C3 Corvette evolution
The 1965 “Mako Shark II” designed by Larry Shinoda inspired the styling of the third-generation Corvette that debuted in 1968.
It's rumored that Shinoda got his inspiratrion for the Mako Shark II design from another source...
once you see it it's hard to deny... ;)
The Third generation Corvette was introduced in 1968 and ended in 1982 with styling changing over the generation
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1968 - Third generation Corvette (C3) introduced
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1972 - 1972 Corvette Stingray: The End Of An Era
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1973 - Chrome front (only) bumpers replaced with a urethane-compound "5 mph" bumper but kept the rear chrome bumpers. In 1974, The rear chrome bumpers became urethane, too, making 1973 the last Corvette model year with any chrome bumpers.
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1975 - last year for the convertible
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1978 - introduction of a glass bubble rear window
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1978 - Silver Anniversary 25th anniversary special edition
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1978 - Indianapolis Pace Car special edition
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1980-82 - integrated aerodynamic redesign with significant reduction in drag, and nearly 300 lbs was removed from a list of changes that include:
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A front subframe in aluminum
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A rear diff carrier in aluminum
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A fiberglass rear leaf spring
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Nearly all of the glass was made thinner
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The aluminum slotted mags casting was redesigned to save 8 lbs per wheel/32lb overall
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The bodies were made stronger and from thinner matting
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And many more
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Corvette's chrome bumper years 1968-72
The 1968 to 1972 model years of the C3 generation, aka the "Chrome Bumper" years, contain some of the most sought-after Corvettes in the brand’s history including:
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1968-69 "C3 L88" 427ci 500+hp**
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Only 198 made (80 in 1968, and 118 in 1969)​
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Chassis 194679S721263 below sold for $825,000 in 2013​
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​​​​​1969 "ZL1" 427ci 580hp (estimated)*
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*Aluminum block version of the L88 engine weighing 200 pounds lighter than its cast-iron counterpart – lighter than even a small-block V-8
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Chassis 194679S710209 was the first of only two factory-documented ZL-1 Corvettes and is the only ZL-1 Convertible ever built and was the only ZL1 ever sold new to a retail customer. This is the MOST EXPENSIVE C3 ever sold, selling for $3.14M in 2023!
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1970-72 "ZR1" 350ci 370hp "LT1" engine
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Only 53 total made (only 8 in MY71, with only 1 convertible) making it the rarest small block Corvette
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VIN 194670S402950 in the photo below was the 1st ZR1 ever made, and sold for $451,000 in 2025​
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1971 "LS6" 454ci 425hp
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Only 176 made (not including 12 ZR2's) making it rarer than the L88
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VIN 194671S113128 in the photo below, sold for $214,500 in 2022
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1971 "ZR2" 454ci 425hp
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LS6 engine PLUS suspension upgrades
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Only 12 made including only 2 Convertibles make ZR2's rarer than L88, or LS6's
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Unrestored VIN 194671S114630 below, sold for $962,500 in 2022​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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The only other 1971 ZR2 convertible, VIN 194671S117850 previously sold for $368,500 in 2019
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