2025 Corvette Festival

Village of Watkins Glen, New York | MAY 17–18, 2025

TH

OF T E C A L P H T R E BI

Volume Two

H E CO R

S GLE N I K T A W — VETTE

$5

N, NY

2025 CORVETTE CAR SHOW and FESTIVAL Clute Park & Downtown Watkins Glen

A STAR IS BORN IN WATKINS GLEN

by Richard Prince

AN IDEA CONCEIVED MAPS & MORE!

CELEBRATING

72 YEARS

OF CORVETTE at Watkins Glen!

VetteFest.org

JUNE 19-22

CORVETTE CORRAL LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE SO GET YOURS TODAY!

THEGLEN.COM

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025

| 1

CORVETTE THUNDER IN THE GLEN Start your engines!

SATURDAY, MAY 17 Clute Park Car Show Free to the Public!

10:00 am Car Show Opens to Public

10:00 am Vendors open to public food and drink

5:00–8:00 pm Dinner with Keynote Speaker Presentation from renowned Corvette Photographer Richard Prince

(Ticketed Event Only register at vettefest.org) Fully catered meal Cash Bar Available

SUNDAY, MAY 18 12:00–4:00 pm Downtown Block Party Closure of N. Franklin Street from 2nd-10th Street 130 Corvette Cars Parked for viewing along Franklin Downtown Businesses Open

4:00 pm Corvettes Complete lap of Original Grand Prix Circuit; Roads open immediately afterwards

Welcome to Watkins Glen! Along with the world class Watkins Glen Gorge that draws over one million tourists a year and the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, we have the World Famous Watkins Glen International Raceway. Over the years, it has hosted every form of road racing from Go-Karts to the highest level of racing, Formula 1.

Thanks to Cameron Argetsinger, who had a vision of bringing the European style of road racing to America, when in 1948 they held the first Road Race in the United States on the streets and through the countryside of Watkins Glen.

In 1951, a man named Harley Earl appeared on the scene. He brought his prototype Buick Le Sabre show car to the event. While looking at all the “two-seat” European race cars, he got the idea for an American sportscar. For an in depth look, read the Harley Earl story in this program.

Now, why we are here?

In 1969, I was fortunate enough to acquire my first Corvette, a 1965 “fuelie” coupe, complete with Knock-offs and side exhaust and a perfectly appropriate color, “Glen Green”. As it turned out, it would be my only Corvette; I am still driving that car and it is here today!

About 25 years ago, I started to think of all the history we have in our small village and how to honor Harley Earl. We had one thing no one else had: documentation from Harley Earl that Watkins Glen is where he got the idea for the Corvette. Hence, our tagline, “Watkins Glen, birthplace of the Corvette”.

Finally, after 25 years, my vision of honoring Harley Earl and the Corvette came in a way

I never expected. We put together a great committee who all shared the vision and commitment to see this effort succeed.

The part that brought everything together was when we teamed up with Watkins Glen Promotions and received backing from Watkins Glen International.

After Saturday’s show, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening featuring our guest speaker, Corvette Hall of Famer, world-class photographer, and author, Richard Prince. Then, on Sunday, the weekend culminates with thrilling laps— first through the streets and countryside of Watkins Glen on the original 1948 Road Course, then onto the legendary Watkins Glen International circuit.

In closing, we know everyone here shares the same love; the love of the Corvette.

There is no better place to honor Harley Earl and the Corvette than here at “Corvette Thunder in the Glen”, “birthplace of the Corvette”.

We would also like to thank our platinum sponsors: Elkland Chevrolet, JR Dill Winery, Kookalarocs and Watkins Glen International.

Our committee, together with Watkins Glen Promotions, Watkins Glen International and myself are so proud to welcome you.

Looking forward to meeting all of you, Tony Vickio

Chairman

2 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

THE STORY OF CORVETTE A STAR IS BORN IN WATKINS GLEN

by Richard Prince

Milliken, started the 8-lap, 52.8-mile race. When it was over Pennsylvanian Frank Griswold was the winner in his Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta Touring. Though quite dangerous for participants and spectators alike, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix was an immediate sensation and continued running yearly on the initial course, and then on a revised street course, before moving to WGI in 1956.

