By the time 1961 rolled up on the calendar, the Corvette had evolved from going like the wind in a straight line with limited cornering margins, into a sports car for which no owner needed to make excuses to the “sporty car set” of the period. Climb into the businesslike bucket seat of the 1961 Corvette and feel the response to the steering inputs and the pavement-charring acceleration.

The major change in appearance for the 1961 platform was the rear end treatment, which was derived from the Sting Ray GM racing Corvette, then owned by legendary stylist Bill Mitchell. The squatter look achieved a more crisp, and fleeter presence than the previous models. The front end was basically unchanged and new bumpers fore and aft blended nicely into the body design. The exhaust tips were now routed under the body instead of through the bumper tips. There was no mistaking the Corvette for any other car, and it was improving steadily in engineering excellence. Chevrolet would produce 10,939 similar cars during the model year.

Looking fantastic in Roman Red (one of 1,794 in 1961) with a black interior, this award-winning 1961 Corvette is powered by the optional Code 468 283-cid, 270-hp V-8 engine that features two four-barrel carburetors (H.P.I.D. is stamped on the engine). This unit is connected to a four-speed manual transmission with an optional Posi-traction rear end (a $43.05 uptick at the time). Among the other features are an optional heater ($137.75), whitewall tires, factory hubcaps and the optional removable hardtop.

The car is beautifully detailed throughout and has been a multiple award-winning machine that is documented with three Bloomington Gold Awards in 2009, 2011 and 2014; NCRS Performance Verification in 2009; NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award in 2010; NCRS Top Flight Awards in North Carolina in 2009, Texas in 2009 and North Carolina in 2010; plus the Vette Vues Magazine, Inc. Tri-Power Award in Dallas in 2014.

This Corvette boasts a style with ample power to entice most followers of the marque, and the legend of Corvette.