The iconic Chevrolet Corvette (named after a small, manoeuvrable warship) has now been in production for eight generations with enormous pedigree and style.

The first model was a convertible penned by designer Harley Earl and was introduced in 1953 at the GM Motorama as a concept show car.

The C2 Corvette followed and was produced between 1963 and 1967.

Perhaps the car that is most entrenched in American automotive history with its dramatic styling, deeply scalloped side panels and the evocative Sting Ray model name.

The C3 arrived in 1968 with a slight name change to Stingray, although it closely followed the design of the Mako Shark II concept car.

The new C3 displayed a number of innovative features including vacuum operation of the headlights, a shield to conceal the wipers when not in use and 17" wheels as standard.

The chassis, fully independent suspension and disc brakes were carried over from the C2 and the car was offered with a choice of engine sizes and 4-speed manual ...