A hypothetical
05-16-2013, 11:12 AM
#81
Melting Slicks
Some of my exotic car friends never gave the Corvette a second look. They do now. While they still may not ultimately buy one they are giving respect to Corvette that was never there before. The ALMS racing program has single handedly done this for Vette. Instant credibility when you go over and clean the clocks of Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin at LeMans. They have finally addressed all perceived faults whether they were true or not. All in a new modern design that will advance Corvette on the track and street while further dominating the race scene.
05-16-2013, 11:28 AM
#82
Banned Scam/Spammer
Some of my exotic car friends never gave the Corvette a second look. They do now. While they still may not ultimately buy one they are giving respect to Corvette that was never there before. The ALMS racing program has single handedly done this for Vette. Instant credibility when you go over and clean the clocks of Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin at LeMans. They have finally addressed all perceived faults whether they were true or not. All in a new modern design that will advance Corvette on the track and street while further dominating the race scene.
"Clean the clocks of Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin".
I hope the foriegn car lovers that troll here read that.
Great post!
05-16-2013, 11:42 AM
#83
Race Director
05-16-2013, 12:12 PM
#84
Banned Scam/Spammer
@ drmustang, you and me both! I guess they didn't want to ruin the aura that surrounds the car!
@ gthal, your points are well stated, especially the Porsche reference. As for this thread, well a few dozen people (most of who would go against me if I said the sky is blue) certainly can not reflect on the worlds opinion, but I hear what you're saying! Thx
@ gthal, your points are well stated, especially the Porsche reference. As for this thread, well a few dozen people (most of who would go against me if I said the sky is blue) certainly can not reflect on the worlds opinion, but I hear what you're saying! Thx
Last edited by punky; 05-16-2013 at 12:42 PM. Reason: spelling
05-16-2013, 12:49 PM
#85
Safety Car
Thread Starter
DR, factory they were 550 and came with a Eaton S/C. My buddy did a pulley, exhaust, whipple and intake, the car is an animal. One of the most beautiful cars out there IMO.
05-16-2013, 12:58 PM
#86
Banned Scam/Spammer
Absolutely gorgeous piece. Local dealer had one for well over a year, let it go for near invoice which was around 145K or so. I considered it but had 4 cars, 4 motorcycles, a boat and some other stuff at the time, hindsight says it would have been the right move. I would not be shy if there is a 2nd chance on a new version of same.
05-16-2013, 01:24 PM
#87
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I readily admit I blew it by selling that car. It was a Tungsten Grey with all four options, I paid MSRP which was $166945 and traded it three years later with 7k miles on it for 150k. Still kick myself...I'm going to go sulk now!! LOL I did enjoy the car I must say.
05-19-2013, 12:18 AM
#88
Actually, to a degree the Corvette, including the C7 from the doors forward (not from the doors back though), IS Retro to a fairly large degree. Modernized retro, if that makes sense to you, but retro nonetheless. Chevy has been consistent in taking the best styling cues from the all time best selling Corvettes (the 1978 and 1979 model years) and modernizing and carrying those styling cues forward with each new generation. You can see some of the 1978 Corvette in every C4, 5, 6 and (doors forward) C7 built.
For example, you can see a lot of 1978 Corvette in the C6 (despite the exposed headlights) as the C6 still has very much the C3 shark shape, the excellent rearward visibility and cargo space enhancing glassback, the signature four round tail lights, and thus the C6 is at once identifiably a classically styled Corvette from any and all angles, but also at the same time very modern looking.
I know the C6 sales dropped off, but I would read that more as the economy crashing in 2008 than any commentary on the C6 being a modernized yet in many good ways retro design. Before the economy imploded, the C6 was selling quite well...
In the main we Corvette owners (I own 5 with plans to buy more) expect continuity of styling across generations and true Corvette lovers have been quite satisfied with that, up to the big departure rear of the doors on the 2014.
So I would suggest the Corvette IS Retro, and it IS modern, all at the same time.
Again with a major exception for the Camaro-esque back end of the C7, kudos to Chevy for decades of excellent retro-modern Corvette styling and continuity.
For example, you can see a lot of 1978 Corvette in the C6 (despite the exposed headlights) as the C6 still has very much the C3 shark shape, the excellent rearward visibility and cargo space enhancing glassback, the signature four round tail lights, and thus the C6 is at once identifiably a classically styled Corvette from any and all angles, but also at the same time very modern looking.
I know the C6 sales dropped off, but I would read that more as the economy crashing in 2008 than any commentary on the C6 being a modernized yet in many good ways retro design. Before the economy imploded, the C6 was selling quite well...
