Introduced to the world at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria in 1953, the C1 Corvette featured a unique, hand-laid fiberglass body that would ultimately be the car’s unifying trait for 70 years. Early C1 models offer Chevy’s conservative (albeit reliable) Blue Flame straight-six engine and 2-speed transmission, resulting in rather tepid sales. By 1956 Chevy smartly bumps power up to a V8 to coincide with a new body, face, and the introduction of side coves, changing the fate of the car forever. Sales rapidly increase and eventually skyrocket with the onset of the 283 V8 and options like Ramjet fuel injection and a 4-speed gearbox. Aesthetic and performance upgrades continue through 1960, culminating in the redesigned and uber-popular “duck tail” models of ’61-‘62.