Tag: big-block corvette

The Duntov Files, Part 2 E-Book: Car Life Magazine July 1969 Wildest Corvette Test Yet, FREE E-Book

Published on by Scott

Next installment of FREE Corvette E-Books from K. Scott Teeters’ collection of Corvette Reference Material

Dateline: 10.24.18 – To download this free E-Book, CLICK HERE –  – I do not recall when “Car Life Magazine” stopped publishing, (old issues are available on eBay) but in the 1960s it was one of my favorite car magazines.

Back in the day, car magazines typically came out the same month, or the month before the specific month printed on the cover and on the footer of every page. I got my July 1969 issue of ”Car Life” as my summer vacation was beginning. I had just graduated from junior high school and was about to turn 15-years-of-age; almost two years away from when I could get my driver’s license!

Perhaps to smooth over the not so great roll out of the 1968 Corvette the year before, Zora Arkus-Duntov arranged for the ultimate Corvette road test of EIGHT different 1969 Corvettes! Three small-blocks and five big-blocks, plus Zora brought along his development ZL1 toy. I read that long article over, and over, and over that summer. By the time I went back to school in September, I was “Mr. Corvette”!

Enjoy and feel free to share with your Corvette friends. –Scott

Here are the PDF download links to all 4 of the Duntov Files, as of 2.16.21.

Duntov Files, Pt. 1

Duntov Files, Pt. 2

Duntov Files, Pt. 3

Duntov Files. Pt. 4

 

PS – You can download a low-resolution and high-resolution PDF version of the 1969 Corvette sales brochure from the GM Archives collection, HERE!

 

1965 396 L78 Corvette – The First Big-Block Corvette

Published on by Scott

The Latest Installment in VETTE Magazine’s “Illustrated Corvette Series” by K. Scott Teeters

Were it not for NASCAR Chevys trailing behind nearly everyone in the early ’60s, there may never have been a big-block Corvette. Fuelie Corvettes were doing very sell in SCCA sports car racing, but the NASCAR Chevys where in trouble. While GM was officially not racing in the late ’50s and early ’60s, Duntov and a few other Chevy engineers kept select Chevy racers supplied heavy-duty specialty parts for field testing. Engineers tried to help with the Z11 Impala option that made a 427 out of the 409 truck motor. The car performed well as a drag racer, but wasn’t a competitive stock car racer.

In the Summer of ’62, Chevy engineer Dick Keinath was tasked to design the next generation big-block Chevy engine. Since the 348/409 was called the Mark I, the new engine was named, Mark II. The new block was based on the thick bottom end design of the 348/409 for low end strength, and new free-breathing heads. Continue reading “1965 396 L78 Corvette – The First Big-Block Corvette” →

1969 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette – Part 2 of 3

Published on by Scott

Joel Rosen Builds A Grand Touring Corvette

The term “GT” is arguably one of the most misused automotive designations. The term is an abbreviation for “grand touring.” A GT car is a road-going, lightweight, semi-luxurious coupe built on a high-performance chassis, for long trips, you need a car with plenty of power, a strong chassis, and loads of creature comforts to make the journey pleasant. Most high-priced European car companies all offered GT cars for their affluent customers.

In the ‘60s, Detroit carmakers started to use the GT term on pony and mid-size cars. Many enthusiasts wanted more and sought the help of specialty shops to build a package car. The original Shelby Mustangs were turn-key supercars. But at a small shop in Baldwin, New York, Joel Rosen was making his own machines called the Baldwin-Motion SS and Phase III Supercars.

You can catch Part 1 HERE.

Part 3 is HERE.

Continue reading “1969 Baldwin-Motion Phase III GT Corvette – Part 2 of 3” →