T

Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, NY

he village of Watkins Glen has much to offer residents and visitors alike, including numerous wineries, the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities of Seneca Lake, 778-acre Watkins Glen State Park, which features a 400-foot-deep narrow gorge with 19 waterfalls, and of course Watkins Glen International (WGI), one of the world’s premier natural terrain auto racing courses.

WGI opened in 1956 but racing in picturesque Watkins Glen predates that by several years, all thanks to the efforts of a sports car racing enthusiast and law student at Cornell University named Cameron Argetsinger. Argetsinger was from Youngstown, Ohio but he often stayed at his family’s summer home on Seneca Lake and proposed that the village of Watkins Glen host a race on its public roads. Argetsinger laid out a 6.6-mile course for what he dubbed the “Watkins Glen Grand Prix” and convinced the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce that it was a great idea. After all Village, Schuyler County, and New York State officials all signed on, and sanctioning was obtained from the SCCA, road racing was reborn in post-World War II America.

On October 2, 1948 fifteen entrants, including some of the most notable sports car racers of the era, such as John Fitch, Miles and Sam Collier, Briggs Cunningham, and William “Bill”

Though Argetsinger and the others responsible for the rebirth of American road racing could not have possibly known it, their efforts in Watkins Glen played a pivotal role in the birth of something else, something familiar to all of us and everyone around the world—America’s sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette.

Three years after the initial Watkins Glen Grand Prix took place Dominick Fraboni, owner of Glen Chevrolet, invited Harley J. Earl to be his guest for the 1951 Grand Prix. Earl was and to this day remains the single most influential designer in automotive history.

He was born in Hollywood, California on November 22, 1893. His father, J.W. Earl, was Harley J. Earl a horse-drawn carriage coach builder who transitioned to custom automobile body design and construction in the early 20th century. Son Harley, who had both an engineering and design background, learned the art and science of custom car design while working at his father’s business, Earl Automobile Works.

After the business was acquired by Don Lee, Cadillac’s exclusive west coast distributor, Earl came to the attention of Lawrence P. Fisher, general manager of Cadillac Division and co-founder of Fisher Body, GM’s primary automotive body builder for more than three-quarters of a century. Fisher was highly impressed with Earl’s design sense and methodology,

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025

| 3

BEGINS AT WATKINS GLEN which included freeform drawing and full-size clay modeling, and hired him to design the 1927 LaSalle. The success of this companion nameplate for Cadillac motivated leadership at GM, most notably company president Alfred P. Sloan, to create a new division dedicated solely to design. Initially called the General Motors Art and Colour Section and later renamed the Styling Section, it was the first design studio ever formed within a major automobile manufacturer, and Earl was recruited to lead it.

Earl said. “I ran that LeSabre up pacing a race, a sport car race at Watkins Glen. That’s where I got the idea for the Corvette.”

Shortly after returning to Michigan Earl assembled a small group of stylists, led by designer Henry Lauve, who was then head of GM’s color and interior studios, to create a GM sports car, which they called Project Opel. Over time the Project Opel team grew to include numerous additional designers and engineers. This group gathered in secrecy in a small studio on the ninth floor of the General Motors Research Laboratory, a handsome, Art Deco structure designed by Albert Kahn and built on West Milwaukee Avenue, directly across the street from the imposing GM headquarters building.

Corvette is a little thing that I started. I ran that LeSabre up pacing a race, a sport car race at Watkins Glen. That’s where I got the idea for the Corvette.”

—Harley J. Earl

Harley J. Earl and his 1951 LeSabre

In 1951 GM’s styling leader accepted Dominick Fraboni’s invitation and went to Watkins Glen for the races. While there however, Earl did more than just spectate. He actually paced the first lap of the main event behind the wheel of his latest “dream car” sensation, called Le Sabre. This unusual opportunity enabled Earl to get up close and personal with the best European sports and racing cars of the era, and the only thing that impressed him more than these dynamic cars were the massive crowds that assembled to watch them race. When Earl paced the race in the Le Sabre he felt the mesmerizing energy of more than 100,000 people lining both sides of the 6.6-mile course.

