Chevrolet Corvette Indy Concept

The Chevrolet Corvette Indy Concept was unveiled at the 1986 North American International Auto Show as a fixed silver mock-up built in six weeks from a clay model by designer Jack Schwartz. Then there were two functional prototypes (white and red) designed to test the technologies of the future.

Initially, the Chevrolet Corvette Indy was supposed to be powered by a 2.65-liter Ilmor bi-turbo engine designed for Indy 500 cars. But in 1986, GM engineers, together with the British company Lotus (owned by GM), developed a 5.7-liter aluminum V8 LT5 engine equipped with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, with a capacity of 380 hp, subsequently put into production on a modification Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. On the Corvette Indy, it was mounted transversely in front of the rear axle, in parallel with the 3-speed automatic transmission from the Oldsmobile Toronado.

One of the first designs of the anti-lock brake system was also used here, and also the traction control system on the wheels, which debuted five years later on a production 1991 Cadillac Allante car. In addition, the Corvette Indy was equipped with the so-called active suspension, which eliminated the usual springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars.

The streamlined ultra-low body, mounted on a spinal frame with a carbon torque tube, was made of carbon fiber and Nomex composite. The fully glazed cabin, when viewed from above, had the shape of an egg, while the windshield was connected to the rear by a thin jumper, and access to the cabin was provided by scissor doors with removable side windows. A long tail with an integrated spoiler concealed the engine compartment, cooled by large air intakes in the rear fenders.

Corvette Indy to the eyeballs was stuffed with all sorts of electronics. Instead of an interior rear-view mirror above the dashboard, there was a screen on which a picture of the traffic situation behind the car was transmitted from a “looking back” video camera. Small screens with cathode ray tubes were installed in the panels of both doors. They displayed messages about speed, engine and other vehicle systems, as well as data transmitted by the Etak navigation system.

The cost of manufacturing each prototype was about $500,000.

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