Randy_in_MD

The history channel just aired a special where some customization shop owner decided to create his vision of what an '83 vette could have been. I sat through an hour of nonsense just to see the finished product. It was a monstrosity. It almost made me throw up in my mouth a little. Anyone else see it? Anyone have an opinion on his "vision"?

TCracingCA

Watching it now!

Dont they know that that one or two prototypes were completed?

drcook

The guy with the "customization shop" is one of the bigger names in the Vette neighborhood. In order to get the folks who appeared on the show, they had to be "someone" . Also they were they ones chosen to restore that lost collection of Corvettes that was found.

Yes they knew. That fact was mentioned, in fact it was more than 1 or 2, but all that is left is 1 and it is at the museum.

They actually pulled it off pretty well. Having the fenders crowns being a little sharper, like the C3's was an enhancement I appreciated. I was "iffy" on the split window treatment, it works for a show car, not so much on a driver.

The fact is, in my opinion, the C4 would look better with some of the styling touches from the C3 era. A spoiler, not the hideous wing you see on so many cars. The gauges were cool. A set of those from Vetteaid is on the list for my 96 after I get the engine, trans and Dana 44 put in.

Everybody has their likes and dislikes. He has the wherewithal to build what he likes AND get a show about it..............................

1bdvet

DVR it, watch it tonight!

SJW

There's a feature article about it in this month's Corvette Magazine.

Live well,

SJW

Tim's88

Yes, I did watch it. For the most part, I did like the sharper lines that they added, even the higher front fenders looked natural. The side vent was ok, I did like the analog gauges that they added, but being an 80's car, I think they should have stayed consistent with the times and stuck with the digital cluster. I didn't even mind the black trim delete. I may have done something different with the longitudinal seam lines on the hood and the rear where the trim would have been. But it worked for what it was.

Now! As for the split window, it just didn't fit with the design. It just looked like an after thought and did not integrate well at all.. But, that's only my opinion.

Overall, it was a good attempt.

pewter99

I made it 5 mins and had to turn it off

BillDurant

I saw it
hard to believe they destroyed those cars but 1

drcook

What cars got destroyed ? Must have been a different show you were watching. All the parts that were used to customize that car came from ACI Vette here in Ohio.

BillDurant

I watched History Chanel 43 cars were crushed but they said one left is in the Corvette museum

There were just 14 C4 prototypes and 43 "pilot cars" made in 1983, all of which were marked fordestruction after the completion of testing.Jul 5, 2018

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-d1_ds651549

Tim's88

The prototypes. They said that there was only 1 left and it is at the Museum in Bowling Green. The others got crushed.

Sprongs

The split window....thumbs down.

BillDurant

it also didn't have the side trim line

Tim's88

That was ok with me. I just wish they would have done something with the seam lines on the hood and the rear. With out the trim, that just didn't look right.

BillDurant

different car but that air intake piece is on the door when you open the door ?

drcook

Yeah the prototypes didn't follow what you were referring to. I have read that GM destroys lots of engineering exercises. The only reason that the 5 original 1962 Grand Sports still exist is that they were hidden from GM brass and quietly sold.

When I worked at Goodyear Aerospace, there was the story of a WW2 era blimp and gondola that was hidden away.

What I was disappointed in was that no mention of the "targa top" issue was mentioned, nor were some of the quality control issues. I suspect it was because the son of the man who made that ill fated decision is now GM president and to get the buy in of the Corvette guys, there should be no embarrassment.

Y-bodluvr

I saw it and I’m sorry there was nothing 1983 about that car

A supercharged TPI engine
Analog gauges
19 inch wheels and FAT tires
split window

Look they made a 1983 Corvette all you have to do to see one is go to the Corvette museum so his car is just a “custom” Corvette I mean it’s a nice C4 but it ain’t no “vision of an 83 Corvette”

Had he stuck more to that pre-production/prototype sketch with defiantly NO split window, stuck with the Crossfire and digital dash and pre-production 1984 wheels and tires or even 82 wheels now that would have been true to an 83 Corvette...I was expecting to see more of a blend of an 82 and 84 that car WAS NOT

vette196

Watched the end last night and picked up the beginning this morning.

Onto the car:
analog dash....real creative. not
split window (does greenwood sell those...ugh)
the size and design of those wheels were so not 1980s
Supercharger...cop out, if they did that in '83 I think it would've been cost prohibited
pinched fenders, no big deal and the gills.....

So what did they do?

All I picked up was they constantly talked about not making the deadline...5 guys working on one car, please....

and proud that the paint was still wet because they painted it at 10am in the morning

I would think for the big reveal, they would've been more "respectful" (for lack of a better word). I mean all these car build shows always have a deadline for a customer, not a whole fan base

I wasn't impressed......

corvettemuseum

If you want the real story of the 1983 Corvette, here's our version!

Y-bodluvr

I guess real corvette enthusiasts like myself felt similar about the car what I don’t understand is the whole “missing 83 corvette vision” thing if the car he put together had a split window C6 wheels and a 500hp TPI and wasn’t period correct

Just say this is your vision of a custom C4