|
The first Corvette rolled off the Chevrolet production line in mid-1953.
Earlier in the year, the Corvette was first shown to the public at the General Motors Motorama auto show in New York.
The car had instant appeal with the viewing public.
Gradually, the Corvette entered "Pop Culture", generally meaning that artists began making references
to the Corvette in popular arts, such as television, music, and film.
This Web site is an attempt to document all pop culture references to the Corvette.
Defining what constitutes a pop culture reference to Corvette is not entirely straightforward.
My general guidelines when considering a Corvette appearance are:
- the medium itself is considered a popular part of past or current culture (TV show, movie, book, magazine article, toy, coin, postage stamp, etc.)
- the artist (creator, writer, etc.) specifically chose a Corvette when any type of car could have been used
- the artist specifically chose a Corvette because of something special about Corvettes (fast, expensive, limited seating, lifestyle, etc.)
- the product is targeted at the general public, not Corvette enthusiasts primarily
- the Corvette is a minor or secondary part of the product, not the main focus
I feel that a pop culture reference is not something where Corvette is the main focus of the medium, such as a news article, a documentary film about Corvettes, etc.
The marketing strategy of "product placement" interferes with the motive for the appearance or mention of a Corvette, but the end result is a reference to the Corvette.
In the case of regular appearances of a Corvette (such as the Route 66 TV show), only the first appearance of a particular Corvette is noted. If a different Corvette appears in the same series, the new appearance is noted. Common toy and hobby mo
els (plastic or metal die-cast, kit or complete) are generally not included in this list. See my Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes for a more complete list of all things Corvette.
Your contributions to this list will be gladly accepted. Images of Corvette references should include any appropriate photo credits. Send me email at ken@kpolsson.com.
October 7, 1960
| The CBS television network debuts the Route 66 show in the USA. The show features two young men driving a Horizon Blue 1960 Corvette around the USA in search of adventure. |
1961
| The second season of the Route 66 televison show features a Fawn Beige 1961 Corvette. |
1963
| Beach Boys song "Shut Down" includes references to "Sting Ray". |
July 30, 1966
| Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation releases the film Batman in theaters in the USA. A Nassau Blue 1965-66 Corvette convertible appears very briefly. | 
(Copyright 1966 Twentieth Century-Fox Film) |
November 22, 1967
| United Artists releases the film Clambake to theaters in the USA. Elvis Presley drives the red 1959 Stingray racer. |
1969
| Crew of the Apollo 12 space rocket (Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon, Al Bean) each receive a gold Corvette coupe with 427-ci engine. |
May 1, 1971
| Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Billy Jack to theaters in the USA. A Riverside Gold 1969 convertible Corvette appears. | 
(Copyright 1971 Warner Bros. Pictures) |
1972
| Parker Brothers begins selling the "Dealer's Choice" board game in the USA. The box features an orange 1971 Corvette. |
March 17, 1973
| The National Broadcasting Company airs the pilot episode of The Magician airs on TV in the USA. The lead character drives a white 1973 Corvette coupe. |
June 27, 1973
| The film Live and Let Die is released to theaters in the USA. A recent Corvette appears, with fenders like those of an Eldorado car. |
July 1973
| Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film Cleopatra Jones to theaters in the USA. A customized black and silver 1973 Corvette is used in the film. |
August 11, 1973
MCA/Universal Pictures releases the film American Graffiti to theaters in the USA. - A 1961 Corvette sits outside a 1950s diner.
- A used car lot has three Corvettes for sale.
|   
(Copyright 1973 Universal Pictures) |
April 1975
| The film Death Race 2000 is released in theaters in the USA. The lead car appears to be a modified current model Corvette. |
October 31, 1975
| The National Broadcasting Company airs The Rockford Files TV show in the USA. A light blue 1975/76 Corvette appears briefly. |
1976
| Warner Bros. releases the film The Gumball Rally to theaters in the USA. Included is a character credited as "Corvette Team Member". |
November 1976
| Twentieth Century Fox Film releases the film Kenny and Company to theaters in the USA. Included is a character credited as "Passenger Corvette". |
December 22, 1976
| Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film The Enforcer to theaters in the USA. A yellow 1968 Corvette convertible appears briefly. | 
(Copyright 1976 Warner Bros. Pictures) |
August 4, 1977
| The film High Rolling in a Hot Corvette is released to theaters in Australia. |
December 21, 1977
| Warner Bros. Pictures releases the film The Gauntlet to theaters in the USA. A white 1974-75 convertible appears briefly. | 
(Copyright 1977 Warner Bros. Pictures) |
February 1, 1978
| CBS Television airs the film See How She Runs on television in the USA. Included is a character credited as "Boy with Corvette". |
February 10, 1978
| A two-hour film airs on television about the life story of pop rockers Jan and Dean. Corvette scenes include a 1958 Corvette racing through a corn field, and a mid-60s Corvette crashing into the back of a truck. |
May 28, 1978
| In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race is held. A 1978 Corvette is the official pace car, driven by Jim Rathmann. |
June 2, 1978
United Artists releases the MGM film Corvette Summer in the USA and Canada. The film is about a 1973 Corvette that is customized at a high school, then stolen, then searched for. - The star Corvette, orange, first appears very trashed and ready for the crusher.
- The star Corvette is highly customized, painted red.
- The star Corvette later appears in gold paint.
- A white 1974-77 Corvette coupe appears briefly.
- A silver 1968-72 Corvette coupe appears briefly.
- A yellow-orange 1969 Corvette convertible appears briefly.
- A silver 1975 convertible appears briefly.
|        
(Copyright 1978 Universal Pictures) |
July 28, 1978
| Universal Pictures releases the film Animal House to theaters in the USA. A 1958-61 red Corvette with white coves appears. | 
(Copyright 1978 Universal Pictures) |
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
Other web pages of interest:
Chronology of Chevrolet Corvettes
Corvette Racing Successes
Corvettes on Postage Stamps
Personal Computer References in Pop Culture
Video Game References in Pop Culture
Disney References in Pop Culture
This Day in History
|
