While the Corvette dashboard has remained the same in functionality over the years, the design and layout have gone through some changes. The center console is not a part of the dash but has housed different dash elements throughout the generations. Here is an overview of the evolution of the Corvette Dashboard.
From 1953 to 1957, the Corvette dashboard was a single unit that spanned the width of the cockpit. The speedometer held the space directly behind the steering wheel, while the rest of the airplane-style gauges were lined up horizontally along the dash. However, in 1958, the layout was rethought, and the gauges were clustered behind the steering wheel. All models came with a recirculating heater and an AM signal-seeking radio. By 1962, the heater option became a standard part that could be deleted with RPO 610 for exports or racing.
With an eye towards practicality, the instrument panel layout was organized into a centralized panel that included the speedometer and tachometer, temperature, oil and fuel gauges, and an ammeter. AM/FM radios were a new option, and by 1964, the AM-only signal-seeking radio was no longer offered. The heater continued as standard gear, and air conditioning was now provided as an option. The 1967 model was the first to see the speed warning indicator as an option.
The look of the dash changed with a deep-recessed housing for the speedometer and tachometer, and the relocation of the gauges to a more centered position in the dash. The ammeter was replaced with a voltmeter, and metric measurements were added to the speedometer. 1968 also saw the introduction of the AM/FM Stereo radio option in addition to the AM/FM radio option. 1968 was also the last year the ignition switch would be on the instrument panel until the 1997 model.
1984 brought big changes to the design of the Corvette. The dashboard was one of the main areas to receive an overhaul. Some of the improvements were digital gauges, featuring a driver information center and Heads-Up Display. In 1990, driver’s side airbags were included, and in 1994, the passenger side airbag was added. The radio saw a new option with the Delco-Bose stereo system and the Citizens’ Band (CB) options. A cassette player was also an option. By 1988, the AM/FM stereo was included in the base model, with the upgrade to Delco-Bose as an option, and in 1990, the CD option was available.
The 1997 Corvettes saw the return to analog gauges, keeping only one small digital display for information readout corresponding with a set of buttons to the right of the gauge cluster. Corvette also included its HUD that projects vital information to the windshield, helping to keep the driver’s eyes on the road. A cassette and a 12-disc CD changer became an option in the 2001 Corvette as the base model AM/FM stereo radio switched to a CD player.
The C6 generation had a few subtle design changes to the dashboard but remained largely the same as the C5. The ignition switch changed from a key switch to an electrical on/off button, and an optional center console navigation system was offered. OnStar, satellite radio, and the ability to play MP3s also became new options.
To usher in the seventh generation of Corvette, three unique information displays have been integrated into the design: the HUD, a center media and navigation hub, and, behind the steering wheel, the screen that displays all of the instrument data. The audio system can handle inputs from Sirius to MP3s and Bluetooth applications.
The mid-engine C8 Corvette boasted a similar dashboard to the C7 but with a larger high-definition display screen to monitor data and to select from five different driving modes: weather, eco, tour, sport, and track. Each setting is customizable to the driver and automatically adapts based on the driver’s preferences.
With the advances in technology and styling, who knows what the new Corvette dashboards will look like in the coming years?