Classic American Cars in Film: Chevy Corvette

Aging like a fine wine, classic cars seem to only look better with age. Featuring timeless designs that can’t be duplicated in the modern age, these definitive vehicles have made a huge historical impact on American culture. No other form of media has encapsulated the essence and style of these cars as well as film has, and no other car has done so more than the classic Chevy Corvette.

Appearing in genres expanding from comedy to sci-fi, the Corvette has been a staple in both classic and modern filmmaking. Take the 1959 Corvette in the timeless comedy Animal House, featuring four headlamps, a convertible top, and detailed in stunning chrome, Otter traveled around in style. In the Bond spoof Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, CIA agent Felicity Shagwell drives a 1966 Corvette with an American flag paintjob. This is not only fitting because she is an agent for the US government, but also symbolized the Corvette as the quintessential American muscle car. The elegant curves of the Stingray model appear in a few films, including the reboot of the original Sci-Fi series Star Trek. Opening images show a young James T. Kirk utilizing al968l 425 hp of the 1965 Corvette’s big-block V8 as it rips around the dusty corners of an Iowa field.

There is no arguing the Chevy Corvette is an American classic that anyone would be proud to own. The Corvette has had a storied history, and even more promising future with more innovation to come.