C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

METAL vs. FIBERGLASS

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-23-2014, 06:40 PM
  #1  
HIK
5th Gear
Thread Starter
 
HIK's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default METAL vs. FIBERGLASS

my friend and I have a little argument going.😒
He say Corvette bodies have are made of fiber glass.😳
However I think different and swears to the god that the early 60's bodies were steel.😌

Any one can tell us the truth about this issue???😕
Old 05-23-2014, 06:42 PM
  #2  
Alan 71
Team Owner
 
Alan 71's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 30,173
Likes: 0
Received 2,878 Likes on 2,515 Posts

Default

Hi HIK,
Fiberglass, from the very first one!
Regards,
Alan
Old 05-23-2014, 06:43 PM
  #3  
qwank
Le Mans Master
 
qwank's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2011
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 5,943
Received 57 Likes on 44 Posts

Default

I smell a troll
Old 05-23-2014, 07:07 PM
  #4  
HIK
5th Gear
Thread Starter
 
HIK's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi HIK,
Fiberglass, from the very first one!
Regards,
Alan
You sure about that???
Old 05-23-2014, 07:16 PM
  #5  
Sunstroked
Melting Slicks
 
Sunstroked's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: S Nevada
Posts: 2,071
Received 146 Likes on 114 Posts

Default

Yes. Google it.
Old 05-23-2014, 07:28 PM
  #6  
tokim
Burning Brakes
 
tokim's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2013
Location: Yelm Wa
Posts: 1,231
Received 114 Likes on 95 Posts
Default

Originally fiberglass, then steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, ground up and melted sea shells, and finally back to fiberglass.
Pretty sure that's the way it went anyway.
Old 05-23-2014, 08:46 PM
  #7  
Pete79L82
Drifting
 
Pete79L82's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2000
Location: WI
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by tokim
Originally fiberglass, then steel, copper, titanium, aluminum, wood, ground up and melted sea shells, and finally back to fiberglass.
Pretty sure that's the way it went anyway.
You have the order wrong, should be fiberglass, then steel, copper, aluminum, then titanium, wood, ground up and melted sea shells, recycled pallet wood conditioned with the wax off of Norwegian butterfly wings, and finally back to fiberglass.
Old 05-23-2014, 09:11 PM
  #8  
Peterbuilt
Le Mans Master
 
Peterbuilt's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2006
Location: mount holly NC
Posts: 7,000
Received 1,252 Likes on 970 Posts
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019

Default Just glue it together!

The first ones were plastic and sold as a model.
Old 05-23-2014, 09:49 PM
  #9  
Shark Racer
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Shark Racer's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 12,399
Received 241 Likes on 200 Posts

Default

Corvettes were intended to be steel bodied cars. They went fiberglass to handle the low production numbers and it unintentionally stuck.
Old 05-23-2014, 09:53 PM
  #10  
davidchristopher
Racer
 
davidchristopher's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2009
Location: Brant County Ontario
Posts: 276
Received 31 Likes on 24 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi HIK,
Fiberglass, from the very first one!
Regards,
Alan
I wonder how much the OP charges to cross his bridge...
Old 05-23-2014, 09:54 PM
  #11  
MakoJoe
Burning Brakes
 
MakoJoe's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2013
Location: Castle Rock CO
Posts: 926
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

They were always fiberglass from the start in 1953

The first generation Corvette was introduced late in the 1953 model year. Originally designed as a show car for the 1953 Motorama display at the New York Auto Show, it generated enough interest to induce GM to make a production version to sell to the public. To keep costs down, GM executive Robert F. McLean mandated off-the-shelf mechanical components, and used the chassis and suspension from the 1952 Chevy sedan. The drivetrain and passenger compartment were moved rearward to achieve a 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution. It had a 102-inch wheelbase. The engine was the same inline six that powered all other Chevrolet models, but with a higher-compression ratio, three Carter side-draft carburetors, and a more aggressive cam. Output was 150 horsepower. Because there was currently no manual transmission available to Chevrolet rated to handle 150 HP, a two-speed Powerglide automatic was used. 0-60 mph time was 11.5 seconds. To keep tooling costs in line, the body was made out of fiberglass instead of steel. First production was on June 30, 1953.[4][5][6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette
Nice history on the corvette from Wikipedia
Old 05-23-2014, 09:57 PM
  #12  
Les
Race Director
 
Les's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 1999
Location: Sierra Foothills CA
Posts: 10,831
Received 961 Likes on 571 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Pete79L82
You have the order wrong, should be fiberglass, then steel, copper, aluminum, then titanium, wood, ground up and melted sea shells, recycled pallet wood conditioned with the wax off of Norwegian butterfly wings, and finally back to fiberglass.
Very impressive! Very few people know about the butterfly wing wax. Well, until now.
Old 05-23-2014, 10:54 PM
  #13  
persuader
Drifting
 
persuader's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2013
Location: Easton Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,453
Received 88 Likes on 51 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by qwank
I smell a troll
Your right!
Old 05-23-2014, 11:25 PM
  #14  
Procrastination Racing
Le Mans Master
 
Procrastination Racing's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2001
Location: Ocala FL
Posts: 6,248
Received 250 Likes on 173 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by qwank
I smell a troll
Nahhhh!

Member Since: May 2014
Old 05-24-2014, 08:54 AM
  #15  
69bones
Instructor
 
69bones's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2013
Location: Tampa Fl
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
St. Jude Donor '14
Default

Originally Posted by tokim
, ground up and melted sea shells.
I live in Florida - hope mine was made in this era
Old 05-24-2014, 09:40 AM
  #16  
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Easy Mike's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Southbound
Posts: 38,928
Likes: 0
Received 1,470 Likes on 1,249 Posts
Cruise-In II Veteran

Default

Originally Posted by HIK
You sure about that???
We're sure. You're not.
Old 05-24-2014, 12:45 PM
  #17  
AdamMeh
Melting Slicks
 
AdamMeh's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2011
Location: Peoria Arizona
Posts: 3,372
Received 212 Likes on 113 Posts

Default

I have a rare one. Made of a moon rock composite, and melted G.I. Joe figures.

We now return the original poster back to his native import forums.

Get notified of new replies

To METAL vs. FIBERGLASS

Old 05-24-2014, 06:20 PM
  #18  
gcusmano74
Drifting
 
gcusmano74's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Check out this link:
http://theoldmotor.com/?p=109175
Old 05-25-2014, 09:42 AM
  #19  
capevettes
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
capevettes's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Cape Cod, Mass.
Posts: 18,771
Received 4,567 Likes on 2,165 Posts
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist

Default

I'm pretty sure my 61 is fiberglass That still doesn't stop knuckleheads at car shows from giving it a tap to see if it's one of the early metal ones
Old 05-25-2014, 11:02 PM
  #20  
LS4 PILOT
Melting Slicks
 
LS4 PILOT's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Received 39 Likes on 37 Posts

Default

NCRS WVA chapter recognizes the early steel body Vettes
















Chevette


Quick Reply: METAL vs. FIBERGLASS



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:31 AM.