It was 73 years ago that the very first prototype Corvette was shown to the public during the GM Motorama show held in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

That first Corvette prototype was named EX-122 and the motoring public was instantly taken in Chevy’s new two-seater sports car creation. It was rumored that GM hid microphones in and around the display so that they hear the comments from attendees at the show.
The new Corvette was such a hit that GM greenlighted “Project Opel” for production and six months later the first customer cars were completed.

The 1953 General Motors Motorama was a traveling auto show that showcased the latest and greatest from GM, including both futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars.
It was the first Motorama to be held outside of New York City, and it visited major cities across the United States, drawing over 1.4 million visitors.

One of the most popular cars at the show was the Chevrolet Corvette, which was making its public debut.
The Corvette was praised for its sleek design powerful engine, and it went on to become one of the most iconic American sports cars ever produced.

Other notable cars at the 1953 Motorama included the Buick Wildcat, the Pontiac La Parisienne, the Oldsmobile Starfire, and the Cadillac Orleans and Le Mans. These cars featured advanced technology and futuristic designs, giving the public a glimpse into the future of car design and technology.

GM’s VP of Design Harley J. Earl says the idea for the Corvette came to him during a visit to Watkins Glen in 1951 where he was showing off the LeSabre concept. Earl said he was impressed by the small European sports cars participating in a grand prix-style road race at the famous track in New York. From there, he got Chevrolet’s Engineering Chief Ed Cole on board with the project, and together they were given the go-ahead to develop the concept for the 1953 GM Motorama.

In late December 1952, the prototype was completed. It was officially known as the Corvette after being named by Chevy photographer Myron Scott. Chevy wanted the car to start with a “C” and supposedly rejected 1500 suggestions. Myron came across the word Corvette after going through the dictionary, which was described as a small, lightly armed warship.
Considering that many Americans just finished their service in the U.S. Armed Forces following WWII, the suggestion was perfectly timed.

The final Motorama Corvette was shown to GM executives in early January 1953. The only change suggested was removing the American flag from the original logo.
A new logo was designed in a hurry and featured two crossed flags one being the Chevy bow-tie and the other being a fleur-de-lis which paid homage to the French background of Chevrolet namesake Louis Chevrolet.
The original American Flag Corvette logo can be seen on display at the National Corvette Museum.

You can’t see him in the crowd photos, but one of the attendees of the 1953 GM Motorama show was a Belgium immigrant named Zora Arkus-Duntov. Zora was so taken with the Corvette and its potential that he wrote a letter to Chevrolet Chief Engineer Ed Cole. Ed Cole was so impressed with Zora that he offered him an assistant staff engineering position. With his foot in the door, Zora would go on to transform the underpowered Corvette into the world-class sports car we know today.

Witness the excitement of the Motorama! GM produced this video from the 1953 Motorama show, and you can see the Corvette make its appearance at 7:12

The 1953 Motorama was a landmark event in automotive history, and it remains one of the most iconic auto shows ever held.
In addition to cars, the 1953 Motorama also featured exhibits on the latest advances in automotive technology, such as fuel injection, power steering, and automatic transmission. The show also featured fashion shows, live music, and other entertainment.

The film has undergone the process of colorization.
Please note that this is solely for entertainment purposes and does not provide a true representation of colors or historical accuracy.



The "Parade of Progress" was a traveling roadshow and exhibition organized by General Motors (GM). The showcase featured a convoy of futuristic vehicles, exhibits, and displays highlighting the latest technological innovations in transportation and industry.

The main purpose of the Parade of Progress was to promote the advancements made by GM in automotive design, engineering, and technology. It aimed to captivate audiences throughout North America, with a vision of the future, showcasing innovative concepts and cutting-edge technology that GM was developing.

The man who sparked General Motors' original 1936 Parade of Progress was none other than Charles F. Kettering. Charles Kettering, Vice President and Director of Research at GM, was the man behind such inventions as the first commercial electric self-starter, Ethyl gasoline, and the diesel-electric locomotive, to name a few.

The original Parade of Progress took to the road in 1936 in Lakeland, Florida, and it was far from today's streamlined version, but its purpose was identical. From 1936 to December 1941, the caravan played to audiences of more than 12 million people in 251 cities.
In 1940, more programming was added to the original show and the Parade's first big-top-style tent, was replaced with a unique structure, the Aer-O-Dome tent, specifically designed by GM.

Crowds stood and listened intently to the young lecturers as they taught basic principles of physics and chemistry, under such titles as "World of Science," and "Miracles of Heat and Cold." The Parade of Progress continued to tour until the mid-1950s.