The Rise of Mid-Engine Supremacy: Corvette's Astro II Unveiled

Rising STAR - The Corvette stands as a powerful symbol of automotive greatness, its legacy intertwined with the rich tapestry of racing history from its early days. In the dynamic 1960s, a revolutionary era in sports car design unfolded, with the Ford GT40 and Chevrolet-backed Chaparral leading the vanguard in embracing the mid-engine layout. 

The Chevrolet Astro II XP-880 unveiled at the 1968 New York Auto Show marked the beginning of a series of experimental mid-engine Corvettes.. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

Amidst this period of innovation, the introduction of the Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880) at the 1968 New York Auto Show marked the beginning of a series of experimental mid-engine Corvettes, stirring excitement among fans of exotic sports cars.

The Chevrolet Astro II featured a captivating yet less extreme styling than its predecessor with primary focus was on spotlighting the prowess of the mid-mounted powertrain. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

Diverging from its predecessor, the Astro I, the Astro II featured a captivating yet less extreme styling. Its primary focus was on spotlighting the prowess of the rear-mounted powertrain. Notable enhancements included the addition of doors for convenient passenger compartment access, setting it apart from the Astro I.

Notable enhancements of the Chevrolet Astro II included the addition of doors for convenient passenger compartment access, setting it apart from the Astro I.. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

While retaining the rear compartment hatch, it now granted access to the engine compartment, with the front compartment serving as a practical storage area. The innovative placement of a big-block V-8 in reverse, snugly beneath reclined seats, defined Chevy R&D's daring venture into mid-engine Corvettes. The Tempest transaxle's torque converter was boldly attached to the front of the crankshaft. Despite weighing 200 pounds less than a stock 427 Corvette, the car grappled with challenges arising from the transaxle's weakness.

Responding to Ford's exploration of mid-engine street cars, Chevrolet's designers swiftly embarked on crafting their version – the Astro II. Unveiled just 11 months later, it fueled widespread speculation about whether this would usher in the next evolution of the iconic Vette.

The Chevrolet Astro II XP-880 propelled by a robust 427 engine coupled with coupled with a Tempest two-speed transaxle, made it a closer resemblance to a Can-Am racer than a conventional street car. (Picture from: CorvSport)

The utilization of off-the-shelf components facilitated a swift and cost-effective production of the Astro II. However, a lack of serious commitment from Chevrolet led to the adoption of an out-of-production 1963 Pontiac Tempest two-speed transaxle. In contrast, Ford equipped the Mach 2 with a race-proven four-speed manual gearbox, prompting the pivotal question – could a two-speed automatic Corvette be taken seriously if pushed into production? The answer remained uncertain.

Inside the Chevrolet Astro II, adorned with rich black genuine leather, featuring a three-spoke steering wheel and a sleek dashboard arrangement centered around a drive-focused instrument panel. (Picture from: CorvSport)

Despite inherent design weaknesses, the Astro II presented a compelling effort. Its exotic appearance unmistakably declared "Corvette," showcasing a central backbone frame and safety beam-housing thick doors. A strategically placed 20-gallon fuel cell in the center of the frame, coupled with seamlessly integrated engine, suspension, and drivetrain components, added to its allure.

The Chevrolet Astro II has a weight of 3,300 pounds – 300 pounds lighter than a production Corvette – it maintained nearly identical external dimensions. (Picture from: CorvSport)

Propelled by a robust 427 engine, the Astro II bore a closer resemblance to a Can-Am racer than a conventional street car. Equipped with production Camaro and Corvette suspension parts and high-performance street tires, the Astro II impressively achieved 1.0 g of cornering grip during tests. Weighing in at 3,300 pounds – 300 pounds lighter than a production Corvette – it maintained nearly identical external dimensions.

The Chevrolet Astro II legacy resonates in the hearts of enthusiasts, immortalizing an era when the Corvette fearlessly embraced the mid-engine revolution. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

As the Astro II underwent rigorous track testing in the spring of 1968, the visionary Zora Arkus-Duntov and his team concurrently grappled with the transaxle challenge. Their solution materialized in the form of the stunning XP-882, an advancement that tantalizingly neared the prospect of gracing showroom floors.

In essence, the Astro II and its mid-engine counterparts represent a pivotal chapter in the Corvette's storied history. Despite challenges, these innovative creations underscored the relentless pursuit of excellence and the indomitable spirit of automotive engineering. Their legacy resonates in the hearts of enthusiasts, immortalizing an era when the Corvette fearlessly embraced the mid-engine revolution.

While in the realm of audacious design, a continuation of the Astro moniker emerged a year later with the Chevrolet Astro III in 1969, showcased an even more extreme design and was powered by a Model 250-C18 gas turbine engine. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORTREND | CORVETTE.NL | CORVSPORT ]

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