One
of the most important pieces
of American automotive history, the Chevrolet Engineering
Research Vehicle 1 (CERV 1) was developed
between 1959 and 1960 by Zora Arkus-Duntov as a functional mid-engine, open-wheel,
single-seat prototype racing car. It served as
Duntov’s personal Corvette engineering test
bed; a platform for engineers to develop and
refine the Chevrolet body, chassis and suspension systems. Duntov drove the CERV 1 in demo
laps at the U.S. Grand Prix in 1960, but that
is as far as its racing aspirations went, due to
the ban on manufacturer-sponsored racing at
the time.
The car was designed by Larry Shinoda and
Tony Lapine, and was originally equipped with
a 283ci/350hp small-block V8 weighing only
350 lbs because of the use of aluminum and
magnesium engine components.
The CERV 1 features a four-wheel independent suspension, 4-speed manual transmission
and front disc and rear drum brakes. The steering system features a high-efficiency recirculating-ball-type steering gear of 12:1 ratio;
overall steering ratio is a very fast 13.5:1.
Fuel is delivered via two rubber bladder fuel
cells with a total capacity of 20 gallons. Fuelinjected small-block technology was developed using this incredible car.
Later, for even greater performance, Duntov
refitted the CERV 1 with a 377ci (6.1 ltr.) aluminum small block, an advanced Rochester
fuel-injection system, and Indy-style tires and
wheels. Shinoda also redesigned the body
structure for greater aerodynamics and the car
recorded a top speed of 206 mph.
Includes loads of paperwork and history on
the car, which stands as one of the experimental landmarks of GM history.
CGM