The name is from the Second World War. In 1940 the British, Canadians and later the Americans have great difficulties to protect their gigantic transports to England against German U-boat attacks. Through various techniques and better cooperation this change in 1941. A not insignificant role in this development has a type of ship called Corvette, especially designed for the defense of submarines and fighter aircrafts. Slightly smaller than a frigate, a corvette is faster and more agile matched with corresponding armament. The name of this ship type General Motors seems especially true for the new sports car. We have opted for the female title, although there is also literature for which the root of Corvette is male.

Since we already are by name, the development project for the Corvette is called GM internal 'Opel'. In January 1953 the car is presented as prototype in the ballroom of Waldorf Astoria in New York. Only a year will have taken the development to production. From the Chevrolet-mass production distinguish actually beside the bodywork only the frame. It has a shorter wheelbase, but must be considerably buckling resistant, because the car is planned as a convertible. The engine is a little lower and behind the front axle, which is significantly affect to the weight distribution and performances. However, the implementation of the shortened drive shaft has to be changed.

Actually new is the supplied body made of fiberglass reinforced plastic, the first time in a car in mass production. While the weight of the chassis is about 100 kg, the construction is even easier. The first series knows only a white exterior paint and red for the interior trim. But it goes very slowly with the production figures. The interest is so great and the presence of the car to the public so low, that the Americans are slow to doubt its reality. Chevrolet has simply not yet enough experience with the new material, which one at this time still called fiberglass. One will not risk his good name and remains far behind the production target. At the end however changed an order in a production surplus.

Up to the entire chasssis, it is also an unusual car. Harmless then the hub caps with central nuts as a fake, by the way not on all vehicles in the series. Headlight covers against stone-chipping, rocket-like tail planes, plug in side windows made from plastic, three carburetors with minor synchronization problems and from underpressure of the motor operating windshield wipers. It will never be clarified, whether General Motors has done well to be so slow with the begin of production, but almost it would have carried off the entire project.