Can You Drive a Corvette in Snow? - A Few Old Pictures
 

I was looking up some pictures for a friend today and ran across these I thought I'd scan in.

I guess it is true you can't drive in snow with them, or they self destruct.
I'm sure they did because I haven't seen these in 30 years.

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They are from the Mississippi Valley Corvette Association of Alton, IL on a trip to Pere Marquette State Park back in February 1978.

Happened to me this spring on our way to Italy in the Swiss mountains. Our group was surprised by snow. Fortunately no salt on the road. But man was it chilly in the car.
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Martin

Nice pics!:cheers:

I drive mine if the roads are dry...hey they are meant to be driven, not stored in a climate controlled museum! Enjoying it to the max :-)

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My brother said he and a friend of his used to play "tag" in their Vettes during the winter. Mind you, not actually "tagging" each other - sort of a cat and mouse game. In the snow - sliding corners etc.

This was in the very early 70's. Now the really interesting part - both were big block, 4spd cars - one a '68 427 and the other a '70 454 car. YIKES.

The photos in the initial post didn't show any C3's driving in snow. The roads were clear. But, "yes" Corvettes will drive thru snow....up to a point. The biggest problems are: 1) ride height-when snow is deep, it tends to just 'plow' into the snow, rather than riding over it; 2) once snow begins to pack down, there is such a 'low weight-to-sq. in. of tire surface" that the car just slips all over, instead of getting any traction. Yes, all cars have that problem; but it's considerably worse with a [relatively] light car with wide tires.

I had a '68 coupe that was my main source of transportation in the early 70's, and drove it through the winters in Indiana. Sometimes 6" of snow; sometimes 10 below zero. On one very cold day, when the slush on the roads froze as it got really cold, I was parked on an asphalt lot at work. When shift was over, I got in the car, started it till running smooth, put it in gear and turn the wheels to leave the parking spot. BOTH front tires popped the beads off their rims!! :eek: The tires had frozen to the ground and couldn't move when I turned the wheel.

Now, fixing 2 flat tires....in a parking lot....when it's below zero, is NOT fun. :ack:

I have done it many times... I would avoid it now though, but back then it was my only running car.
All things considered it doesn't actually drive to bad in the snow!

Back then i didn't have any heating (heater core was shot and bypassed) so i drove around with my B3 sheepskin jacket! I remember having to drive 200 miles in the snow to france after forgetting my gloves.
It felt like my fingers where going to fall off, i had to sit on one of my hands to keep it warm and change every 15 minutes.

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I drove my 64, 73 and 78 s/a to work back in the day in Columbus- they sure didn't handle well on snow, but at the time it was all I had !

I try not to.

I'm waiting to see some pics of a 'vette with a snow plow attached to the front end!:willy:


Keep the shiny side up!:rock:
Scott

Cool color on that vette (no pun intended). the black wheels go well with the green.

Last time I did it, I went REAL slow...

Nobody in Dallas knows how to drive when the road is white...

Beautiful pics of the mountains...

This is the closest mine will ever get to the snow ," I was moving it from one garage to the other :canadaflag:

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I drove my '80 'vette from Massachusetts up to Ft. Drum NY in March of 2008, and got caught in a sudden snow storm. It was an experience, I'll tell you that, but I think it was just because it needed an alignment so badly. All 4 wheels were trying to go in slightly different directions! Once I got the alignment, it wasn't too bad, and the car has never been driven in snow ever since. That's what my beat up old pick-'em-up truck is for.


Keep the shiny side up!:rock:
Scott

I'm thinking the chances of our '77 being driven in snow are very small. :D

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Found this while looking for a Arizona photo - that looks like FUN. :willy: Hmmm... need to figure out what road that is and plan a day trip.

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In the early 80's I used to drive my 76 in the snow, twin falls idaho, it was my only transportation.

I got caught in an unexpected snow shower last winter, fortunately only ~15 miles from home. Not fun, I certainly wouldn't do it on purpose. :ack:

Love the Corvettes in the snow theme!
 

Despite owning my Corvette for 16 years, I haven't taken many photos. :sad:

But here's a couple from Glencoe Ski Centre, three years ago. :)
The car has been snowboarding a few times; note the added bar at the front of the luggage rack to allow boards and skis to be strapped on without clashing with the roof.

