A Stupid, Stupid Question - But I Want To Know...
#21
Burning Brakes
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Finalist 2022 C1 of the Year - Unmodified
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I have a C-1961
#22
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I think the C1, C2, etc. designations (along with the term, "midyear") mean nothing to the general public. Heck, someone at a cruise in last year, referred to my car as an "early Camaro" <LOL>.
I learned soon after getting my car that if someone walks over to look at my car in a parking lot, chances are they don't know those the "C" or "Midyear" terms. But they always know "1967 Corvette" and sometimes they know what I mean if I say, "the original model Sting Ray".
But I do agree that the "C" designations work pretty well for partitioning out this forum into meaningful sections.
-- Steve
I learned soon after getting my car that if someone walks over to look at my car in a parking lot, chances are they don't know those the "C" or "Midyear" terms. But they always know "1967 Corvette" and sometimes they know what I mean if I say, "the original model Sting Ray".
But I do agree that the "C" designations work pretty well for partitioning out this forum into meaningful sections.
-- Steve
While unloading the trailer (the one I pull behind the 56) at the hotel, a lady walked up and said she really liked my Thunderbird. I said "What Thunderbird"? She said "Isn't this your car"? I said "Yes, but it isn't a Thunderbird". She said "It's not???? What is it". I pointed to the nose emblem and as she was standing there looking at it and reading Corvette in the emblem, I could tell that she was having a REALLY hard time accepting that the emblem said Corvette. It seemed as if she wanted to tell me that the emblem was wrong and that she KNEW it was a Thunderbird!
I have a diecast model of a 56 T-bird---------------------i think I'll start taking it to shows with me------------------------this wasn't the first time for this mistaken identity to occur!
Last edited by DZAUTO; 11-06-2013 at 01:57 PM.
#23
Racer
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St. Jude Donor '14
Ditto...I will be buying a Hot Wheels 63 Thunderbird car to carry in my pocket for the folks who walk up and TELL me that my car is a 63 Tbird instead of a 63 C2 conv. I like that idea, informative without being a you-know-what. Let them decide what our cars are.
#26
Team Owner
I had some dweeb at Ace Hardware tell me about his cousin's long lost split window '64 with the 427ci engine when I stopped there two days ago in the '63. The guy was so excited I didn't have the heart to burst his bubble...
#28
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Since we're up to C-7, I guess that makes my C-4 a "midyear".
"Back then" the early C-3's were sometimes called Sharks but I don't recall ever hearing the older ones being called a Midyear. The term may have had more favor in some areas of the country than in others.
"Back then" the early C-3's were sometimes called Sharks but I don't recall ever hearing the older ones being called a Midyear. The term may have had more favor in some areas of the country than in others.
#29
Tech Contributor
#30
Bud2
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Thanks Men!
So the 'C' stands for chassis. And the 1s had a box style while the 2s had a ladder, anyone know the styles for the 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s. and 7s? I find it hard to believe that they were that much different that they would be designated with a 'C'.
Might it be more accurate to say that it started with the varying chassis and then the marketing crowd got wind of it, liked it and saw the potential and decided to use it to denote major style changes in the body regardless of what the chassis was doing?
Bud.
So the 'C' stands for chassis. And the 1s had a box style while the 2s had a ladder, anyone know the styles for the 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s. and 7s? I find it hard to believe that they were that much different that they would be designated with a 'C'.
Might it be more accurate to say that it started with the varying chassis and then the marketing crowd got wind of it, liked it and saw the potential and decided to use it to denote major style changes in the body regardless of what the chassis was doing?
Bud.
#31
Le Mans Master
OKay then, there it is. C means corvette, chassis, generation, chaise, confused, christmas, and cheerios. Make mine a C2!
#32
Team Owner
The C doesn't stand for chassis. What's the difference in a C2 and C3 chassis? Just go with Corvette.
#33
Bud2
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Well, I'm happy to go with what ever is factual. The 'C' had to originate from somewhere. With the truckloads of documentation that is available about our chosen hobby, I thought this would be somewhat easy to pin down. Guess I was wrong.
Bud.
