Did GM give the astronauts Corvettes?
In 1961 when Alan Shepard became the first American in space, he was given a brand-new 1962 Chevrolet Corvette as a gift upon his return. Somehow, GM boss Ed Cole got wind of this and wanted to make sure America’s astronaut celebrities were seen driving Chevrolets.
Did Alan Shepard really buy a Corvette for $1?
The Mercury Programme And this gave GM an idea. Alan Shepard was not only the first American to go into space, he was also a passionate Corvette guy, even before he started on the Mercury program. So, Rathmann got clever and offered the astronauts the newest Corvette for a very affordable $1 per year.
Did the Mercury 7 Get Corvettes?
After subsequent flights, Florida dealer Jim Rathmann offered new Corvettes to all the Mercury 7 astronauts. They all accepted, but for John Glenn, who chose a Chevy wagon instead. The Corvette connection continued throughout the 1960s and ’70s.
What kind of engine does a 1994 Corvette have?
The 1994 Corvette reflects this tradition of leadership. New to this model was the most advanced version of the 5.7 Liter V8, the 300-hp LT1 featuring new Sequential-Port Fuel Injection.
Are there any corvettes in space?
Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad (left), Richard Gordon (center) and Alan Bean with their AstroVette Corvettes and a lunar lander in a crew portrait from 1969. (Image credit: Chevrolet) Corvette is going back to the future — in space.
Did the Apollo astronauts have corvettes?
Some other astronauts confirmed to have Corvettes included the Apollo 12 crew, who insisted on matching golden cars as a symbol of their friendship; Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom (who died in a launch pad fire in 1967; his car was returned to the dealership and eventually ended up in a private collection); and Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell.
What happened to the 1980 Corvette in California?
In general, 1980 was a lousy year. Inflation was rampant, the economy was in the doldrums and the Corvette was awful. But in California it was doubly awful, as Chevrolet that year gave up trying to certify the Corvette’s 350-cubic-inch V8 for that state’s more stringent emissions requirements.