As equally important as the sheer number of spectators was their average age, with seemingly endless children, teenagers, and young adults everywhere Earl looked. He realized instantly that GM needed to get into the sports car business in order to connect with these future customers. All of this was explained

by Earl, very matter-of-factly, in a 1954 interview he did with journalist Stanley Brams. “Corvette is a little thing that I started,”

In a matter of months Earl’s vision for a uniquely American sports car was brought to fruition. Its chassis used fully boxed side rails joined by large front and rear cross members and heavy-gauge I beams in the shape of an X. The chassis had an exceptionally wide track of 57-inches front and 59-inches rear, with a 102-inch wheelbase.

Its innovative fiberglass body featured fully integrated fenders, a simple beltline, a large, chrome-plated oval grille, recessed headlamps, a wraparound windshield, rounded contours, and rocket-themed tail lamps. Combined, these features gave the car a thoroughly modern appearance that was both elegant and slightly aggressive.

Motive power came from Chevrolet’s ubiquitous inline sixcylinder engine coupled to a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. Under the leadership of engineer Harry Barr, the engine was substantially modified for use in Corvette with a high compression cylinder head, more aggressive camshaft, triple Carter YF side-draft carburetors, and dual exhaust.

These changes boosted output from 115 horsepower to 150 Continued on next page

4 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

horsepower, giving the low-slung sports car very respectable performance for the time period. Likewise, the otherwise standard Chevrolet Powerglide automatic was modified with heavier clutches, revised shift points, and a shorter tail housing to accommodate Corvette’s short wheel base.

VetteFest.org

befitting a Hollywood premier and all the showmanship of a Broadway production, the grand ballroom doors of Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel swung open and the public got their first glimpse of Corvette. Chevrolet’s new sports car was the undisputed star of the show in New York, as in subsequent showings in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City, and elsewhere.

Corvette has come a long, long way since its unveiling in GM’s 1953 Motorama. Over the past seven decades it has matured into a true supercar in every measure, but without the supercar price. For seventy-two years it has out-styled, out-engineered, out-performed, and out-lasted every opponent to become the best production sports car in the world. And it all started in the beautiful village of Watkins Glen! 

Full-size Clay Model of the Corvette Concept

In April 1952 a full-size clay model of Opel was completed. From that, technicians created a completely trimmed and painted wood and plaster model for showing to GM’s top management.

After a formal showing of the model in GM Styling’s auditorium GM president Harlow “Red” Curtice gave his approval to transform the design into a functional dream car for GM’s 1953 Motorama, the extravagant display of GM’s current and potential future vehicles that toured the country in the 1950s.

The first fully functional engineering test car, assigned serial number EX-52, was completed on December 22, 1952. In early January Opel was renamed Corvette and on January 16, 1953 the very first Corvette built, EX-52, was unveiled to the press in GM’s preview of its 1953 Motorama. The following day, with pageantry

1953 Corvette on Display at GM’s Motorama

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard Prince has been immersed in the Corvette hobby since the 1970s. From 1988 through 1995 he owned and operated a full-service Corvette restoration shop and has been writing about and photographing Corvettes and other vehicles since 1991. In addition to his most recent book, Corvette Stingray The Mid-Engine Evolution, which was published in 2024, and Corvette 70 Years: The One and Only, which was published in 2023, he has authored a 1968–1982 Corvette restoration guide book and two Corvette buyer’s guide books.

Richard Prince

Prince’s writing and photography have also appeared in more than 400 publications around the world, including Car and Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, Automobile, Hot Rod, Corvette Magazine, Vogue, Maxim, The New

York Times, USA Today, Racecar Engineering, Vintage Motorsport, and RACER. He has traveled the world photographing the factory Corvette Racing program for Chevrolet since it began testing in 1997, and has photographed each generation of new production Corvettes for Chevrolet since the C5 was introduced. Prince’s decades of devotion to Corvette were recognized in August 2024 when he was inducted into the National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame.

