| A-Arm | A lateral suspension link resembling the letter A. |
| ABS | Anti-lock Braking System. Sensors monitored wheel rotation and prevented wheel lockup during braking by modulating hydraulic pressure. Corvette's ABS was standard equipment starting with 1986 models. |
| Airbag | An inflatable bag deployed in front or side impact intended to cushion and restrain a vehicle's occupants. First installation of an airbag in Corvette came in 1990. |
| Analog | In instruments, the classic design which typically used a pointer moving along an arc to display information. Corvette's main instruments were analog through 1982, partially analog from 1990 through 1996, then full analog again starting in 1997. |
| Anniversary Edition | Special paint and/or trim to mark the anniversary model years of 1978 (25th), 1988 (35th), 1993 (40th), and 2003 (50th). |
| A-Pillar | The post section between the windshield and door glass. Active |
| Aspect Ratio | The ratio of a tire's cross-sectional height to its width. |
| ASR | Acceleration Slip Regulation. Engine spark retard, throttle close down, and brake intervention limited wheel spin during acceleration. ASR, sometimes called traction control, was standard equipment for Corvettes starting with 1992 models. |
| Backlite | An automobile's rear window. |
| Benchmark | Bloomington award for gold certified and survivor combo. |
| Big Block | Large displacement V8 engines of either 396, 427 or 454 cubic inches, optional in Corvettes from 1965 through 1974. |
| Big Tank | Optional thirty-six gallon fuel tank for 1963 through 1967, or twenty-four gallon fuel tank for 1959 through 1962 Corvettes. |
| Billy Bob | Chevy engineers' unofficial code name for the 1999 hardtop model, which was initially planned to be a low-content, price leader. |
| Black Hills | Popular Corvette street show in Spearfish, South Dakota. |
| Bloomington | A major annual Corvette show, known for its certification judging system. Held in Bloomington, Illinois from 1973 through 1992; in Springfield, Illinois from 1993 through 1996; back to Bloomington, Illinois from 1997-2001, then to Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, Illinois in 2002. |
| Blue Flame | Six cylinder engine for 1953, 1954 and a few 1955 models. |
| Blueprint | Precise finishing of an engine's components, often by hand, to optimal size within factory specifications. |
| Body Off | Extensive restoration in which a Corvette body is completely removed from its frame. |
| Bolt On | Optional 1967 cast aluminum road wheel. |
| Bose | Integrated radio and speaker system introduced optionally in 1984. |
| Bowling Green | Location of the Corvette assembly plant since 1981. |
| B-Pillar | In Corvettes, the area between the door glass and rear window. |
| Broadcast Code | Designation for the two or three character alpha code stamped, etched or otherwise affixed to components which identifies usage. Enthusiasts call the engine broadcast code the Suffix. |
| Bucket | Headlight container for 1953, 1954 and 1955 models, 1963 to present models, or the bucket seat for any model year. |
| Bullet | Individual air inlet for 1953 and early 1954 Corvettes. |
| Buzzer | Tachometer rpm limit warning device used briefly in 1963; or, the similar speedometer warning device optional in 1967-1969. |
| C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6 | Abbreviations for Corvette ³generations² which came into popular use in the 1990s. C1=1953-1962, C2=1963-1967, C3=1968-1982, C4=1984-1996, C5=1997-2004, C6=2005+. |
| CAFE | Corporate Average Fuel Economy. |
| Callaway Twin Turbo | Engine conversion by Callaway Engineering, Old Lyme, Connecticut. Available from select Chevy dealers from 1987-1991. |
| Carlisle | Site of several auto events including a major annual Corvette show at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania fairgrounds in late August. |
| Casting Number | Usually refers to the GM part number cast into engine blocks, but can refer to cast numbers on other components. |
| Challenge Cars | Corvettes factory-built for the all-Corvette race series sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 1988 and 1989. |
| China Wall | The surface between the intake manifold and cylinder block. |
| CHMSL | Center high-mounted stop lamp. |
| Classic | 1953 through 1962 model Corvettes. |
| Coefficient of Drag | A calculation of airflow over a vehicle's surface, usually measured in a wind tunnel. |
| Collector Edition | Specially equipped and trimmed 1982 or 1996 models. |
| Commemorative Edition | Special LeMans Blue paint and trim 2004 models to commemorate Corvette's LeMans racing success. |
| Convertible | Soft top Corvettes built between 1953-1975, and starting again in 1986. Some enthusiasts prefer the term roadster for 1953-1955 models. |
