Technical Tips > Pre 84
Manta Ray
Brutus:
I haven't had too good a look at it just yet, but I've just about yet to find one I didn't like.
Chevrolet designed the Astro II to compete with Ford’s threats of putting the GT40 into limited street production. This mid-engine prototype features a backbone-style frame and an ultra-clean exterior. Because of its prototype-only status, the Astro II doesn’t have the necessary accessories, like headlights, that would make it viable for the street. The car made its debut at the New York Auto Show in April 1968.
Brutus:
Actually got to see this one in the flesh at Ecklers 2001 Reunion. It's awesome!
The last of the shark-theme prototypes, the Manta Ray was longer and sleeker, with an extended rear fascia and a dramatic roofline that still came to a point like the previous generation’s. The all-aluminum ZL-1 powered this potent prototype, and the side pipes still reveal Bill Mitchell’s design influence
Brutus:
And then there was the CERV.
Built around an inter-cooled, twin-turbo, 5.7L V-8 based on the LT5, the Cerv III lives up to the Corvette heritage of horsepower. The engine turns out 650 hp at 6,000 rpm, with 665 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm and, coupled with the drive-by wire, active handling, and four-wheel drive/steering, the Cerv III was definitely Chevrolet’s attempt at harnessing the technology of the day. Features like these and the electronically adjustable rear wing combine to create a car that adjusts to any situation. First shown at the Detroit Auto Show in 1990, this car still excites enthusiasts, and some consider it the meanest prototype built by GM.
Vette Obsessed:
Good thread Brutus. I read that the C3 prototype you mentioned actually had the motor located behind the rear axle which made handling a little, er, exciting.
Nice pic though, the pics I have are of the car in a different metallic blue colour.
By the way, that CERV III is supposed to top out at a mere 225mph (360kph). ;eek
Brutus:
I saw one at the NCM that looked like a relatively normal C3 on the outside, but had a rear mounted V8! I have a snapshot but nothing digital tho. Even have a pic of me standing beside Zora too. !:evil
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