The Corvette, top photo, as it looked when introduced in 1953 as a relatively mild six-cylinder runabout. The 1969 model, bottom photo, was the third major design change for Corvette. Chevrolet introduced the latest generation of an American automotive icon, the Corvette, at the North American International Auto Show Monday Jan. 6, 1997 in Detroit. (AP Photo, files) ( AUTO SHOW CORVETTE )