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Maybe 89 . . .Wickenburg to Prescott ?

way back (in the olden days as my kids would say, lol) i had a 69 350/350 4 speed convertible (with a hard top) that was a daily driver (we actually used our cars back then, lol) and i was living up in the frozen tundra of the north eastern u.s. just like a mailman, neither snow nor sleet, nor gloom of night,...etc, etc. so driving in snow and crappy conditions was just another day in the park. snow banks were particularly interesting as i'm sure you can imagine. they were to be avoided at all costs unless you wanted to pretty much insure yourself that they would elevate the drive wheels enough to get you pretty well stuck without traction, lol.:D

Studded Tires
 

every week end when the 68 was new I ventured North to Boyne Mt. from Dearborn through all kinds of weather up 'US-75 some 270 miles with "Studded Snow tires....then Michigan passed a 'no stud tires' law and it took all the fun out of it as the 68 almost acted as a 'Snow mobile'....Then I found Aspen.....and the rest was history...park the Vette, besides the warranty was running out. All most 5 years old..........:lol:

Amazing. I saw a similar set up (but far less sophisticated) at Sunshine Village in Banff, Alberta last spring.

Actually, I imagine if you put snow tires on it, the car would be fine. The weight balance of a C3 is about 50/50 front to rear with nobody on board. Probably shifts slightly to the rear with passengers. And most have positraction.

Only drove my '80 in the snow once. It was 3 decades ago. Late May and I had put my winter "beater" away for the summer. It snowed 5" that morning and I had to get to work. I drove about 1 1/2 miles in town when I noticed that the car was overheating. When I pulled over and popped the hood I saw for myself why a Vette isn't a winter car. The rubber extension on the air valence scooped up the snow on the road and threw it up against the rad - blocking it completely.

Cool photos.

Rain, sleet, or snow - just like the mailman.
What many younger forum members forget is that before they were classics, our Corvettes were just cars. We used them everyday because for many they were the sole source of transportation.

When I moved from Florida to South Carolina to go to college I didn't know the heater core in my car had been bypassed. (In Ft. Lauderdale I never needed it and never noticed!) Drove 70 miles home one night in blowing snow with two large 7-11 coffees - One to drink, one tucked down inside my parka.

Nothing like a Corvette on a 45 degree winter day. T-Tops off, heater on high, large coffee in hand.

I am speechless.

what is that white stuff you guys are talking about. The closest we have to that is the roadside during cotton harvest

Cool pics and stories - but driving a Vette in winter is just wrong. Just my $0.02

The first six years I owned mine it was my daily driver,....I put 130,000 miles on the 355 I dropped in it. Rain, sleet, snow,...and occasionally sun.

One time I drove in to work, the sun was out,..but by lunch a blizzard was happening. By the time I left work there was six inches of snow on unplowed back roads. I made it forty miles from my office to my driveway,..where I got stuck. The kids helped push it into the garage. Mind you this was on 255 60 15 street tires.

Now I run 295 55 15 drag radials, and if I even think it will drizzle,...it stays home.

Seek and ye shall receive:rofl::cool:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...-magazine.html

I've never driven a C3 in the snow but if it's anything like the C6 in this vid I'll keep it parked in the garage. This is a news copter raw feed (not broadcast) watching a poor C6 owner try to drive in the snow. This poor guy is so frustrated watching car after pass him...too funny. :rofl:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video....77486455628089

I've been caught a couple times... Not fun. Combination of wide floaty tires with no traction, not enough weight and a touchy throttle makes for an interesting ride!

My daily driver back in the day.

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This picture was taken years ago, when this 74 was my wife's daily driver.

All of the Corvettes I've owned, have been driven in the snow at some point. Sometimes on purpose, and sometimes unplanned.

With an all wheel drive SUV, and a 4 wheel drive pick-up in the yard, I have no reason to ever drive a Corvette in the snow now.

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That's why we're welding replacement frame rails and rocker channels into these cars now.

Like somebody has already said, back in the day they were just your everyday car. In that same time frame I was winter driving a new '78 Camaro with a set of Firestone Town & Country snows and ski racks on the roof. :crazy2:

Snow or no snow that car is :cool:

I used to drive them all year round. Only car I had at the time. I rememeber being stuck in my 68. I just left it in first gear, tires spinning. Rocked it back an forth until it took off. Jumped in the drivers seat, shut the door and I was on my way!

In the early 80s I drove my 67 BB everyday and in the Wash. DC area they really don't know how to drive in the snow. When I bought my yellow 72 in the mid 90s it came with 2 mounted and balanced snow tires.
Mark

:thumbs:

I live in So. Cal. and rarely even take it out during rain. Unless it was my only car it would never feel snow beneath her wings. I saw a Vette in the snow on youtube, I'll look.

These pics are sad and depressing! :ack:

Depends on who “you” happens to be. We have plenty of folks here in Colorado who shouldn’t be driving their SUV in snow, much less any rear wheel drive vehicle. You can see dozens of them and their SUVs in the ditch every weekend on the way to the ski slopes. On the other hand, for many folks, there is not a car made that could not be driven satisfactorily in the snow.