| COPO | Central Office Production Order. |
| Corvette Black Book | Pocket "bible" of Corvette facts. |
| Coupe | 1963-1967 fixed-top Corvettes; also T-top 1968-1982 models, and removable-roof panel (targa) 1984 and newer models. |
| Cove | Concave section of front fender and door area introduced with 1956 models which could be painted a contrasting color (optional). Part of the area became convex in 1958. A contrasting color option was not available in 1962, the cove's last year. |
| Cowl | The surface of a car between the windshield and hood, bounded on the sides by the fenders. |
| Curb Weight | The road-going weight of a vehicle including fluids, but excluding occupants or cargo. |
| Cypress | Major January Corvette show in Cypress Gardens, Florida; moved to Disney World in 1999. |
| Digital | In instruments, the presentation of data in numeric form. Corvette's main instruments were digital from 1984-1989, partially digital from 1990-1996. |
| Doghouse | Fuel injection plenum chamber, 1957-1965 models. |
| DOHC | Dual overhead camshafts. |
| DOT | Department of Transportation. |
| Drive-by-Wire | A system of electronic accelerator activation to replace mechanical linkage. Corvette adapted drive-by-wire starting in 1997. |
| DRL | Daytime Running Lights. |
| Drum Brake | All Corvettes built before 1965 have them, but the term sometimes refers to the few 1965 models built without disc brakes. E |
| Duntov | Zora Arkus-Duntov, legendary chief engineer, called "father" of the Corvette; also, National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) award combining static judging with mechanical excellence. |
| EMT | Extended Mobility Tire (run flat). |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency. |
| Fiberglass | A material combining thermoset plastic with glass fibers. |
| Flint | Michigan site of first Corvette assembly facility. Also, site of GM engine plant which built most Corvette small block engines through 1996. |
| FOA | Factory optional accessory. |
| Four+Three | Doug Nash four-speed manual transmission with three overdrives available in Corvettes from 1984 through 1988. |
| Fuelie | 1957 through 1965 fuel-injected Corvette. |
| Glider | Corvette assembled at St. Louis with no engine or transmission. |
| Gold Certified | Top Bloomington award for factory originality. |
| Gold Line | Optional gold stripe tire for 1965-1966 models. |
| Gold Spinner | Top award at Vettefest show in Chicago, Illinois. |
| Grand Sport | Five 1963 factory-built racers; also 1996 option package. |
| Gymkhana | Optional 1974 through 1982 suspension package. |
| Handling | A suspension system with actuators at each wheel controlled by an electronic control unit. Corvette's active suspension was optional from 1998-2000, then standard starting in 2001. |
| Hardtop | Removable auxiliary hardtop available for 1956-1975 and 1989-1996 convertibles; also new fixed-roof model introduced in 1999. |
| Head-up Display | Projection of instrument readout onto a vehicle's windshield in the direct vision path of the driver. Corvette first offered this feature in its 1999 model. |
| HVAC | Heating-ventilation-air conditioning system. |
| King of the Hill | Media terminology for the 1990 Corvette ZR-1. |
| Knock Off | Cast aluminum wheel optional for 1963 through 1966 models. Evidence suggests 1963 was over-the-counter only. |
| Knoxville | Annual Corvette show in Knoxville, Tennessee. |
| Lateral Support | In seating, the restraint of side to side movement. |
| lephant Ears | Rubberized canvas front brake air scoops for some 1957 through 1964 Corvettes with heavy-duty racing brakes. |
| LPO | Limited Production Option. |
| LT1 | High performance engine option for 1970, 1971 and 1972. Also, redesigned base engine from 1992 through 1996. |
| Lumbar Support | In seating, support for the torso's lower lumbar region. |
| Magnesium | Weighing about a third less than aluminum, this metal is used where low weight is required. A magnesium road wheel was optional for Corvettes starting in 1997. |
| Mako Shark | A Corvette showcar. |
| Matching Numbers | Vin-derivative stamped into engine matches VIN; also can refer to any stamped or cast codes indicating original parts. |
| Mid Year | 1963 through 1967 Corvette. |
| Mouse Motor | Slang term for ³small block² Chevy engines. |
| Multiport | Technically accurate description for the fuel injection of 1985 and newer models, but especially for 1992 and newer. |
| NACA Duct | A design for a low restriction air inlet developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, it is often seen on race cars, but was also used on the hoods of 1987 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes and on some one-off Corvette showcars. |
