1968 Chevrolet AstroVette

In 1968, GM unveiled the AstroVette show car. According to an official press release, “This clean-contoured, experimental Corvette is a study vehicle, which will provide useful information in yet another area of automotive design investigation”. The car was actually based on a blue production ’68 convertible. It was built in the spring of 1968. The shape and the aluminum wheel covers suggested a land speed record Bonneville salt flat racer. The paint was pearlescent white and the blue interior was dyed black. Other than a non stock steering wheel, the interior is pretty much production stock. The side flaps in the front fenders are non functional. They are only scribed in the body. The original 400hp L-68 427 engine mated to an automatic Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission was not modified, except for some chrome items. Tall narrow Firestone tires added to the Salt flat racer look.

The car was not very popular at first and it earned the name "Moby Dick". Soon after its unveiling, it was relegated to secondary show car circuits and eventually put in storage. At some point in time, the car was repainted orange, and in 1992 the car was restored to original show car specs.

The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette Astro-Vette concept car was an aerodynamic study to see how slippery the Corvette could be made. Two notable styling features were picked up in 1973 and 1974. In 1973, when most cars got huge, chrome, front bumpers; Corvettes got the Astro-Vette treatment. Then in 1974, the tail end was restyled, a la Astro-Vette.

The obvious features on the Astro-Vette were the extended nose, roadster windshield, closed rear wheel openings and extended tail. The nose was extended considerable and the grille opening was kept to a minimum. The long hood has no bulge, indicating that the car was a small block. Scribe lines on the front fenders were to be pressure actuated flaps that opened if under the hood pressure was too high. Designers took advantage of the B-pillar by crafting an airfoil to minimize air drag. Taking cues from the hot cars of the 30’s, the Astro-Vette had smooth wheel disks on very narrow tires, and rear fender skirts that were hinged at the top for tire access. Like the front, the back end was extended and tapered. Designers even added partial front and rear belly pans to smooth underside airflow. The interior was medium blue and stock, except for the racing steering wheel.