Welcome to a rare look at the 1965 Chevrolet Mako Shark II, the concept car that defined the future of Corvette. Designed under the bold vision of GM Vice President of Design Bill Mitchell, this gallery features original factory and General Motors promotional photographs, some showcasing Mitchell himself alongside his masterpiece. As the spiritual successor to the original Mako Shark, this sleek, aggressive prototype was not just a show car; its futuristic lines and functional aerodynamic elements were the direct inspiration for the iconic third-generation Corvette (C3), forever cementing the Mako Shark II as one of the most significant and influential designs in automotive history.

Based on a brief by Bill Mitchell, the fabulous 1965 Mako Shark II (code named XP-830) show car was designed by Larry Shinoda. A sensation from its first showings at both the New York and Paris auto shows, the Mako Shark II had myriad features later to be seen on production cars around the world and continues to be a high water mark for bold, futuristic automotive design. Take a look back at the Mako Shark II via our gallery of amazing, original images.

Read the article on the background of the incredible Mako Shark II.