Chevrolet Corvette Coupé, 1957, by Ghia Aigle
Designed Michelotti and built by the Swiss coachbuilder. In 1957 the car was presented at Geneva with tail-fins and rear-wheel spats. The car was re-presented in 1958 minus the tail-fins and with full rear-wheel arches. Some believe there were two Ghia-Aigle/Michelotti Corvettes but as only one car is known to exist (it was discovered in Portugal and subsequently restored) it seems most likely that the coachbuilder modified the original car for the 1958 version.
This prototype combines a 1954 Corvette chassis and powertrain with aluminum body work constructed by Ghia Aigle of Switserland, an affilate of Italy’s famous Ghia coachworks. Built for the 1957 Geneva auto show, the custom interior is stitched in black leather and features a Ferrari-like style wood-faced dashboard and matching wood-rim steering wheel. Road wheels are period Borrani wires. The car was recently discovered in Portugal, where it had been stored with only 3800km (about 2350 miles) on it’s odometer.
Gallery
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Ghia-Aigle |
| Model | Chevrolet Corvette Coupé |
| Year of production | 1957 |
| Body type | coupe |
| Number of doors | 2 |
| Number of seats | 2 |
| Engine position | front |
| Drive wheel | rear |
| Fuel | petrol |
| Number of cylinders | V8 |
| Cooling | liquid |
| Capacity | 4638 ccm, 281.7 cu-in |
| Bore | 98.4 mm, 3.874 in |
| Stroke | 76.2 mm, 3 in |
| Compression ratio | 10.5:1 |
| Valve Gear | OHV |
| Valves per cylinder | 2 |
| Aspiration | normal |
| Max power [kW / PS / hp] | 208 / 283 / 279 at 6200 rpm |
| Max torque [Nm / ft-lb] | 393 / 290 at 4400 rpm |
| Gearbox | M4 |
| Wheelbase | 2590 mm, 102 in |
| Weight | 1350 kg, 2976 lb |
| Maximum speed | 215 km/h, 134 mph |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.9 s |
