Corvette SS Preps for Race at Sebring 1957
The 1957 Corvette SS ‘concept car’, was built in order to race at the 24 Hours of LeMans. Two chassis were built, ‘the Mule’ and the car to be raced. Its first race would be the test for its preparations at LeMans. This race at the 12 Hours of Sebring would determine whether it could take on the world at LeMans.
Famed engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, had lead a team of engineers to build this ultra-lightweight (1850 lbs) and powerful (307 horsepower) racing car. They were inspired by the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and the Birdcage Maserati. To keep weight down, they used a magnesium body that surrounded a tubular steel frame with coil-over-shock front suspension, a de Dion rear axle and aluminum drum brakes. Its fuel-injected small-block V8 could turn out 307 horsepower at 6,400 RPM.
