Corvette Plastic Progress Enters Third Decade

740979

02/01/1974

Event
International Automobile Engineering and Manufacturing Meeting
Authors Abstract
Content
This paper traces the more than 20-year history of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) as the primary body material for the Chevrolet Corvette. Reasons for the original decision to use FRP are reviewed, followed by a discussion of the difficulties encountered in design, manufacturing techniques, and material compounding. These problems, and the solutions to them, include the progression from the original wet-mat material to low-profile systems. Sheet molded compounds (SMC) are discussed as non-low profile and low-profile applications. Unresolved production problems and outlined with a review of industry attention necessary to assure continued FRP application to Corvette body panels.
This paper also discusses the design and application of flexible facias used on both front and rear-end bumper systems and the use of plastic as a bumper energy-managing system.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/740979
Pages
24
Citation
Vogelei, R., "Corvette Plastic Progress Enters Third Decade," SAE Technical Paper 740979, 1974, https://doi.org/10.4271/740979.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Feb 1, 1974
Product Code
740979
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English