CORVETTES IN COMPETITION: RACING AMERICA'S SPORT CAR
In the 1950s, sports cars became increasingly popular with the American economy booming. Americans with disposable income were buying quick and nimble cars from foreign manufacturers like MG, Ferrari, and Porsche. Many were campaigned in amateur road races, a fast-growing pastime. In 1953, Chevrolet released the first sports car from a large American manufacturer: the Corvette. It would become an icon on the street and the track, earning the nickname “America’s Sports Car.”
