History is a curious thing, we tend to think of it as fixed and absolute, when in fact, like most things in life, it is dynamic, it can change. Or sometimes, like in grade school, we learn about a piece of history at a very superficial level, only to find out later (usually in college!) that this was just the simplified version and the real story in fact bears almost no resemblance at all to the generally held one. Such is the case with one of automotive history’s most interesting (and misunderstood) “what ifs,” the Corvette Italia.
Photo: Casey Annis
Crankshaft Blues
In the 1950s, Gary Laughlin was a successful oil-drilling contractor from Fort Worth, Texas. Like friend and fellow competitor Jim Hall, Laughlin was able to earn enough from the oil fields of the world to fund his participation in SCCA sports car racing. Throughout the ’50s, Laughlin raced a wide variety of sports cars including an Allard J2X, a Lotus and a string of Ferraris, including a 166 MM, 750 Monza and a 250 Testa Rossa.
Become a Member & Get Ad-Free Access To This Article (& A Whole Bunch More!)
Access to the full article is limited to paid subscribers only. Our membership removes most ads, lets you enjoy unlimited access to all our premium content, and offers you awesome discounts on partner products. Enjoy our premium content.
