The Real Story Behind The One & Only Existing 1983 Chevrolet Corvette

Chevrolet didn't produce any Corvettes in 1983 and yet one car from that year exists as a legend among legends.

The 1983 Corvette is the only unowned Corvette to ever exist and was never sold to the public, adding to its mystique.

Though planned, the 1983 Corvette was never officially released due to design challenges and lack of sufficient time for production.

The one surviving 1983 Corvette, located and restored to its original condition, is now displayed in the National Corvette Museum.

The Corvette is easily the most recognizable Chevrolet model ever built, the first true American sports car, and one of the most iconic vehicles the world has ever known. Introduced for the 1953 model year, the Corvette has been in constant production, though eight generations, until present time, with one notable exception. Most people have probably never seen, and definitely not driven, a 1983 Corvette and the reason for that is because, while cars were made that year, the 1983 model year never existed.

It sounds confusing, but it's actually quite simple. 1983 was supposed to be the first year for the fourth generation C4 Corvette, but quality control issues and design set-backs forced GM to cancel production. There were, however, a few '83s built, but they couldn't be sold to the public and were sent to the car crusher. Well, that is, all of them except one, which miraculously survived the purge and is now the single rarest Corvette to exist. The story of the only surviving 1983 Corvette is one of the more fascinating chapters in Bowtie history and a living (driving) legend.

Read the story.

Source: Brian Anderon - Top Speed

Posted 3/29/24