AFVETTE

With all the proliferation of badges, apparel and even written comments, if you didn’t know better you’d think the Z51 is a new model like the Z06.

Or is this a generational thing, like seeing all the Type-R etc badges younger folks are adorning their cars with?

This long time vette enthusiast needs help understanding this phenomenon.

Thanks

Tom

Vette_DD

Maybe it's all the extra coolers and the extra price.

Of course, some forum sponsor aftermarketers are helping it along with badges, etc.

Top Cat

Afvette,
I was scanning through the various posts and thinking just the same thing!
Nothing wrong for people to feel good about their car by identifying some of it's options but this "highlighted" Z51 thing takes the C6 to a new unintendent dimension.
Afterall, it is a C6 with Z51 not a Z51 with C6!

stanleyp

WE know a Z51 is NOT its own model.
But people LOVE badges.
The 'peel & stick' mentality to 'individualize' their car.
Trouble is: EVERONE does it. How 'individual' is that?
If 3M went out of business, J.C. Whitney and Pep Boys sales would dive.
The work shop with a full set of tools is being replaced by the kitchen drawer containing tape, glue, and a screwdriver.
Gawd help us.

Vette Fan

Just like the Z28 Camaro a little more performance oriented. It too was just a camaro with Z28, but they actually put the emblems on at the factory.

LarsAtTheBeach

The Z51 identity is much like the Chevy Truck Z71. A friends son (20 something) told me he is buying a new truck. I asked him what he was buying...He said quote, "I'm getting a Chevy Z71, cool, huh"! Not that he's buying a Chevy Silverado with RPO Z71.

Also, speaking to a few non Vette nut people of my inbound C6 VERT...everyone said quote "are you getting the Z"? Most do not know Z51 from Z06.

Another note. My '04 Z71 Tahoe does not have the word "Tahoe" anywhere on the vehicle...just Chevrolet and "Z71". GM knows the power of marketing.

Z51...Z71...ZR-1...LT-1...Z/28...Z06...it's all good!

Lars

Top Cat

From what I remember from my Camaro days. The Z28 and the IROC Z28 had a different engine (among other things) than the standard Camaro which was available with a straight six. I believe the Z28-Camaro analogy is more appropriatte to the C6-Z06 rather than the C6/Z51.

stanleyp

And a little history:
The first year of it's availability, the Pontiac Tempest had an available "GTO" package. The next year, the GTO was a model in its own right.
BUT, have you ever seen anyone advertise a:

"1964 Pontiac Tempest, 2dr, PS, PB, R&H, GTO package...."

dvarapala

Yeah, I remember the days when every car had to have a badge touting something, even if it was as mundane as "Fuel Injection" or even "ABS." Sure, there were a few cool badges, like the coiled snakes on the fenders of my Cobra. The problem is, those badges are really just stickers, and people will steal the cool badges right off your car.

One of the things I like about the C6 is the lack of those silly badges. Just give me the flags on the nose and the name on the back, that's all I need.

Noggles

I don't understand the fascination with the identifier either.

TETO, though.

yellow01

I don't understand the mentality behind badging either... I thought the old 405 HP plastic tag on the Z06 was out of place...

accidentprone

If I can, here is my theory behind it all. The Z51 costs $1600 by itself it gives you a great upgrade from other Coupes, it even looks different, just a bit, but different, cross drilled rotors! You get the undercover goods as well. Z51 Suspension. A race inspired engine. Why not have on your vette say, "I have Z51" or "I have F55".

Another point, they sound sexy, Z51, F55.

LS2 is the obvious, but that was before we came up with a design for "C6". That obviously tells the difference, its a C6, not a C5, Corvette Sixth Generation!

These are just my opinions, and things Ive thought about. Why wouldnt I do this I asked myself. So we did and people are loving it. BTW all the decal and visor decals are shipping, hint, hint.

Thanks for listening to my two cent!!

natejohn

100%.......in fact I would like to take the emblem off the back if it weren't for the two holes it would leave. And just leave the tastefull and subtle embossed Covette.

stanleyp

Speaking of "labeling".....
Before the C5, there was no C1, 2, 3, or 4.

jazzlove

This is just my 2 cents, but from the perspective of someone who owns a Z51 C6, I think it should be a "model". Having said that, I will not put any emblem, decal, etc. on my finish, BUT if it came from the factory with some cool emblem, (like the Z06) I would love it!

It is the "performance version" of the C6... And all of us know just what kind of a "beast" lurks under the fiberglass...

LarsAtTheBeach

I'm not a total Vette purest, but I would never put that junk on my car.

A biker buddy asked why I don't have a Harley sticker on my Tahoe...

Because I don't have a Chevy sticker on my Harley!

I agree with what's been posted, if it comes from the factory, it's ok. Otherwise it's just junk.

Lars

rwpatte

Jinx

The bigger brakes and shorter gearing make some Z51 owners think their Corvette is more Corvette than non-Z51s, and they're anxious to let people know about it. And some people want to distinguish their Corvette (and their expression of their Corvette knowledge) from the mythical Ignorant Corvette Owner who just bought it as a status symbol.

I think the fewer badges the better. Model badges are for lesser vehicles -- Corvette should be above such banalities.

But your Corvette is your Corvette. If you want to paint it powder blue and slap a "Powered by Chevy" sticker across the windshield and list the RPOs on the butt, knock yourself out. Heck, put a vinyl top on it if that's your thing, but don't get mad when I laugh because I don't get it.

I'm surprised "protected by Zaino" decals in the back window aren't more common.

.Jinx
If I could get a Z06 that looked exactly like a coupe I'd do it.

coolcat

I'am waiting for a F55 badge!

TedG

I think the Z51 badge would fall under the same category as say 427,350, 6.6 Liter, Ram Air. Nothing more than an equipment badge. Face it the Z71 is plastered all over SUVs and trucks.