In the main we Corvette owners (I own 5 with plans to buy more) expect continuity of styling across generations and true Corvette lovers have been quite satisfied with that, up to the big departure rear of the doors on the 2014.
So I would suggest the Corvette IS Retro, and it IS modern, all at the same time.
Again with a major exception for the Camaro-esque back end of the C7, kudos to Chevy for decades of excellent retro-modern Corvette styling and continuity.
05-19-2013, 08:40 PM
#89
Burning Brakes
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Actually, to a degree the Corvette, including the C7 from the doors forward (not from the doors back though), IS Retro to a fairly large degree. Modernized retro, if that makes sense to you, but retro nonetheless. Chevy has been consistent in taking the best styling cues from the all time best selling Corvettes (the 1978 and 1979 model years) and modernizing and carrying those styling cues forward with each new generation. You can see some of the 1978 Corvette in every C4, 5, 6 and (doors forward) C7 built.
For example, you can see a lot of 1978 Corvette in the C6 (despite the exposed headlights) as the C6 still has very much the C3 shark shape, the excellent rearward visibility and cargo space enhancing glassback, the signature four round tail lights, and thus the C6 is at once identifiably a classically styled Corvette from any and all angles, but also at the same time very modern looking.
I know the C6 sales dropped off, but I would read that more as the economy crashing in 2008 than any commentary on the C6 being a modernized yet in many good ways retro design. Before the economy imploded, the C6 was selling quite well...
In the main we Corvette owners (I own 5 with plans to buy more) expect continuity of styling across generations and true Corvette lovers have been quite satisfied with that, up to the big departure rear of the doors on the 2014.
So I would suggest the Corvette IS Retro, and it IS modern, all at the same time.
Again with a major exception for the Camaro-esque back end of the C7, kudos to Chevy for decades of excellent retro-modern Corvette styling and continuity.
For example, you can see a lot of 1978 Corvette in the C6 (despite the exposed headlights) as the C6 still has very much the C3 shark shape, the excellent rearward visibility and cargo space enhancing glassback, the signature four round tail lights, and thus the C6 is at once identifiably a classically styled Corvette from any and all angles, but also at the same time very modern looking.
I know the C6 sales dropped off, but I would read that more as the economy crashing in 2008 than any commentary on the C6 being a modernized yet in many good ways retro design. Before the economy imploded, the C6 was selling quite well...
In the main we Corvette owners (I own 5 with plans to buy more) expect continuity of styling across generations and true Corvette lovers have been quite satisfied with that, up to the big departure rear of the doors on the 2014.
So I would suggest the Corvette IS Retro, and it IS modern, all at the same time.
Again with a major exception for the Camaro-esque back end of the C7, kudos to Chevy for decades of excellent retro-modern Corvette styling and continuity.
The C6 fastback glass reminds me of 1978-82's.Even on the new C7, you can clearly see how GM usued the C6 as the blueprint, particularly from front & side views.
The front end is basically C6 still, except with vertical headlights now, plus a "totally new" hoodscoop. But overall height, width, and length stay almost identical.
So I really don't see the huge difference some claim between C6 & C7 design as far as basic shape. Mostly changes in angles, squares used instead of circles, etc.
And that's good - the C6 is the best-looking Corvette built to date!
05-19-2013, 08:44 PM
#90
The C6 fastback glass reminds me of 1978-82's.Even on the new C7, you can clearly see how GM usued the C6 as the blueprint, particularly from front & side views.
The front end is basically C6 still, except with vertical headlights now, plus a "totally new" hoodscoop. But overall height, width, and length stay almost identical.
So I really don't see the huge difference some claim between C6 & C7 design as far as basic shape. Mostly changes in angles, squares used instead of circles, etc.
And that's good - the C6 is the best-looking Corvette built to date!
05-19-2013, 08:50 PM
#92
Race Director
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My first car was a '64 coupe. Although I have really liked the style in the past it is nowadays beginning to get really dated. I remember seeing the first '68 on a small card, maybe from a bubble gum packet, and thought that was definitely the Cat's meow. I bought a '68 and enjoyed it immensely but now, it too, is getting a little long in the tooth as far as styling. The body designers for every new model get my complete thumbs up. 
05-19-2013, 08:57 PM
#94
Safety Car
05-19-2013, 09:30 PM
#95
Melting Slicks
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Just ridiculous looking cars.
