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components, combined with GM Design Center stylist Jerry Palmer’s stunning design, allowed the new Corvette to redress the limits of sports car definition. It cut the air more efficiently with a coefficient of drag of .34 and a wind-cheating body that was 23 percent more aerodynamic than the 1982 Corvette. Everything else, from the "zero gloss" dash with digital instruments to the forged aluminum control arms and welded uniframe, was new and leading edge automotive technology.
     The 44 Corvettes built as pilot cars were assigned 1983 serial numbers. Of the 44 cars built, 11 were retained by the Bowling Green plant for assembly process evaluations and other tests. The remaining 33 went to engineering for crash tests and other engineering appraisals. The cars also saw duty at the long lead press preview at Riverside Raceway in december 1982.
     This new Corvette was due to be released in the fall of 1982, however continued high sales of the 1982 model and ramp up problems at the new Bowling Green assembly plant forced the introduction date to be pushed back to march 1983 as 1984 models. For that reason, all but one of the 44 1983 pilot cars were destroyed. Only serial number 23 was retained by the assembly plant as a relic of the past.
     Number 23 would be trotted out several times over the years, once painted up as a savings bond for an in-plant