By GE Anderson




On April 18, 1959, the Corvette Stingray Racer debuted at Maryland's Marlboro Raceway. The experimental concept car took a fourth-place finish that day but went on to win an SCCA championship in 1960, thanks to its lightweight fiberglass body, de Dion rear suspension, and small-block V-8 engine that sent 315 hp to the rear wheels. Designed by Bill Mitchell, GM's vice president of styling (who eventually added a passenger seat and used the concept as his personal wheels), and Corvette designer Larry Shinoda, the car's inspiration was a Mako shark Mitchell had caught while deep-sea fishing.