Prince continues to own, restore, preserve, drive, and love various vintage Corvettes and other special interest cars.

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025

“Not too Big, Not too Small, We are Just Right!”

ELKLAND CHEVROLET * 505 EAST MAIN ST * ELKLAND PA

SHORT RIDE TO SAVE BIG ELKLAND CORNING, NY.....................24 MILES

WELLSBORO, PA................ 22 MILES HORSEHEADS, NY .............. 37 MILES

MANSFIELD, PA .................24 MILES WATKINS GLEN, NY ...........43 MILES COUDERSPORT, PA ............47 MILES

www.ELKLANDCHEVY.com

| 5

6 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

AN IDEA CONCEIVED IN 1951

When he saw that bunch of cars at the courthouse at the start-finish line, you could see his wheels were turning, but didn’t say a thing.”

—Dominick Fraboni

LeSabre in the showroom at Watkins Glen Chevrolet, 1951

LeSabre in front of Clute House, 1951

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025

CORVETTE IS BORN IN 1953

(Earl) was greatly surprised at the reaction so many people had with foreign sports cars. . .he commented while driving in the parade that American auto companies were lacking a sports car similar to the foreign cars” —Dominick Fraboni

Watkins Glen parade in front of Glen Chevrolet, with the 1953 Corvette

The first Corvette coming off the assembly line, June 30, 1953

| 7

Your financial partner for life.

Scan the code to visit visionsfcu.org or visit our branch at 513 E 4th St in Watkins Glen!

800.242.2120 visionsfcu.org

Federally insured by NCUA.

55 Riverside Drive Corning, NY 14830 607-936-1500 877-958-5700

18 BRANDS. 18 LOCATIONS.

ITHACA • TRUMANSBURG • WATKINS GLEN • SYRACUSE • BALDWINSVILLE • CANANDAIGUA • GRAND ISLAND

MAGUIRECARS.COM

10 | THE STORY OF CORVETTE BEGINS AT WATKINS GLEN

All Images Courtesy Alex Stiles

VetteFest.org

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025

| 11

Montour Falls

Primary Care Convenient Care

Primary Care (607) 535-7154

1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 “Fuelie” Camoradi USA Factory Race Car Recently Sold

Convenient Care (607) 535-7121 220 Steuben Street Montour Falls, NY 14865

Proudly serving the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, the Capital Region of New York, Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, and Williamsville, NY for over 190 years. We offer quality products and services tailored to fit your needs and a team of professionals to guide you through every step of the way.

Checking & Savings Accounts Personal & Business Loans Rewarding Debit & Credit Cards Mobile & Web Banking Services

chemungcanal.com | 800.836.3711

14 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

Thanks to everyone for your support!

BUSINESS SPONSORS

Sponsorship Level

JR Dill Winery

Platinum

Kookalaroc’s Bar & Grill

Platinum

Walters Elkland Chevrolet

Platinum

Watkins Glen International

Platinum

AMRIC Associates Security

Silver

Cayuga Health

Silver

Chemung Canal Trust Company

Silver

Hagerty (Broad Arrow Auctions)

Silver

Hale Roofing

Silver

Maguire Cars

Silver

Skyworks Rental

Silver

Van Bortel Corvette

Silver

Visions Federal Credit Union

Silver

Camoradi USA Race Team

T-Shirt

Basil Chevrolet

Program Sponsor

In Honor of the late Dr. Renato H. Rojas & Janice Rojas

Dinner

International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC)

In Kind

Davis Ulmer Fire Protection Company

Dash Plaque

Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce

Festival Event Partner

2025 VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE Tony Vickio, Chair Carl Benson, Vice Chair Michelle Benjamin Jay Cocca Chantal Fitzgerald Macy Fitzgerald

