Mr. Zora Arkus-Duntov, an automotive engineering genius and legend, was nicknamed “Mr. Corvette”. On December 25, 1909, Mr. Zora Arkus-Duntov was born in Belgium by his beloved Russian parents. By 1934, he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the Institute of Charolttenburn, Berlin. By 1941, he decided to make a move to the United States of America.
By 1953, he began his career with General Motors as the Corvette Chief Engineer after he saw the XP-122 running Corvette prototype at the GM show in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. At that time, Mr. Arkus-Duntov sent a handwritten letter and appraisal of the car to Mr. Edward Cole, former Chief Engineer of Chevrolet. Mr. Cole was so impressed by Mr. Arkus-Duntov that he asked him to join the Chevrolet team as a research and development engineer under Mr. Maurice Olley, former research chief. From there, a wonderful relationship developed between Mr. Arkus-Duntov and many early famous Corvette models.
In 1955, Mr. Arkus-Duntov introduced the small block V8 engine to the Corvette. During 1956, he was named to a special design and development engineering group, where he perfected Chevrolet's now-famous Rochester fuel injection system. In 1957, Mr. Arkus-Duntov was in charge of organizing a factory race team for the 1957 Sebring race. One of the two Corvette SS models built was utilized as a test and development car which was nicknamed “the mule”. The model was later transformed into a race car known as the "Sting Ray". The Corvette SS and the Sting Ray models had a very positive influence on the design of Corvette vehicles throughout the 1960's.
During the 1950's, within the research and design studio at General Motors Technical Center, a new Corvette design called the “Q” was taking shape under the direction of Mr. Bob McLean. The chassis and engineering layout was developed by Mr. Arkus-Duntov. The Q design offered dramatic transformation unlike any other Corvette designs, however, in 1958, the automotive industry was headed toward difficult times and the program was cancelled.
In 1959, a new design project was taking shape to design a new Corvette based on the popular Sting Ray Racer which was one of Mr. Bill Mitchel’s, Vice President of Design, all-time favorite model. This concept design was assigned the code name XP-720. Today, we remember this model as having the 1963 split window Corvette, which became a very popular icon for the auto industry.
In the late 1960s, Mr. Arkus-Duntov was involved with another famous project, the Cerv I and Cerv II models. The Cerv I and II models were mid-engine sports car designs that offered full international design packages that could compete with the powerful Ford GT40. However, due to GM management feeling that the project was destined to fall short of its objectives and alternate proposal within GM management, the Cerv II program was canceled by Mr. Bunkie Kundsen. In 1968, Mr. Arkus-Duntov took over responsibility and development for the Corvette engine and chassis, which he was soon named Chief Engineer.
In 1975, Duntov retired as chief engineer and turned the position over to Dave McLellan. In the beginning, Mr. Arkus-Duntov talked his way into the Corvette team and soon helped shape the Corvette design and engineering team into a high-performance legend by 1956 and becoming the car's first chief engineer. Mr. Arkus-Duntov innovations to the Corvette that were adopted by the rest of the auto industry, such as the famous fuel-injection in 1957 and four -wheel disc brakes in 1965.
In 1995, Mr. Arkus-Duntov celebrated his 85th birthday at the National Corvette Museum, home of the production of Corvette models, located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On April 21, 1996 Mr. Arkus-Duntov passed away. The late Mr. Carrol Shelby stated, “Even though we were fierce competitors, I was very fortunate to be close to Mr. Arkus-Duntov. If you have to pick five people who have left their mark on the performance industry, Mr. Arkus-Duntov would be right at the top of the list.”
A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs courtesy of The National Automotive History Collection. (Bibliography: Ludvigsen Karl. Corvette America's Star-Spangled Sports Car The complete History. Automobile Quarterly Publications.1973)
Please do not republish the story and/or photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.