The 1954 Corvette EX-87 prototype was built and became Zora Arkus-Duntov’s V8 engineering mule.
Although the Chevrolet Corvette is widely regarded as America’s first sport car, it has not always been able to match its beauty. The streamlined ‘Vette’ was powered by a 3.9-liter inline six, which didn’t produce enough power to match its bold styling for the first two years. This would change in 1955, when a V8 was made available. However, the first Corvette with such an engine was built the year before.
The Lingenfelter Collection maintains the experimental Corvette, which is codenamed EX-87. Hemmings motor news says that EX-87 was originally a six-cylinder 1954 Corvette. But, at Chevrolet’s request, hot-rodder Smokey Yanick installed the new 265 V8. It was a significant upgrade to the Blue Flame Six’s 150 ponies (1112 kW) and the small-block V8 would be made available for production in 1955 to give the Corvette enough power to compete with European rivals such as the Jaguar XK and Ford’s new V8-powered Thunderbird.
EX-87 was not done. Chevy handed the project to Corvette engineer Zoraarkus-Duntov to try to break speed records. Arkus-Duntov was aware that the Corvette’s 265-cubic inch (4.3-liter) V8 would not be able to push it to 150 mph. So engineers bored the engine to 307ci (5.0liters). Arkus-Duntov also designed a unique camshaft for the Corvette. The legendary engineer gave the Corvette EX-87, which is now known as the “Duntov Mule”, a fiberglass interior, a chopped windscreen and a stability-enhancing vertical fin to the driver.
Yunick was behind the wheel and the Corvette surpassed Arkus-Duntov’s goal of reaching a top speed at GM’s proving grounds of 163 mph. The same engine was used in another Corvette in 1956. It powered it to a top speed at Daytona Beach of 150.583 miles. This was enough to beat the record Chevy wanted and was a significant improvement on the Corvette’s current top speed of 120 mph.
The Lingenfelter Collection showcased the Duntov Mule recently at the 2022 EyesOn Design Show in Grosse Pointe Shores (Michigan), where the YouTube channel DTRockstar1 spotted the car. As the car idles on the lawn, the Zora cam’s snarling, loping sound is evident. It sounds much more aggressive than any Vette before it. EX-87 is a fascinating piece of history. The Duntov Mule Corvette, however, is far more fascinating as a sports car with records and a large enthusiast following.