The very first production Chevrolet Corvette went on sale in September 1953. They had an automatic transmission. The program was in severe danger of being canceled due to a massive sales slump—leaving over 1,100 unsold models sitting on dealership lots from 1954, the previous year. The legendary engineer who single-handedly re-engineered and saved the Corvette was Zora Arkus-Duntov. He is universally revered by automotive historians as the "Father of the Corvette". He made it into a sports car and went out to compete. Pikes Peak (1955): He drove a disguised V8 prototype up the treacherous mountain, shattering the stock car climbing record. Daytona Beach (1956): He drove a modified Corvette down the sands of Daytona to set a spectacular flying-mile stock car record of 150 mph. I remember seeing them in my youth but I knew there was no way dad would get one. This car, the one Zora first modified, is on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.