"The GM Styling Sensation! Mark IV 427"

The XP-755 Mako Shark concept car was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of General Motors Styling and Design head Bill Mitchell in 1961, as a concept for future Chevrolet Corvette production cars. In keeping with the name, the streamlining, pointed snout, and other detailing was partly inspired by the sleek, fast-moving short fin Mako Shark. The '61 Corvette tail was given two additional tail lights (six total) for the concept car. The concept car inspired the 1963 Corvette Sting-Ray. After a period, Shinoda removed the original body and redesigned Mako I as the Mako Shark II in 1965. This concept car influenced the redesigned C3 Corvette of 1968. The Mako Shark II debuted in 1965 as a show car. Chevrolet actually created two of them - only one of which was fully functional. The non-running show car sported some interesting, futuristic details, such as square section side pipes and a squared-off steering wheel. While the functioning version didn't have these features, it did have a retractable rear spoiler, and a square section bumper that could be extended for added protection. The Mako Shark II was powered by a 427 Mark IV engine, which became available on production Corvette models. The paint scheme continued the Shark I tradition, with blue/gray on top and silver/white along the rocker panels. The original Mako Shark was then retroactively called the "Mako Shark I". In 1969 Mako II went back to GM studios and was turned into the Manta Ray. As you rotate through the pictures, be sure to see the side by side pics of real Mako I and II together.