What Memphis Summer Dreams are made of: Corvette Cruises + Achievement Status

Cool and inspiring enough for even the likes of James Bond himself, the Corvette has had appearances in various major films, and has been on many status quo wish lists for decades.  Displaying the need for freedom and high level of prowess on the road, the Corvette has long been a symbol of sophistication, raw power, and the sleekest engineering on the planet. It was originally designed as a show car for the 1953 Motorama display at the New York Auto Show, and enough interest was stoked for GM to consider making a publicly sold version.

The earliest generation was often labeled the "solid-axle" models, as the ones with independent rear suspension did not come about until the second generation. Great care was taken to hand-build 300 Corvettes by the 1953 model year, and a legendary automobile line was born. During the following year, 3,640 models were built, and some execs lost a bit of sleep at night, as they sold a bit slowly. Due to the slower movement, production was limited to 700 models for the following year. Proudly sporting a V-8 Engine as an option, the 0-60 drive time was drastically improved by 1.5 seconds.

In 1956, a brand new body was introduced, and the drastic visual element of the missing taillamp fins altered the finished product quite a bit. An optional fuel injection system was made available the following year, and a major milestone was then achieved: it was one of the first mass-produced engines in history to reach 1bhp per cubic inch, which Chevy's advertising agency used to incorporate the slogan "one hp per cubic inch," luring buyers to familiarize themselves with the brand that was now taking off.

Just two years ago, the C7.R was developed, and made its debut on the track during the 2015 Rolex Motorsports Reunion. From Paul Barrett Parkway to Sam Cooper Boulevard right here in Memphis, there are many fantastic locations to take a 'Vette for a spin, and the conditions during the summer are the absolute best to get out and happily burn some rubber. Those making their way into the dealership are mesmerized by the 460-hp thrown down by the V8 engine, and the 0-60 in 3.7 seconds liftoff time. The edge-lit LED turn signals are framed in black chrome housing, and the ultra-cool high-mounted stop lamp is mounted smack-dab in the middle of the rear spoiler.

Car and Driver is a monthly publication out of the "everything-auto" state: Michigan. Read by more than 1.23 million, they are known for a bit of a sordid slant, which has been proven to be greatly appreciated by car enthusiasts worldwide. Also known for covering ground that is sometimes thought to be controversial, they even inject ample doses of politics and other daily grind material in their reviews. The Corvette was selected by Car and Driver as part of their 10Best for the year, another honor that steers many towards the purchasing point.

With a goal of laying out just what a pleasurable driving experience can be, vehicles that offer outstanding value, excel at their given mission, and deliver an over-the-top driving experience are the ones that usually make the cut. Feel free to pay us a visit and see how the flowing design of a Stingray suits you: there are many perfectly-engineered instruments to help you keep your focus on the road, and a wildly impressive power-to-weight ratio.

Available Magnetic Selective Ride Control is a real-time damping system that actually takes a read of the road every millisecond, and has the ability to adjust for new pockets of terrain in under 15 milliseconds flat. The Corvette is one of those vehicles that is immediately recognizable and distinguished: the Chevy family is proud to be mentioned in first-rate publications, while Summer's Kiss lingers for a bit longer.