Driving in snow is more a function of the driver, rather than the vehicle.

That said, a collector car does not belong in snow or rain.

The pictures and stories are great! I've been in texas now f/ 31 years, but grew up in New York. There were two Corvettes in our neighborhood, my brother's '58 and Pop-Eye's '63 split window. Both 'Vettes were driven year around and both the only transportation the two owned. My brother's '58 had a newer 327/360 or 365, can't remember which, w/ 4:88 gears and a 4 speed. He bought it from a guy who drag raced it and my brother put it on the street. The convert. top was in rough shape and the paint was chipped up, but it ran like heck. Pop Eye's 'Vette had flared fenders and one in the rear was hanging off some and one of the mufflers rode alittle low. LOL! The bumps and bruises on the 'Vettes were from the winter driving and most all the miles on them were put on in the good old urban NYC. The pot holes tend to get bigger in the winter and the cars take a beating. My hat is off to you guys who drive a 'Vette in the cold country, wherever it may be. It takes extra work in the tough months and also time to prep f/ those freezing months. My 'Vette has never been in any cold weather and has always been kept inside at night, and sometimes I feel guilty about the great shape cars are in here inthe hot and dry climate.

The same thing can be said for driving on a smooth, open, dry, daytime Interstate. Some people couldn't drive if they were in the middle of a 10 lane highway and they were the only one on it.

As mentioned, you CAN drive a C3 in snow. But, if you have any other vehicle to drive, that would be a better choice. A C3 on snow/ice is about as 'nimble' as an S-10 pickup with no weight in the back and totally bald tires. :eek:

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Its my daily driver haha. If I'm going somewhere, this is how.

Yeah they'd find someone/something to hit :rofl:

Sorry guys, I can't be convinced. I have never drove any of my sports cars in winter. I know they are just a car. But the winters we get in Saskatchewan, Canada are brutal - wicked cold and tons of snow. And the amount of salt tossed on the road - unbelievable - guess that explains the 4 -5 year old vehicles starting to rust out around here. Always had a DD to sacrifice in the winter. Hate winter - moving to FLA. :cheers:

Yep, probably would be going the wrong direction. :D

This thread reminds me of my good buddy years ago who rode his motorcycle in the snow. He wrapped a cable round and round the rear tire and off he would go. He tried unsuccessfully to convince me to do the same with my bike ... but I had a habit of actually using my brain about once per year in those days. He finally wised up a few years later and bought a car.

That's a really close description of my DD, which made my surprise snow adventure in the C3 a little more familiar. :rofl:

Could Be! I have driven that road before, and it was a lot of fun. Never had a view of it like this, so you could very well be right. :thumbs:

I had to drive my 68 coupe all year long for 4 1/2 years after a divorce. I could not afford a second car. I had a 327/350 4-speed with 3.70's. I drove it through two of the worst winters that Cleveland,Ohio had, around 1977-1978. I could start up on ice and snow better than anyone, but when I got up to 25 mph, it would get squirrelly in the back end. I think that an automatic might have been better in the snow. I finally got a 69 camaro to drive for $200.00! I had to change my frame in 1988, with the 2nd wife's help. Lou.

I remember back in the early 70's a guy who lived up the street had a Corvette with snow tires and a trailer hitch also. He used it to pull his 2 snowmobiles around. I was only 13 yrs old at the time and thought it was the coolest thing.

Ya just got to pick and choose your days my friend. I'm on night shifts on Nov23 , 24th , and 25th. I'm betting money I'll be taking my vette to work those nights. :rock: ( it gets a good wash after I've had it out)

And don't move to FLA ! There will be 1000 other C3s driving around in Jan. down there. Stay here and it'll just be us two!

Here is my 70 big block in the snow, sitting in my driveway in 1974. The Corvette was my weekend car, so I did not drive it very much in the snow, just a few times. My daily driver was my 1969 GTO, you can just see the rear fender of it in this picture. Notice the car all the way at the back of the driveway. It was my 1953 Hudson Hornet Convertible. Sure wish I had it now, worth more than a lot of big dollar Corvettes now. By the way, I know where all three cars are now, and they are all restored, alive and well!
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IMO, one ever really ever DRIVES in snow, ice, slush, and especially BLACK ICE......one just steers and prays......:willy::D:eek::woohoo:

Hello Ron - After our second major dump of snow here in Regina - are you still piloting your '79 to work??? BK3 :canadaflag:

I just love these old pictures and the personal stories that go with them.:thumbs:

Martin

LOL . I'm into midnightshift number 1 , and .....the car isn't here. I was driving it around on Wed. during the day though. Maybe put 40 miles on it running errands around town. By the time I got it home it was raining pretty good. Washed it in the driveway, put it in the garage and within 15 mins the driveway was white. I shoveled the driveway twice that night. Major snowblowing job today. I'll probably let the city clean the streets before I venture out again. I've seen to many vehicles without winter tires get stuck the last couple days to push my luck.

