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1968 Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880)

Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968 - Rendering
Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880), 1968 - Rendering
Images: Vintage Web, www.corvettefever.com; General Motors Archive
Rating:  43    -7    +50
Astro II XP-880 Mid Engine
The Astro II, revealed at the 1968 New York Auto Show was less extreme in its styling than Astro I. Astro II was designed primarily to showcase its rear-mounted powertrain application. Unlike the Astro I, Astro II had doors to access the passenger compartment. The rear compartment hatch still lifted up - this time, to provide access to the engine compartment. The front compartment was designed as a storage area.


The 1968 Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880) was introduced at the 1968 New York Auto Show as a practical, personal sports car designed to carry two passengers and their luggage comfortably and rapidly. A hint of Astro I styling flavor is seen in the frontal appearance of this running experimental car, but unlike the Astro I, Astro II had doors to access the passenger compartment. The contours had been altered slightly to accommodate wide section tires, which promoted stability and handling and reflected the change in dimensions, which resulted from the adoption of a mid-wheel base location for the engine.

The air-cooled, single overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine used in the Astro I was replaced with a liquid-cooled 390 horsepower MK IV big block V8 engine, with power passing through a two speed torque converter from a Pontiac Tempest transaxle. Unlike many European mid-engine vehicles, the Astro II carried its radiator at the rear; a location intended to minimize the amount of plumbing required and to keep the hot water lines from passing through the passenger compartment. This arrangement freed the front compartment for the storage of luggage. The sponson area on either side of the car behind the passenger compartment was available for extra storage on the left and a collapsible spare tire on the right. The rear section of the Astro II raised immediately aft of the passenger compartment to allow access to the sponson storage areas and to the engine and suspension. The Astro II has a wheelbase of 100 inches, overall length of 181 inches, and a height of a mere 43.7 inches. Overall width is 74 inches.

Inside, driver and passenger were snug, surrounded by well-padded surfaces, which provided a maximum of lateral support, advantageous because of the high maneuverability of this vehicle. The instrumentation was normal with 270 degrees sweep speedometer and an 8,000-RPM tachometer. The conventional complement of gauges included water temperature, air pressure, ammeter, and gasoline gauge. A sliding transmission selector replaces the usual lever.

Lead engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and GM styling chief Bill Mitchell were hoping Astro II would be the concept for the next generation Corvette, but the GM management figured the public was not ready for a mid-engine car.

The Astro II is currently part of the GM Heritage Center Collection.


В 1968 году на Нью-Йоркском автосалоне был представлен концепткар «Chevrolet Corvette Astro II». Он позиционировался как практичный спортивный автомобиль, предназначенный для быстрой и удобной перевозки двух пассажиров и их багажа.

Автомобиль был оснащен двигателем V8, мощностью 390 л. с., который был расположен в середине колесной базы. Радиатор системы охлаждения расположили сзади, что позволило организовать в передней части машины вместительный багажник.

Создатели концепткара (ведущий инженер GM Zora Arkus-Duntov и шеф-дизайнер Bill Mitchell) надеялись, что «Astro II» станет прототипом для следующего поколения «Corvette», но менеджмент GM счел, что общественность не готова принять автомобиль такой компоновки и дальше опытных экземпляров дело не пошло.
Source: www.gmphotostore.com; Bill Bowman, wiki.gmnext.com; catrem.narod.ru
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