Corvette history repeating? I was around in the 80s & recall the ZR-1 launch debacle
09-15-2022, 07:36 PM
#41
Funny story, totally off Corvette topic... but I was involved in a $xxB (back when $Billion was a lot of money) Corporate Initiative that was the CEO's Pet Project... (CEO lost his job, BTW, and settled for a $50M job at a Wall Street firm...sheesh!!)
It fell so far behind, that the "Program Director" announced to the Project Team that (and I quote)... "Alpha test is Friday... Beta will be Monday, and Market Launch Wednesday"
(BTW they couldn't get this sh*t to work in the lab for 9 mos...)
Needless to say... a bit of consternation.... so I have experienced Multi-Billion-Dollar Corporate Delusion first-hand.
09-16-2022, 07:11 AM
#42
Le Mans Master
if you are interested in the corporate struggles to birth a new engine. The Heart of the Beast and Corvette from the Inside are both very good reads.
Corvette has flirted with fading away like the Rx7 and other sports cars and I for one am still impressed by the LT5 (I have an old LPE car) and the new king the LT6
The LT6 has a true racing heritage and is a very advanced engine worthy of the vette. While there are tremendous challenges to getting a new engine and car built, I for one am happy that GM chose to go for the "moon shot" with the LT6
Love to see a crate engine and stuff that engine into a super lightweight chassis and show what it can do. Disappointed that the cost is spiraling up out of reach, but I'm patient and once the shine wears off the next big thing, costs will come down.
The sure did for the c4 ZR-1 and history will repeat itself and the Z06 will come back to earth on valuation.
Corvette has flirted with fading away like the Rx7 and other sports cars and I for one am still impressed by the LT5 (I have an old LPE car) and the new king the LT6
The LT6 has a true racing heritage and is a very advanced engine worthy of the vette. While there are tremendous challenges to getting a new engine and car built, I for one am happy that GM chose to go for the "moon shot" with the LT6
Love to see a crate engine and stuff that engine into a super lightweight chassis and show what it can do. Disappointed that the cost is spiraling up out of reach, but I'm patient and once the shine wears off the next big thing, costs will come down.
The sure did for the c4 ZR-1 and history will repeat itself and the Z06 will come back to earth on valuation.
09-16-2022, 01:37 PM
#43
Le Mans Master
Hahaha, that was almost my first Corvette. Dealer had white w/ red interior, 90 or 91 IIRC.
I’d finally earned a grad degree in engineering and was ready to have fun.
The ZR1 would not be it. I was appalled at the plastic and fit and finish (which the dealer said was standard fare, I was paying for performance). And I recall it drove like a tank, though perhaps I needed more seat time.
In the end, I bailed. I don’t remember the specs, only that Jerome Brown had a fatal accident with his nephew in one.
And, ZR1 folks were bummed when the regular Vette came out with the square taillights a year or so later.
I’d finally earned a grad degree in engineering and was ready to have fun.
The ZR1 would not be it. I was appalled at the plastic and fit and finish (which the dealer said was standard fare, I was paying for performance). And I recall it drove like a tank, though perhaps I needed more seat time.
In the end, I bailed. I don’t remember the specs, only that Jerome Brown had a fatal accident with his nephew in one.
And, ZR1 folks were bummed when the regular Vette came out with the square taillights a year or so later.
Regarding your impression of the interior, the base 911 at the time was no better, or worse.
