Corvette Stingray Coupe

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Coupe

At long last, the new eighth-generation 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is here, revealed for all the world to see in all its mid-engined glory. But it didn't happen overnight. Along the way, GM built what you can bet is no small number of development prototypes. And one of them has found its way to its rightful home.

The automaker has donated (or at least loaned) a C8 powertrain-development prototype to the National Corvette Museum, situated in the American supercar's home town of Bowling Green, Kentucky. And there it will be displayed as the first new C8 outside of GM's own traveling roadshow.

The test mule was used to fine-tune the new 'Vettes 6.2-liter LT2 V8 at the Milford Proving Ground in Michigan. It was built last year and fitted with all manner of test equipment for the assuredly exhaustive shakedown process, including a special exhaust system that allowed the engineers to run the requisite tests.

As you can plainly see, the prototype was fitted with mismatched body panels, including front and rear sections and rocket panels in white, the rest of the bodywork in flat black, and blacked-out alloys – exposed once the vinyl camouflage wrap was removed following the finished product's reveal.

The C8 prototype will be displayed in the museum's Skydome structure, but it's not the only artifact from the vehicle's gestation that GM has gifted to the NCM. A 40%-size clay model from the Corvette's design and aerodynamic-development process (not pictured) is also being displayed in the newly renovated Gateway section of the museum.

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the National Corvette Museum was recently named the "best museum in Kentucky" by Kentucky Living magazine. Alongside the C8 powertrain prototype, the museum features over 80 Corvettes of various vintages, and should be on the bucket list of any fan of all-American sports cars.