All Images Courtesy Alex Stiles

ALEX STILES

A special thanks to Alex Stiles for providing all of the photographs from the Inaugural Corvette Festival of 2023

Investigations & Security Consulting

Suzanne Gabrielson Glenda Gephart

Phil Barnes 607-481-0482 pcbarnes@amric.com

John Jeter Caitlin Kelce Rob Roessel Carter N. Saunders Alex Stiles Kip Zeiter All Images Courtesy Alex Stiles

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025 | 15

2023 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST IN SHOW 1960 “Restomod” Corvette John Kuchn

1st

1958 Corvette Convertible Ray & Debbie Schafer

1963 Corvette Convertible Pat Ryan

When your publication design needs to be out of this world.

SteubenDesignLLC.com (607) 425-5283

2nd

3rd

16 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

SEVENTY-TWO YEARS STRONG C1

C2

1953–1962

1963–1967

 The inspiration for the Corvette came from Harley Earl's visit to Watkins Glen during the 1951 Grand Prix.

 The C2 Corvette is a total restyle based on Bill Mitchell’s 1959 Stingray race car.

 The first full-scale Corvette concept was displayed as a “dream car” at GM’s Motorama in New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January.

 First year ('63) for the Corvette coupe; only year for the split-window coupe. The Z06 is offered as an option on the 1963 Stingray (199 built).

 On June 30, 1953 the first production Corvette rolled off of the assembly line in Flint, Michigan.

 Split-window design is eliminated because it “intruded into the driver’s rearward vision.”

 The small-block V8 displacing 265 cubic inches was introduced.

 Big Block V8 engines were introduced for the Corvette with the 396 CID L78 option. It was rated at 425 HP.

 The restyled Corvette features exposed headlamps, sculpted side coves and rolled up windows. Factory-installed removable hardtops are offered for the first time.  1960 is the last year Corvette features taillights formed into rounded rear fenders and the last with heavy grill “teeth.”

 Standard features of the Corvette Stingray included an energyabsorbing steering column, four-way hazard warning flashers and a dual master cylinder brake system. Much of the exterior trim is removed or restyled, as well as the hood and fender vents.

C5

C6

1997–2004

2005–2013

 Corvette’s C5 featured hydroformed side frame rails, each made of a single piece of tubular steel. Transmission was rear mounted.

 All new design (C6) and engineering. Powered by the new 6.0L 400 HP small block V8. Exposed headlights return for the first time since 1962.

 For the first time since 1962, a separate trunk with outside access returned on the Corvette convertible.

 Power top option for convertibles for the first time since 1962. OnStar and navigation available for the first time. Corvette paced the Indy 500.

 A hardtop model with permanently-fixed roof panel and external trunk lid joins the Corvette family.

 Z06 Carbon Limited Edition offered to mark Corvette’s 50th anniversary at Le Mans. Exteriors limited to Supersonic Blue or Inferno Orange.

 Optional heads-up display offered.  50th Anniversary of the Corvette is marked by the availability of a 50th Anniversary package with special red paint, a unique two-tone shale interior, special emblems and Magnetic Selective Ride.

 Chevrolet Centennial Edition (available on all models), featuring Carbon Flash metallic paint, satin-black graphics, satin-black cup wheels with red stripe, unique badges, special-trimmed interior with red stitching and Magnetic Selective Ride Control.

 Special commemorative package honoring Corvette’s success at Le Mans are available. Corvette paced the Indy 500 in 1998.

 60th Anniversary and a special 427 convertible Collector Edition close out the C6 generation on a high note.

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025 | 17

CORVETTE THROUGH THE AGES C3

C4

1968–1982

1984–1996

 The totally restyled C3 Corvette features an industry first for production cars—“T-top” removable roof panels. Lines of the new Corvette closely resemble those of the Mako Shark II show car. Headlamps are now of the “pop-up” design, backlit.

 The all-new C4 Corvette has a drag coefficient of a 0.34, 24 percent more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Top speed over 150 MPH.

