Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer (XP-87) concept (1959)
Concept car · 1959 · Combustion
Bill Mitchell's secret racer that shaped the Sting Ray look
Commissioned in secret by GM styling chief Bill Mitchell, the Stingray Racer (project XP-87) was built after hours in a hidden GM work area from a sketch by Pete Brock, further developed by Larry Shinoda. Its low, finned, dual-cockpit body was fitted to the surplus Corvette SS chassis and weighed roughly 1,000 lb less than a production Corvette. Raced by Dr. Dick Thompson, it took SCCA class championships in 1959 and 1960, and its shape directly previewed the second-generation C2 Corvette Sting Ray.
Key facts
- Engine: 283 cu in (4.6 L) fuel-injected small-block V8
- Power: Approx. 315 hp at 6,200 rpm
- Chassis: Corvette SS space-frame
- Wheelbase: 92 in (2,337 mm)
- Weight: Approx. 2,154 lb (977 kg)
- Designers: Pete Brock, Larry Shinoda (under Bill Mitchell)
- Racing: SCCA class champion 1959 & 1960
Production
- Status: Concept only
- 1959 Bill Mitchell racing show car (XP-87) that inspired the C2 Corvette; a one-off, not sold.
- Revealed at 1959 racing debut, Marlboro Motor Raceway (April 1959)
Source: Wikipedia - Corvette Stingray (concept car)