Corvette - What does it mean?

[David D.]

Sitting here having a beer (or two) and wondering what and where the name Corvette came from...?

So I did a googly and here's what I found about the meaning and definition of the word Corvette:
(n.) A war vessel, ranking next below a frigate, and having usually only one tier of guns; -- called in the United States navy a sloop of war.

Does anyone know:

1. Where the name Corvette came from?
2. What the name Corvette means (if different than above)?
3. Who at GM came up with the name?
4. How they came up with the Lxx etc...numbers for the engines and was there any significance behind the numbering besides a way for them to track?

Thanks

[John T.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

Myron E. Scott, a newspaper photographer who created the Chevrolet-sponsored All-American Soap Box Derby and later named its equally All-American sports car -- the Corvette

In 1953, Chevrolet introduced an all-new fiberglass sports car, and there was much indecision about a name. Many hundreds were rejected. Scott submitted "Corvette" because he said "it began with a `C'...rolled well off the tongue...and reflected the excitement of a fast World War II war ship named Corvette."

[M W.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

David,

Long time no hear from you. The weather is getting really nice here in NC and we all 64'ers should do a drive in somewhere. Take care.

Craig W.

[Jim S.]

Pronunciation: \kȯr-ˈvet\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Middle French, probably from Middle Dutch corf,corf Date: 1636 1 : a warship ranking in the old sailing navies next below a frigate 2 : a highly maneuverable armed escort ship that is smaller than a destroyer y !

[Duke W.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

The name corvette fell out of favor as the age of sail transitioned to the age of steam in the late 19th century, but was brought back (reputedly by Churchill himself) to describe the UK's new class of Atlantic escort ships, circa 1940, that were based on a prosaic, but seaworthy commercial trawler hull that could be built in large numbers at a modest price.

These ships are known as the "flower class", because they were all named after various horticultural species and seeds. They were built in both the UK and Canada. (You can google on "flower class" for more details.) With a top speed of about 15 knots a U-boat could easily outrun them on the surface, but despite the the flower class' relatively humble origins, the name caught on again and is widely used today for some very impressive warships- some of which are very fast!

Most modern corvettes, including those operated by our NATO allies are designed for anti-air and anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, but some have impressive offensive capabilities and could probably be considered blue water warships. The US Navy never seems to have liked the term and has never used it, including the new "littoral combat ship", but, then again, they are calling the new Zumwalt class of 15,000 ton, billion dollar (each) warships "destroyers", when by all rights they are full blown cruisers.

I expect they think that asking for 50 new "destroyers" is more palatable to Congress than asking for 50 new cruisers, but I don't think even the morons in Congress are fooled - the term "morons" probably describing at least half the sitting members with substantial representation from both sides of the political aisle.

Any European who is familiar with modern warships knows well what a corvette is. They may form the centerpiece of his own country's navy, and being as how the word is of French origin (as was Louis Chevrolet) may explain the perennial popularity of Corvettes at Le Mans.

When GM transitioned from three digit to three alpha-numeric character option codes beginning in 1963 they were simply looking for more combinations than 1000. Why they chose the "L" prefix for engines, "M" for transmissions, etc. I have no idea, but clearly the first character was used to logically denote the part of the car that the option pertained to, and you can "decode" most of it by simply looking at a handful of option lists.

"Z" prefix options are always interesting because they are used for "special performance equipment packages".

Duke

[Eric J.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

I was always told "Corvette" was a French word meaning "Dead battery"

Usage:
"My sports car won't start..."
"Is it a Corvette?"
"Yes..."
"Is your Corvette 6 volt or 12 volt"
"My Corvette is a 12 Volt"
"Ok I will give you a jump start"

[Michael M.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

INTERESTING, I always thought it meant "dead battery, surrounded by plastic", you learn something new every day, I guess!

[Roy B.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

Corvette - What does it mean? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Chuck S.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

I was always told "Corvette" was a French word meaning "Dead battery"

Usage:
"My sports car won't start..."
"Is it a Corvette?"
"Yes..."
"Is your Corvette 6 volt or 12 volt"
"My Corvette is a 12 Volt"
"Ok I will give you a jump start"

HaHaHa... I would've thought the more appropriate question would be..."Was your Corvette made before or after 1983?

Found my 2006 dead again yesterday...if you don't drive C6s at least once a month, better have a battery tender on it. My C4 was worse, but I'm resisting getting a tender. (I'm a hardhead)

[Roy B.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

HaHaHa... I would've thought the more appropriate question would be..."Was your Corvette made before or after 1983?

Found my 2006 dead again yesterday...if you don't drive C6s at least once a month, better have a battery tender on it. My C4 was worse, but I'm resisting getting a tender. (I'm a hardhead)

My 06 battery went dead also toke to the dealer and they had a memo to give the computer a different message . it's OK now something was on.

[Roberto L.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

Most modern corvettes, including those operated by our NATO allies are designed for anti-air and anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, but some have impressive offensive capabilities and could probably be considered blue water warships. The US Navy never seems to have liked the term and has never used it, including the new "littoral combat ship", but, then again, they are calling the new Zumwalt class of 15,000 ton, billion dollar (each) warships "destroyers", when by all rights they are full blown cruisers.
Duke

Picture shows what is a corvette in the Argentine Navy (ARA), a light, fast 1400 tn ship armed with missiles and the like. The term (corbeta) was used since a century ago when argentine corbeta ARA Uruguay rescued the Nordenskjold expedition lost in Antartic in 1903.

So, our beloved car is in some way similar, it is relatively light, fast and powerful...

Best regards

[Tom R.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

[David D.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

Corvette - What does it mean? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Roy...is that on the way in, or the way out of owning a Corvette

[Roy B.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

Roy...is that on the way in, or the way out of owning a Corvette

BOTH in & out

[Larry K.]

Re: Corvette - What does it mean?

A Google search led to this:

"The concept of what was to later become the Corvette was begun in 1951 in Harley Earl's Special Projects workshop. Bob McLean designed the original general layout for a GM sports car. The project car originally was called 'The Opel'. While Myron Scott, a photographer with General Motors, is officially credited with naming the Corvette the truth is that the name did not actually originate with him. An advertising agency for General Motors approached the professor of marketing at the University of Alabama in 1952 and challenged his classes to come up with an innovative name for a sleek new sports car to premiere the following year. A whopping $25 savings bond would be the prize for the one who came up with the best name. A young man from Ensley, Alabama by the name of Al Propst just back from the Korean War had become familiar with a highly maneuverable warship known as a corvette and thought the name would be perfect for the new sports car. He submitted the name along with an essay and won the coveted prize but he was also required to sign a form relinquishing all rights to the name. The Corvette name is taken from a group of small and fast warships know as the 'Corvette Class' of ships. The Jaguar XK120 is said to be the original inspiration for the first Corvette design."