| NCCC | National Council of Corvette Clubs. |
| NCM | National Corvette Museum, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. |
| NCRS | National Corvette Restorers Society. |
| NHTSA | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. |
| NOS | New old stock (brand new old parts). |
| OEM | Original Equipment Manufacturer. |
| Over The Counter | Parts sold at Chevrolet dealers' parts departments. |
| Pace Car | Limited edition replicas of Indianapolis 500 pace cars offered in 1978, 1986 (all convertibles), 1995 and 1998. Corvette also paced the race in 2002 with a 2003 50th anniversary model. |
| Pilot | Pre-production vehicle built on factory assembly line. |
| Plexiglas | Trade name for a transparent plastic material often used to replace glass in automotive applications. |
| Prefix | Alpha stamping into engine identifying engine build plant. |
| Rat Motor | Slang term for ³big block² Chevy engines. |
| Red Line | Optional 1967 through 1969 red stripe tire. |
| Registry | The organization of owners of a specific year, model or series of Corvettes for the purpose of registering and sharing information about their vehicles. |
| Replacement | Part furnished by Chevrolet which fits and functions, but doesn't necessarily duplicate the original. |
| Roadster | Enthusiast (not Chevrolet) term for 1953 through 1955 Corvette. |
| Rock Crusher | Heavy-duty, close ratio 4-speed manual transmission (RPO M22) available between 1966 and 1971. |
| Romulus | Engine plant source for 1997-1999, and most 2000 models. |
| RPO | Regular Production Option. |
| SAE | Society of Automotive Engineers. |
| Selective Ride | Adjustable shock absorber system first available in 1989. |
| Serpentine | A flat, grooved belt that drives several components. A single serpentine belt typically replaces several individual belts. |
| Shark | A Corvette showcar; also Corvette production models from 1968 through 1982. |
| Side Curtain | A detachable window consisting of clear plastic. In Corvette's case, 1953-1955 models had this type of side window. Conventional roll-up glass windows arrived with the 1956 model. |
| Side Pipes | Optional 1965 through 1967, and 1969 side-mount exhausts. Silver Anniversary |
| SIR | Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (airbag) introduced in 1990. |
| Small Block | V-8 engines of 265, 283, 305 (1980 California only), 327 and 350 cubic-inch displacement. |
| Solid Axle | 1953 through 1962 Corvette. |
| Split Window | 1963 Corvette coupe. |
| Two-tone silver | 1978 paint option |
| St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada | Engine plant source for some 2000 model Corvettes, and all 2001 and newer models. |
| St. Louis | Site of Corvette assembly factory from 1954 through 1981. |
| Sticker | Price posted on government-required window sticker; retail. |
| Sting Ray | 1963 through 1967 Corvette. |
| Stingray | 1969 through 1976 Corvette. |
| Suffix | Two or three character alpha code stamped or etched into an engine block which identifies usage. Also called the Broadcast Code. |
| Survivor | Bloomington award for unrestored, mostly original Corvette. |
| Sway Bar | A transverse bar linking suspension components. May be solid or tubular. Also called an anti-roll bar, or anti-sway bar. |
| Synthetic Oil | A lubricant which is chemically engineered to have superior properties to oil refined directly from natural crude. Mobil 1 brand synthetic oil has been standard factory-fill for Corvettes since 1992. |
| Targa | A roof design for coupes which has a single removable panel. Corvette coupes have been targa designs since the 1984 model. |
| Teak | Teakwood steering wheel optional in 1965 and 1966. |
| Tonawanda | GM engine plant near Buffalo, New York. |
| Top Flight | NCRS judging award for factory originality. |
| T-top | A coupe design pioneered by Corvette with two removable roof panels and a fixed center structural member. It was used for 1968 through 1982 coupe models. |
| Tumblehome | Viewed from front or rear, the inward curvature of a vehicle's side from the beltline upward. |
| Tuned Port | 1985 through 1991 fuel injection with "tuned" runners. |
| Vettefest | Major annual Corvette show in Chicago, Illinois. |
| VIN | Vehicle Identification Number. |
| Wheelbase | The distance between wheel centers when view from the side. |
| Yaw | To turn by angular motion about the vertical axis. |
| Z06 | High-performance option for 1963 models; also high-performance (hardtop) model introduced in 2001. |
| Zero Offset Steering | Steering system geometry with zero scrub radius. Corvette adopted zero offset steering with its 1988 model. |
| ZR-1 | Optional 1990-1995 Corvette model with 32-valve, overhead cam engine; also, 1970 through 1972 engine option (ZR1). |
