Zora Arkus-Duntov masterminded several experimental cars, including the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (CERV) which has often been added to Corvette line. It was an open-wheel racer that was used as a research tool. It appeared at public events and helped Arkus-Duntov test some of his engineering theories.

In the late fifties, Ed Cole convinced GM to manufacture an all-aluminum engine and one of the very few that were correctly cast was tested in CERV I. This was cast in the exact same mold as the cast iron 283 and did not use any steel liners. The entire unit weighed only 350 lbs and could produce 300 bhp with moderate tuning. A modifed version of GM’s fuel injection was used which was normally hidden by the engine cover.¹

Press Release

The “CERV-1” (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) was developed as a research tool for that company’s continuous investigations into automotive ride and handling phenomena under the most realistic conditions.

The car was built at the Chevrolet Engineering Center at Warren, Michigan in a special project headed by Mr. Zora Arkus-Duntov, Chevrolet Staff Engineer and noted designer and driver.

Primarily, it is the function of the “CERV-1”, to provide Chevrolet engineers with a test platform from which direct visual studies may be made into all types of ride and handling behavior under amplified conditions. Thus, the stated function of the “CERV-1” largely determines it’s concept and final configuration. In order to realistically amplify vehicle responses to handling and road stimuli, the performance capability of the vehicle must be extended far beyond that of regular passenger cars. In other words, a high power-to-weight ratio is mandatory. By such means, suspension phenomena that are extremely subtle, and thus difficult to isolate within the performance capabilities of a regular passenger car, may be studied and treated quantitatively with the “CERV-1”.

Another fundamental factor in the experimental car’s design is the visibility afforded by the body design. The streamlined, abbreviated body encloses the engine, transaxle, engine cooling system, and provides an open cockpit for the driver, from which all four wheels, in contact with the ground, are clearly visible.

Some broad features of the “CERV-1” are: extremely light weight to afford a horsepower-to-weight ratio such as that usually associated with high performance aircraft; rear mounted engine in unit with a fully synchronized 4-speed transaxle; the only passenger, the driver, sits well forward on the centerline of the car for virtually optimum visibility, and all 4-wheels are independently suspended to provide a high order of stability and positive handling.

The wheelbase is 96 inches (2,438 mm) and the car weighs approximately 1600 pounds (726 kg), ready to run. The chassis is an extremely stiff frame of chrome-molybdenum steel tubes welded into a truss-like structure weighing approximately 125 pounds (57 kg).

The light weight body (approximately 80 pounds (36 kg)) is aerodynamically styled and fully encloses the underside of the car. The body is fabricated of a glass fiber reinforced plastic somewhat thinner than that used in the Corvette body. The wheels are completely exposed to permit visual observation of tire-to-road contact during handling studies.

Power for the “CERV-1″ is supplied by an especially developed, lightweight version of the Chevrolet 283 cubic inch. V-8 that develops 350 hp (261 kW) and weighs only 350 pounds (159 kg). Such specific output, only one pound per horsepower, is rarely achieved in reciprocating engines, even in the most highly developed aircraft types. The dramatic reduction of weight was gained by using aluminum for the cylinder block, cylinder heads, water pump, starter motor body, flywheel, and clutch pressure plate. In the cylinder block, no bore liners are used and the pistons run directly on specially treated aluminum bores. Magnesium is used for the clutch housing, fuel injection manifold, and manifold adapter plate. Weight savings achieved through the use of lighter metals in the engine and clutch is in excess of 175 pounds (79 kg).

A number of special design features help the engine to develop 350 hp (261 kW). A special fuel injection unit has ram tubes of larger cross section and 2510 longer than those of the regular production de-sign. Individual exhaust pipes of a tuned length empty into large collector pipes and no mufflers are used. No cooling fan is required or used, and the water pump speed is reduced 30% by the use of a smaller crankshaft pulley. A small, 5 ampere generator is used in conjunction with a lightweight aircraft type battery

In addition to the aluminum water pump mentioned previously, the engine cooling system consists of an aluminum radiator mounted forward of the driver, and two oil cooler radiators mounted one on each side of the main radiator.

Power from the engine is transmitted in a conventional manner through the lightweight flywheel, clutch, and Corvette type 4-speed transmission. Attaching directly to the rear end of the transmission case is the differential and final drive gear mechanism. A feature of the final drive gears is the ability to quickly change ratios so that vehicle performance can be as quickly tailored to a new environment. Power transmission to the wheels is completed through individual axle shafts with universal joints on each end, or a total of four in-all.

The interesting rear suspension permits independent action of each wheel. Vertical movements of the wheels are controlled by two links, in which the upper link doubles as the axle shaft; and a rod, rubber bushed on each end as the lower. A third link runs from each rear wheel hub forward to the frame to transmit driving and braking thrust. Variable rate coil springs unitized with direct, double-acting shock absorbers are diagonally mounted at each rear wheel. Adjustment provisions in the rear suspension linkage permit variations in camber and toe-in to facilitate engineering studies. Front suspension is independent with high roll center geometry, and also utilizes unitized variable rate coil springs and shock absorbers as in the rear suspension. An 11/16” stabilizer bar interconnects the front wheels.

So that weight distribution during tests shall vary little if any, two fuel cells of rubber construction and total capacity of 20 gallons, are located on either side of the “CERV-1” at approximately the fore and aft location of the center of gravity. Thus, the amount of fuel in the tanks at any given moment will have virtually no effect on weight distribution.

Brakes on the “CERV-1″ are similar to the HD type available on the Chevrolet Corvette. Sintered iron linings are used with fin cooled drums, and the brake drum webs are lightened by drilled holes which also permit the flow of cooling air. The brake drums are cast aluminum with cast-in iron braking surfaces. The rear brakes are inboard mounted next to the differential so that braking torque is transmitted directly to the frame without influencing any of the rear wheel articulating members.

Braking effort distribution is 57% front and 43% rear to take advantage of the superior braking characteristics of the weight distribution afforded by the rear engine type vehicle.

The brakes may be actuated by either one of two pedals so that the driver may use either foot depending on the particular driving situation. An unusual brake master cylinder utilizes two pistons operating in series so that it either the front or rear brakes fail the remaining brakes can be actuated.

The steering system features a high-efficiency re-circulating ball type steering gear of 12:1 ratio. Steering linkage is forward mounted and is of a balanced relay link type. The overall steering ratio is a very fast 13. 5:1 and only 2-1 /4 turns of the steering wheel are required from lock-to-lock.

Wheels are of cast magnesium alloy with knock-off hubs to facilitate quick changing. Wheels of 15″, 16″, 17″ and 18″ diameters with rim width of 5-1/2″, 6″, and 8” are used.

Sources & Further Reading

1. Van Valkenburg, Paul. Chevrolet-Racing. SAE: 2000.
Story by Chevrolet Engineering Department