1967 Corvette

What is as American as Old Glory, the Fourth of July and the Statute of Liberty all rolled into one, the 1967 Corvette with that distinctive  deep throated rumble through the sidepipes  that's what. While the Corvette has been a national icon almost from the day it hit the streets in 1953, when the 1967 Corvette appeared all the icon rules were broken. Take a survey of Corvette owners and ask them to name their most favorite Corvette of all time and, by golly, you'll get the 1967 Corvette.

Chances are very good they'll name the big block '67. After all, who can resist that sexy stinger hood.  And to think that the 1967 Corvette wasn't originally planned to share the classic mid-year body. The new Mako inspired Corvette was scheduled for 1967 but held back a year instead.

And so you have this icon that was also a rocket when powered by the L71 427, which caught the fancy of gear heads thanks to the trio of Holley carbs parked beneath the big tri cornered air cleaner. The L71 was factory rated at 435 gross horsepower and could crack the quarter in 13.6 seconds at 105 mph and 0 to 60 was a mere 4.7 seconds. There was more exotic hardware, like the aluminum headed L89, or the ya gotta know someone to get one L88, but the L71 was the pavement pounder of choice for the street.

If you were lucky and fortunate enough to be the owner of the hot ticket, a '67 that boasted the afore mentioned L71 engine, four speed close ratio gearbox and 3.36:1 rear end, you got to be considered the one to beat. You could get a 67 Corvette with the optional F41 special sport suspension, power brakes and other options to enhance what is an already superb sportscar.

 Not only does Corvette symbolize the American automotive dream. It is also a superb example of what Americans and America considered to be a sports car.   No doubt the 67 Corvette will not have much trouble living up to that vision, or any Corvette for that matter.