Zora Arkus-Duntov: The Legend Behind Corvette tells the story of how a gifted engineer brought up by Russian Revolutionary parents became the guiding force behind the legendary American sports car, and in the process attained the elite status of American legend himself.
Zora's engineering gifts were remarkable, although not always fully appreciated at GM. Though he never stopped rebelling against the culture at GM, Zora remained tirelessly focused for over twenty years on improving the Corvette and making it a legitimate sports car capable of winning races. Burton's book brings us inside the walls of GM and inside the mind of this automotive engineering genius to understand the motivations behind this classic David and Goliath struggle.
Author Jerry Burton, editorial director of Corvette Quarterly, has written the first comprehensive biography of Zora-Arkus Duntov, and illustrated it with hundreds of unpublished photos, blueprints, and archival documents-the majority taken from the Duntovs' personal collection. Burton's research is exhaustive, based on scores of interviews with Zora's friends and colleagues, as well as his widow. In the words of Elfi Duntov, "this book brings back in vivid detail the incredible life that Zora and I lived together."
Anyone who has ever had an interest in Corvettes, automotive engineering, Duntov, or the pursuit of the American dream will find Zora Arkus-Duntov: The Legend Behind Corvette an enlightening and riveting read.
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter 1 : Turbulent Times in St. Petersburg
Chapter 2 : A World Beyond Russia
Chapter 3 : The Manager and the Racer
Chapter 4 : Zora's World at War
Chapter 5 : America and Ardun
Chapter 6 : Shifting into High Performance
Chapter 7 : Sojourn in England
Chapter 8 : Courting the Automakers
Chapter 9 : Zora and the General
Chapter 10 : Getting Down to Business
Chapter 11 : Driving the Works Porsches
Chapter 12 : Driving His Reputation Forward
Chapter 13 : The Transformation Continues
Chapter 14 : Growing Roots
Chapter 15 : The Mid-Engined Advocate
Chapter 16 : Struggle Over the Sting Ray
Chapter 17 : Taking It to the Track
Chapter 18 : The Corporate Robin Hood
Chapter 19 : Sharks in the Water
Chapter 20 : The Back Door Man
Chapter 21 : One Last Stand
Chapter 22 : Bowing Out
Chapter 23 : Life After GM
Chapter 24 : Never Say Die
Epilogue
Notes
Index
Art Credits
About The Author