 The 250,000th Corvette, a gold convertible, comes off the St. Louis production line on November 19. “Stingray” script is added above the fender louvers.

 The first convertible since 1975 is built.

 The 500,000th Corvette, a white coupe with red interior, is produced in St. Louis on March 15, 1977.  Mid-year, production shifted from St. Louis, MO to Bowling Green, KY. This was the first time a model was built in two locations simultaneously.

 Big news for Corvette is the addition of tuned-port injection of the 230 HP 5.7 liter V8.  The One-Millionth Corvette, a white convertible with red interior, matching the first Corvettes of 1953, rolls off the Bowling Green assembly line on July 2, 1992.  Corvette paces the Indy 500 for the third time in 1995 (first in 1978, also in 1986).

C7

C8

2014–2019

2020–2025

 The seventh generation C7 Corvette is introduced at an invitation-only reveal in Detroit on January 13, 2013 . The Stingray designation returns.  Indy 500 is paced by a 2014 Laguna Blue Corvette Z51 driven by San Francisco NFL coach Jim Harbaugh.  Aluminum frames become the standard for all coupe and convertible models.  Michelin becomes the exclusive tire supplier for Corvette.  The Stingray features a LT1 V8 engine with 460 HP making it the quickest, most powerful standard Corvette to date.

 The C8 Corvette debuted with an 8-inch infotainment screen in a driver centric cockpit. It comes standard with Chevrolet's Infotainment 3 Plus system. Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity, 4G hotspot, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.  Higher trims are equipped with a 14-speaker Bose audio system and navigation options. Additional technology features include a performance data recorder package for 2LT and 3LT trim levels as well as a camera based rear view mirror.  The 2020 Corvette was the first year Chevrolet introduced over the air updates to the Corvette line-up. This allows Chevrolet to send updates to the vehicle remotely. Chevrolet used this capability to resolve a front trunk recall for the 2020 Corvettes.

18 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

DID YOU KNOW? GENERATION

Model Year

Total Production

1983

Model year was canceled, Corvettes produced were serialized as 1984.

1984

C4

GENERATION

C1

C2

C3

51,547

Base Price Convert.*

$21,800

1985

39,729

$24,891

1986

35,109

$27,027

1987

30,632

$27,999

1988

22,789

$29,480

1989

26,412

$32,045

1990

23,646

$32,479

1991

20,639

$33,005

1992

20,479

$33,635

1993

21,590

$34,595

1994

23,330

$36,185

Model Year

Total Production

Base Price Convertible*

1953

300

$3,498

1995

20,742

$36,785

1954

3,460

$2,774

1996

21,536

$37,225

1955

700

$2,774

1997

9,752

$37,495

1956

3,467

$3,120

1998

31,084

$38,995

1999

33,270

$39,777

1957

6,339

$3,176

1958

9,168

$3,591

1959

9,670

$3,875

1960

10,261

$3,872

2002

35,767

$42,450

1961

10,939

$3,934

2003

35,469

$45,895

1962

14,531

$4,038

2004

34,064

$46,535

1963

21,513

$4,037

2005

37,372

$51,445

1964

22,229

$4,037

2006

34,021

$51,890

1965

23,562

$4,106

2007

40,561

$52,910

1966

27,720

$4,084

2008

35,310

$53,510

1967

22,940

$4,240

2009

16,956

$52,550

1968

28,566

$4,663

1969

38,762

$4,780

1970

17,316

$5,192

2012

11,647

$55,500

1971

21,801

$5,496

2013

13,466

$55,500

2014

37,288

$56,995

C5

C6

2000

33,682

$40,900

2001

35,627

$41,475

2010

12,194

$54,500

2011

13,596

$54,500

1972

27,004

$5,533

1973

30,464

$5,561

2015

34,240

$60,000

1974

37,502

$6,001

2016

40,689

$60,500

1975

38,465

$6,810

2017

22,801

$66,445

1976

46,558

$7,604

2018

9,686

$65,045

2019

34,822

$65,590

C7

1977

49,213

$8,647

1978

46,776

$9,750

2020

20,368

$67,295

1979

53,807

$10,220

2021

26,216

$67,400

1980

40,614

$13,140

1981

40,606

$16,258

1982

25,407

$18,290

C8

* Most figures shown here were for base model convertibles and do not include various trim packages that were available.

