belly pans to smooth underside airflow. The interior was medium blue and stock, except for the racing steering wheel.
Most folks didn't know what to make of the Astro-Vette. Chevy insiders called it, "Moby Dick," in essence calling it a big, white, whale. The Astro-Vette faded away, eventually making its mark on Corvette styling. But a serious Bonneville attempt would have really had our attention.
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This portfolio of Scott Teeters' "Vette Magazine" series, covers every production Corvette from 1953 to 1996. Also included are all of the major Corvette show cars, engineering prototypes, concept cars, and several Corvette racers.
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