Bud.
#34
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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#35
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
C is for....well....bigger than B but not as big as D.
I guess at this point the origin is not worth worrying about. Like it or hate it, the "C" designations seem here to stay. Personally I like it, say "C3" for example and a mental image immediately forms.
I guess at this point the origin is not worth worrying about. Like it or hate it, the "C" designations seem here to stay. Personally I like it, say "C3" for example and a mental image immediately forms.
#36
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Not for me, it raises a question mark-----------------because there is a world of difference between a 68 and an 82. I have no clue what is being asked. Oh ya, and there is a total difference in some areas of the frames between 76-earlier and 77-later models, just to mention one particular difference. And frontends/backends are different, roofs are different, rearends are different, etc, etc.
#37
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C1 = Solid Axle
C2 = Midyear
C3 = Shark
C3 subcategory
68-72 - Chrome bumper C3
74-82 - Rubber bumper C3
73 - I have never heard a subcategory name for this year
C4 = Wedge (hear that term occasionally, but it hasn't caught on)
C5
C6
C7
The first time I remember hearing the "C" term, it was C4, in reference to the 84-96 cars. I am thinking this was around 1990-1991 time frame, and I think I heard it from a Corvette engineer.
Up until C4 designation, all I ever heard was solid axle, midyear, and shark.
C2 = Midyear
C3 = Shark
C3 subcategory
68-72 - Chrome bumper C3
74-82 - Rubber bumper C3
73 - I have never heard a subcategory name for this year
C4 = Wedge (hear that term occasionally, but it hasn't caught on)
C5
C6
C7
The first time I remember hearing the "C" term, it was C4, in reference to the 84-96 cars. I am thinking this was around 1990-1991 time frame, and I think I heard it from a Corvette engineer.
Up until C4 designation, all I ever heard was solid axle, midyear, and shark.
#38
Team Owner
C1 = Solid Axle
C2 = Midyear
C3 = Shark
C3 subcategory
68-72 - Chrome bumper C3
74-82 - Rubber bumper C3
73 - I have never heard a subcategory name for this year
C4 = Wedge (hear that term occasionally, but it hasn't caught on)
C5
C6
C7
The first time I remember hearing the "C" term, it was C4, in reference to the 84-96 cars. I am thinking this was around 1990-1991 time frame, and I think I heard it from a Corvette engineer.
Up until C4 designation, all I ever heard was solid axle, midyear, and shark.
C2 = Midyear
C3 = Shark
C3 subcategory
68-72 - Chrome bumper C3
74-82 - Rubber bumper C3
73 - I have never heard a subcategory name for this year
C4 = Wedge (hear that term occasionally, but it hasn't caught on)
C5
C6
C7
The first time I remember hearing the "C" term, it was C4, in reference to the 84-96 cars. I am thinking this was around 1990-1991 time frame, and I think I heard it from a Corvette engineer.
Up until C4 designation, all I ever heard was solid axle, midyear, and shark.
#40
Le Mans Master
C1=Corvette 1st generation (53-62)
C2=Corvette 2nd generation (63-67)
C3, C4, C5, etc
I totally disagree with, and have VERY EMPHATICALLY complained and lobbied against this catagorization of Vettes with ZERO results. I feel that when someone is referring to something about a Vette, then the YEAR MODEL should be used instead of a general catagory such as C1, C2, etc. For example, when someone says they are having an issue with their C1, are they talking about a 53 with a 6cyl or are they talking about a 62 with an FI 327??????????????
But alas, I guess the C-crap is here to stay!!!! What a mistake!
C2=Corvette 2nd generation (63-67)
C3, C4, C5, etc
I totally disagree with, and have VERY EMPHATICALLY complained and lobbied against this catagorization of Vettes with ZERO results. I feel that when someone is referring to something about a Vette, then the YEAR MODEL should be used instead of a general catagory such as C1, C2, etc. For example, when someone says they are having an issue with their C1, are they talking about a 53 with a 6cyl or are they talking about a 62 with an FI 327??????????????
But alas, I guess the C-crap is here to stay!!!! What a mistake!