Акула Мако и Манта Рей: История концепт-каров Chevrolet Corvette

the concept cars

The XP 755 concept car, also known as the Mako Shark, was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of General Motors Styling and Design head Bill Mitchell. With the 1963 Corvette C2 design locked down, in 1961 as a concept for future Chevrolet Corvette the groundwork for the XP 755 was laid down. Building on the design of the 1958 XP 700 "double bubble", the XP 755 added design elements of the soon to be released C2 Corvette. In keeping with the name, the streamlining, pointed snout, and other detailing was partly inspired by the sleek, fast moving shortfin mako shark. The '61 Corvette tail was given two additional tail lights (six total) for the concept car. The concept was also inspired by Bill Mitchell's 1959 Stingray racer XP 87 which also influenced the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray. Charles M. Jordan's son, Mark reports that the XP 755 was built out of the 1958 XP 700 Corvette show car. The Mako Shark debuted at the New York Coliseum at the 1962 6th International Automobile Show, and the car was a success on the auto show circuit. With many of the Mako's design elements making into production on future Corvettes, it was successful in building hype for the forthcoming next generation of Corvette. Like many show cars, the Mako Shark underwent styling and detail changes over time. The hood and front facia were modified and the interior was updated. The car also lost the distinctive "double bubble" canopy. The car was retroactively dubbed the Mako Shark I when the Mako Shark II debuted. The car now resides in the GM Heritage Collection.

The XP 755 Mako Shark a concept car was used in Route 66 that aired in October 1961, most likely as a result of General Motors supplying vehicles that were driven in the series. In this particular episode, the main characters Buzz and Tod drive a 1962 Corvette while another character, Prudie Adams, drives the pre modified XP 755. It can be seen at time marks 14:13, 25:12, 32:37 and 39:54.

In 1969, the Mako Shark II was returned to GM Design Studios and transformed into the Manta Ray. Modifications included a front spoiler and redesigned grille and external exhaust pipes. Modifications were also made to the rear that included a buttress style rear window and a longer more horizontal end section. The Firestone tires were replaced with Goodyear tires. Both Mako I and Manta Ray are currently part of the GM Heritage Center Collection. A new, the all aluminum ZL 1 427ci (making approximately 430 horsepower) was installed in the revised car. The Manta Ray resides in the GM Heritage Collection.

In 2016 General Motors filed a trademark on the name "Manta Ray", leading to much speculation on how (or if) the name would be used. In the run up to the introduction to the 2020 C8 Corvette, many believed that it would be called the Manta Ray. Chevrolet decided not to resurrect the name and stuck with the Stingray name for the C8.

In 2013, Hanspeter Boehi from Muenchenstein, Switzerland started work on a tribute car to the Mako Shark II as it appeared in Geneva, Switzerland in 1966. He used a 1969 C3 Corvette (big block) as his starting point, fabricating everything as necessary. Boehi used drawings from the US Patent Office and images from the Geneva show to help guide the process of building a running version of the non operational show car.