myoriginal77

Wait - Wait Wait -- It was the Vega that got the Corvette Wheel ....

Frank

7T1vette

You have better access to the engine and "stuff" on the firewall with the hood positioned as it is and opening [not pivoting]from the rear. You also don't need 10 foot-long release cables for 'front-mounted' latches.

MakoJoe

Why do we sit on the rear tires ? Because of weight distribution. The hood opens from the front to put more weight on the front tires and keep the hood from flying open. I have done 120 MPH in a 1972 Plymouth Satellite and the front end came off the ground at this speed scared the crap out of me when I was young and stupid. I could not steer the car good thing I was cruising down Route 80 on a straight and when a slight curve came up I let off the gas to gain control again. Never went over 90 MPH again in that car. The Early model Corvette nose was meant to keep it down on the ground and aerodynamics for these early model years were awesome.

7T1vette

I don't know about you, Mako Joe....but I have my hood DOWN when I'm driving. And, if it's down, it's weight is distrituted the same...whether it opens from the front or back.

MakoJoe

But where is the hinge hardware in the front or rear of the hood? Just a few more pounds forward? The Early model corvettes were not very front heavy to keep the nose on the ground. it was a early way of looking at handling and the rear while it was not light it was distributed fairly evenly.

c3 corvette suspension C3 Corvette. ... A stock vette has a weight distribution of 48% front and 52% rear and was set up from the factory


Why would they put it the hinges in the front..... Why to increase a little weight to evenly distribute the weight.

oldgto

Both hood hinges together don`t weigh a pound! If they were put up front to add weight, they don`t add much. I think the more logical answer has already been given.... for the latch to be in the front would REQUIRE a cable because you`d never reach it from the nose, and that cable would HAVE to be 10 feet long... AND it makes it much easier to service the engine by having it open toward the front!

MrJlr

Ya....I kinda dont think weight had much to do with it.....

CaseyJones

Early Corvette design was strongly influenced by several foreign automakers, specifically Jag. One of the early Corvette designs was basically an XK-series with modifications. Hence, the rear opening hood. I don't care why but I do know it is a lot easier to service the way it is now. I've owned too many other cars with the standard rear-hinged hoods where you had to crawl over the fender to change the plugs or do other simple stuff. Remember how much trouble it was to change the points in an early Chevelle or Camaro? Or a C-10? I'm happy it ended up as it did.

Easy Mike

Design and space. I recall reading about problems with the type of hinges and reinforcement required if hinged at the firewall. Goes back to the '53 models. It had nothing to do with underhood accessibility.

bondoboy

I'd say it was for style and space as well. The 2 little hinges weight would not alter the balance of the car. Heck, even if it had the big "regular" hinges with springs I still don't think weight would be a factor. '50s fairlanes and thunderbirds used forward opening hoods too. Again, probably for style and maybe space considerations.

vairxpert

No I don't. Was the Chevelle that much different than my El Camino?
I've never had trouble accessing the distributor on any GM vehicle I've ever owned including the one pressed up against the firewall of my factory V8 Monza.

Also how do you change plugs or do any basic work on a Corvette without going over a fender?

I'm trying to grasp how engine access is easier when a hood opens to the front allowing only left/right fender access vs. a hood that opens to the rear and allows left/right/front access. Rear access doesn't exist because of a windshield, so why not open it to the rear?

I can't recall one time that I had to remove a rear opening hood for a repair on any car but I had to remove the hood on my Corvette and Vega for things like pulling a radiator or simply changing an A/C line.

For those mentioning the safety aspect...Every car I've ever owned (1962 being the oldest) has had a secondary safety latch. What cars don't have that feature?

terry82

I had my hood up so much I put a zipper on it.

oldgto

If the hood opened to the rear, you still wouldn`t have very good access from the front due to the distance from the front bumper to the engine bay. That`s quite a reach!

MRANT212

BINGO! Chevrolet was following Jag, Austin Etc. Remember they were at the time trying to copy the European sports cars. Their hoods opened that way so was the Corvette!!

dgheinen

Cuz it's cool.

-Damon

Indiancreek

If it opened to the rear the hood would have to go almost verticle to give the access to the engine bay as you have now.

Arkyvette

Why did they (insert corvette design question)?

answer: because its cool!

7T1vette

Everyone can debate why it should open one way or the other....but nothing will ever change the fact that the C3 hoods ALL open from the rear.

indianavette

Truth to tell, McLellan and Jerry Palmer connived to sell front-hinge bonnet design to senior management. They had data re Corvette owner's unbreakable habit of popping the hood at every whipstitch to show off the engine bay. Front-pivot design offered the best view of those huge front tires and that exquisite aluminum suspension hardware. But why did they put the hood prop way over there on the right side? Woulda been a lot more convenient on the left, eh?

boatmark

No idea why they chose to do it that way, although being like the other sportscars, and issues from primitive fiberglass technology would seem logical.

But remember several other cars of the era were that way. 55-6-7 Thunderbirds, and 57-8-9 Ford fullsize cars come to mind off the top of my head.

I think it makes it easier to work on. Although Mercedes has fixed part of that issue on their cars. The hinges on a M-B have a latch on the hinge that when activated allows you to raise the front opening hood fully vertical.