Fiberglass-body carIn 1953, production of the first laminated fiberglass-body sports car model in the U.S. was marked as the first Chevrolet Corvette was driven out of the General Motors factory in Flint, Michigan. It was designed by Harley J. Earl, who had been with GM since 1927 when he updated their LaSalle mid-range car. For the industry's first concept car the 1938 Y-Job he added innovations including electric windows and disappearing headlamps. He went on to design the 1950 Buick LeSabre. GM built 300 Corvettes in 1953, all with white exterior, red interior and black canvas convertible roof. The Corvette line continues to the present year (2014). Before joining GM, Earl began his career at his father's automobile works, where he fashioned custom auto bodies for movie celebraties like Fatty Arbuckle. He spent 31 years with GM.«[Image shows the Corvette and its fiberglass body being easily held in the air.] |
