The Astronauts all drove 'em. At a time when American ingenuity took a shot at the moon and American heroism said things like, “Let's light this candle,” the Corvette was the ground-bound vehicle of choice for guys who had the right stuff.
Now, with the current Stingray a world-beater, it seems an obvious choice. But the Corvette had pretty pedestrian beginnings; you could even go so far as to call the first-generation car something of a disappointment.
With the Z06 now a 650-hp supercharged menace capable of beating up on a Ferrari or two, you have to admit that America's sports car still has it. Here's how it went from that first flame to a full-on rocketship.