But to each his own.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
But to each his own.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Just get one of these and leave GM alone to build real modern Corvettes.
http://www.karlkustomcorvettes.com/
http://www.karlkustomcorvettes.com/
05-19-2013, 09:33 PM
#96
Safety Car
My first car was a '64 coupe. Although I have really liked the style in the past it is nowadays beginning to get really dated. I remember seeing the first '68 on a small card, maybe from a bubble gum packet, and thought that was definitely the Cat's meow. I bought a '68 and enjoyed it immensely but now, it too, is getting a little long in the tooth as far as styling. The body designers for every new model get my complete thumbs up.
05-20-2013, 10:08 AM
#97
Melting Slicks
I think GM needs a limited run department. There is a production number that is low enough to get you out of all the crash testing, epa crap, etc. So keep all the cars under that number.
Make retro looking cars that people want and would buy... with a warranty.
Think... Olds 442, Trans Am, Chevelle, GTO, etc. They could even do later model stuff like the Camaro from the 80's. There are people out there that LOVE the look of certain cars and would buy a new version of it again if they could. They could do a mix match of retro looking and actual retro bodied cars.
GM could charge a nice premium over the model it was based on and the department would be profitable (although not high profit). It would be more of a PR thing and a great one.
Make retro looking cars that people want and would buy... with a warranty.
Think... Olds 442, Trans Am, Chevelle, GTO, etc. They could even do later model stuff like the Camaro from the 80's. There are people out there that LOVE the look of certain cars and would buy a new version of it again if they could. They could do a mix match of retro looking and actual retro bodied cars.
GM could charge a nice premium over the model it was based on and the department would be profitable (although not high profit). It would be more of a PR thing and a great one.
05-20-2013, 10:11 AM
#98
Pro
I think the retro thing has been played out. I don't believe it would sell as well nor would it attract new buyers. It would perpetuate the same issues GM would have going forward with the Corvette brand if it didn't modernize.
If you look at the next Mustang (or early projections) it is also going the modern route as it is hard to live in the past and also move forward. That isn't to say the C2 wasn't a great design and beautiful but it would largely be the traditional/old school buyer and that group isn't getting bigger. You aren't taking people who are currently in European brands into the Corvette fold with a C2 design today... the only people who would love that idea are those who grew up with the Corvette and like the style from that era.
It was a nice design for the time but the times have changed... as has the market. Living in the past and not evolving quickly enough is half the problem the North American auto manufacturers had in the last decade. You can't compete by staying in the past... that has been pretty much proven.
All just my opinion... obviously.
If you look at the next Mustang (or early projections) it is also going the modern route as it is hard to live in the past and also move forward. That isn't to say the C2 wasn't a great design and beautiful but it would largely be the traditional/old school buyer and that group isn't getting bigger. You aren't taking people who are currently in European brands into the Corvette fold with a C2 design today... the only people who would love that idea are those who grew up with the Corvette and like the style from that era.
It was a nice design for the time but the times have changed... as has the market. Living in the past and not evolving quickly enough is half the problem the North American auto manufacturers had in the last decade. You can't compete by staying in the past... that has been pretty much proven.
All just my opinion... obviously.
times a billion or so..it's all about moving forward. tired of retro/remakes of things. If you want that there are plenty of resto-mods out there which are of course, awesome, but a manufacturer has to keep evolving things (an in some cases with some generations devolving) to move it forward..
05-20-2013, 10:14 AM
#99
I think GM needs a limited run department. There is a production number that is low enough to get you out of all the crash testing, epa crap, etc. So keep all the cars under that number.
Make retro looking cars that people want and would buy... with a warranty.
Think... Olds 442, Trans Am, Chevelle, GTO, etc. They could even do later model stuff like the Camaro from the 80's. There are people out there that LOVE the look of certain cars and would buy a new version of it again if they could. They could do a mix match of retro looking and actual retro bodied cars.
GM could charge a nice premium over the model it was based on and the department would be profitable (although not high profit). It would be more of a PR thing and a great one.
Make retro looking cars that people want and would buy... with a warranty.
Think... Olds 442, Trans Am, Chevelle, GTO, etc. They could even do later model stuff like the Camaro from the 80's. There are people out there that LOVE the look of certain cars and would buy a new version of it again if they could. They could do a mix match of retro looking and actual retro bodied cars.
GM could charge a nice premium over the model it was based on and the department would be profitable (although not high profit). It would be more of a PR thing and a great one.
I also don't think you get by crash test ratings either way... even if GM could it would carry liability risk. Not a bad idea but not a practical one IMO for a large behemoth of a company with a cost structure that differs a lot from specialty car companies.