2022

34,510

$68,400

2023

53,785

$63,195

2024

42,934

$67,895 Source: Wikipedia

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025 | 19

CORVETTE LOGO EVOLUTION PEACE, PURITY, ELEGANCE, AND SOPHISTICATION 1953–1955 The source of inspiration for this C1 logo came from the founder of Chevy, Louis Chevrolet and the French roots of his family name. This is where the exemplary fleur-de-lis (flower of the lily) emblem first appeared.

The Corvette emblem embraces the race-track-inspired specs of this Corvette model and the family history of Chevrolet, and is known the world over. In 1953, Robert Bartholomew designed the first Corvette logo using the American flag and the finish-line flag. The American flag had to be dropped due to laws concerning its use in advertising.

1955–1962

1963–1967

1968–1982

1983–1996

There were five variations of crossed flags on C1 Corvettes. For 1956 & ’57, the design had restyled flags and a chevron in front of the flags. From 1957-’60, the crossed flags were restyled and didn’t have the circle or lettering. For 1961, the crossed flags were restyled and included a chevron. And lastly, in 1962, the crossed flags were restyled with the chevron and a red, white and blue bar inserted above.

This generation introduced in 1963 was designed specifically for the Stingray model. The emblem still featured an image with two crossed flags, just like on the previous version. As for the lettering, it was set in two lines, with the black cursive “Corvette” set above the white sans-serif “Sting Ray” written on a black horizontally-oriented rectangle, and underlined by a thick black line.

The new emblem for the Mako Shark Corvette was bold and no longer featured a circle border or any words.

The two crossed and molded flags matched the much bolder stance of the new model. This logo was in place until 1984 when the next generation Corvette was introduced.

From 1983 through 1996, the Corvette logo reintroduced the circle and created a much more modern version of the flags without waving or flag poles. The fleur-de-lis was also removed and the checkered flag was placed on the left side with the Chevy bowtie on a red background on the other.

1997–2004

2005–2013

2014–2019

2020–present

The 5th generation logo ran from 1997 through 2004 and featured a return of the fleur-de-lis with the bowtie on the same red background beside the checkered flag and inside a glossy black circle with black flag poles. This is a sleek logo that represents a very interesting grouping of Corvettes.

From 2005 to 2013 a streamlined version without the circle or flag poles emerged.

This logo still featured the bowtie and fleur-de-lis across from the checkered flag. Now it looks neater and more laconic, the circle is removed again.

The Corvette logo from 2014 features futuristic bold forms and lines of the flags. There is no circle outline and the emblem gains a triangular shape.

The logo looks sleek and modern.

The logo features the flags stretched and meeting in the middle to create a V-shape with a bold silver outline.

New Corvette logo is designed for the C8 Corvette and features the same two crossed flags, composing the letter “V” but in stronger and sharper lines. It looks powerful and energetic.

The fleur-de-lis symbol is also slightly modernized.

20 | BIRTHPLACE OF THE CORVETTE—WATKINS GLEN, NY

VetteFest.org

WATKINS GLEN AREA MAP Finger Lakes National Forest

Seneca Lake Wine Trail

To Burdett & Hector

To Ithaca Historic Pier House

Clute Park & Seneca Lake Event Center Seneca Harbor Station Watkins Glen Community Center Glen Beacon Theater ea

r len A ins G r Watk or Cente Visit

Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area

P rix andLine r G o ri c i s h Hisatrt | Fin t S

arkets

endly M

Tops Fri

VetteFest.org

CELEBRATING 72 YEARS 1953–2025

CORVETTE FESTIVAL 2025 | 21

1951 ORIGINAL RACECOURSE

1951 Map of Original Watkins Glen Race Course