Ya got to pick and choose those 'good' days. :yesnod:

Tires weren't as wide back then either which helped the cause. I don't think anyone pretends to think a C5/C6 with their wide fat meats would be anything but a disaster in snow. Plus the 4wd revolution, nor FWD cars hadn't become popular yet. So, it was gong to be either the corvette, or maybe the catalina (or another rear wheel drive car)...

If all those cars are in the driveway, I can only imagine what you have in the garage

Bought mine in december and drove it home,worked great but that was the last time it was out in the snow :)

In the garage, was a 1915 Hudson 6-40 Touring car and a 1925 Model T Coupe, so everything else lived outside.

We don't get a whole lot of snow here, so when we do, we are all like kids that have to go out and play in it. I would definitely play in the snow in my vette! Cautiously of course!

We had early snow here, last year, before I could get it into storage. When the roads were dry I got it there immediatley!

Now I waited too long again! Same deal. I really like driving it in the fall, no bugs to clean off!

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I just bought this 76 and had to drive 400 km back to Halifax.
blizzard caught me. this was feb 2007??

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From 1984: :willy:

As mentioned if you know how to drive you can. All my cars are real wheel drive 75 vette, 92 camaro conv and 07 saturn sky redline. All have been driven in the snow at some time.

" ,,, a shot taken over Arizona. Captured at around 9,000 ft from a Cessna on an air tour from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in March 2007. This road hacked into the desert hills above Phoenix has left a permanent scar seen from a small plane at just under 9000 ft . The red has to do with the iron deposits in the ground.
Location: Arizona, USA"

http://www.redbubble.com/people/kasi...na-desert-road

Check out prescott to jerome.

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Picture of yours truly taken around '69-'70 perhaps.No idea whose car it was but it does have snow tires on it.Also still got the wooden sled.:D

Yup, I drove it in the snow. Quite fun too.

First pic is snowed an inch or two, then switched to freezing rain which made for pretty nasty conditions. Passed several 4WD vehicles that were in the ditch on the way into work.

Drive my vette in the snow? Never! That is what the Avalanche is for.
It can't run now anyway wit no engine it.:D

First three years this was my driver, no problems with snow/ice.
Wife also drove it in the snow.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p.../Vetinsnow.jpg

I got lucky and was born in Florida. No snow and great sunny drives year round.

The last time I checked these Corvettes are not made of "Cotton Candy", they will not melt in rain, sleet, snow or ice.

As I looked underneath the under carriage of my 1976 Corvette it has been driven in winter. Big deal, North America has snow. Do your drive your Corvette 12 months of the year? Who cares. If it is not rotting through the frame and body mounts you have no issues IMHO.

Rain is inevitable. I always laughed at car owner clowns that said the car was "never driven in rain" H'mm. I have been caught out in the rain just walking down the street, I am sure they had a bit farther to drive to put the Vette away in a safe haven before it dissolved.

Back to reality, do what you can to protect your investment. It can all come down to a simple tarp or a full blown storage facility. Protect your investment and it will pay you back 10 fold.

Never seen snow huh?????? :rofl:

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I think I'd rather it sat in the elements than have a tarp on it... My current Vette has no clear coat over most of the car because it sat outside under a car cover for a few years. The car cover wore the clear right off.

:iagree:

Yes. You should never own something that is just too precious to use. When that is the case, then, IT owns YOU.

I'm in Trail BC Canada. Here is a pic of my 79 sideways.
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My first Corvette was a 1969 and that was in 1970. It was my only car so I drove it to work every day. It was a 427 with an auto and with 4 studded snow tires it would go through almost anything. C3's are actually really good in snow.
:cheers:

That's a great picture. When my new '74 Coupe showed up at Humphrey Chevrolet in Evanston IL in early March 1974 the drivers window was open about 4 inches. The interior had a nice coating of snow. It sat in the body shop with the T-Tops off for 5 days drying out the interior. It was a daily driver and was fine in snow.

Gotta get to work....
 

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My old '94 coupe under the snow/car cover in Flagstaff. My first '73 drove thru lots of snow in the '70's when I was stationed at Fort Devens, MA.