In addition to creating the legend of Corvette, GM designer and engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov was constantly trying new ideas and technologies. One of his dreams was to create a drive all-wheel mid-engined racing car that Chevrolet a competitor in the circuits of the larger world of the likes of Ferrari and Ford GT40.
After converting the first Corvette generation of a cruise in a true sports car giving a powerful V8 small block, Duntov motor set out to develop a mid-of-engined all-wheel drive sports car, feeding rumors that the Corvette second generation will have a mid-mounted engine.
That experimental car was called Chevrolet Engineering Research vehicle (CERV II) II and its most important feature was powered torque vectoring four-wheel drive system. The car followed another experimental car called the Chevrolet CERV, which was completed in 1960 and was open-wheel target racing. The CESR resembled an IndyCar and had a light 500hp 377-cubic-inch V8 small block that was also used in the CERV II.
Duntov wanted the CERV II "to incorporate all the features needed to make it a contender for success, not only in racing but in events as long distances such as Le Mans and Sebring". He had planned to build six cars, originally designated the G.S. 2/3, which would allow the selective use as two wheel drive (2 GS) or four-wheel drive (G.S. 3). Using the label Grand Sport and frequent references to the Corvette suggests that Duntov thought in a family relationship with the series production sports.
CERV II offers a body of fiberglass, centers of titanium, conecting rod, valves and headers, weighing close to the specific 1,400 lb (645 kg). I had a non-conventional system which consisted of a 11-inch Powerglide torque converter clutch manual gearbox two speeds that hung on the back of the car and a second Powerglide torque converter 10 inch in the front of the car, with a second semi-automatic transmission.
Duntov wanted to 35 percent of power to be delivered in the front at low speed and 40 percent at high speed. In testing, the CERV II reached speeds of up to 212 mph (341 km/h) and it was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.8 seconds.
Unfortunately, Duntov for the CERV II plans were arrested in 1964, when GM informed him that it will not be racing with the car. CERV II continued to be used as a vehicle for research and in 1969, was equipped with a new all-aluminum-427-cubic inch ZL1 V8. 550Hp engine is that the car has now, with the current weight of the situation of CERV II at 1.848 pounds (838 kg).
The drive is functional and original almost in its entirety and today is among the most important vehicles of Corvette development in private hands. CERV II will be auctioned on Thursday, November 21, 2013 by RM Auctions, at an undisclosed price.
By Dan Mihalascu
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