Options GM should've offered on C2's
09-02-2015, 03:14 PM
#21
Melting Slicks
09-02-2015, 03:15 PM
#22
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2000
Location: Washington Michigan
Posts: 38,899
Received 1,857 Likes
on
1,100 Posts
Don't forget the basic rule - the cost of development, tooling and facilities must be covered by increased incremental volume/profit generated by the option, and midyear Corvette volume at 120 per day was a pitiful, almost insignificant number compared to models like Impala/Caprice, which ran at SIX THOUSAND UNITS PER DAY (373 per hour). We were lucky to have what we got! 
09-02-2015, 04:21 PM
#23
Race Director
First off, I don't ever remember seeing mid-years with flares, until the late 60's or maybe even the early 70's. Even the Grands Sports, originally had stock wheel openings. The flares were added a little later in 63.
In the 60's, most people needing extra clearance for larger tires, just radiused the wheel opening, to gain the needed clearance. Flares weren't allowed in road racing until about 1973, and I don't think they were too common on street Corvettes before then either.
I don't think the Grand Sports had much influence on customizers of the 60's. There were only 5 Grand Sports built, and they really weren't well known. They weren't raced very much, and they weren't allowed to compete in the production classes, where the Cobras and regular Corvettes raced. 58 Impalas introduced the 6 tail lamps, and people were adding them to 61-62's, long before anyone ever saw a Grand Sport. Customizers back then were much more likely to mimic what they saw on drag cars, than road racers.
Here's a look at a Hot Rod Magazine article from 1963, showing how to radius the wheel wells on a Corvette. This is how tire clearance was gained in the 60's, not with flares.
In the 60's, most people needing extra clearance for larger tires, just radiused the wheel opening, to gain the needed clearance. Flares weren't allowed in road racing until about 1973, and I don't think they were too common on street Corvettes before then either.
I don't think the Grand Sports had much influence on customizers of the 60's. There were only 5 Grand Sports built, and they really weren't well known. They weren't raced very much, and they weren't allowed to compete in the production classes, where the Cobras and regular Corvettes raced. 58 Impalas introduced the 6 tail lamps, and people were adding them to 61-62's, long before anyone ever saw a Grand Sport. Customizers back then were much more likely to mimic what they saw on drag cars, than road racers.
Here's a look at a Hot Rod Magazine article from 1963, showing how to radius the wheel wells on a Corvette. This is how tire clearance was gained in the 60's, not with flares.
09-02-2015, 04:41 PM
#24
Melting Slicks
I wasn't commenting on whether the 6 taillights was a good thing or not, just saying that back then everyone was doing all sort of customizing, crazy paint, etc, and if the 6 lights were offered by GM and became more mainstream, it seemed to me that they would be less of a "personalization" for some people.
It didn't happen for the reasons spelled out by JohnZ.
I think it's just as well that there weren't different exterior trim levels. Makes us all look more like family.
09-02-2015, 06:45 PM
#25
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes
on
1,398 Posts
What Dan and big said. Everyone wanted better tires that could keep up with the performance level of the car. During that time period, radials were available. Wider bias belted tires were, too. GM could have widened the wheel houses a bit for a wider combo, or performed a mild flare to allow better rubber. 5 speeds and rack and pinions were not really of that era. Gas was cheap, overdrives rare. So I vote for bigger tire combos and the mods needed to make them work. That could have been done at the time, very easily.
09-02-2015, 06:47 PM
#26
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes
on
1,398 Posts
Well, they did delete that ugly split back window starting with '64. No option, just do it!
09-02-2015, 07:27 PM
#27
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
Posts: 49,002
Received 6,943 Likes
on
4,782 Posts
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
GM did offer a wider rear tire option It came out in 68
But seeing how the GM big cars had power vent windows i never understood why Vettes did not. Most if not alL GM cars with power locks were really vacuum operated So I'm glad it wasn't used. Also why they couldn't come up with a tilt column
But seeing how the GM big cars had power vent windows i never understood why Vettes did not. Most if not alL GM cars with power locks were really vacuum operated So I'm glad it wasn't used. Also why they couldn't come up with a tilt column
09-02-2015, 08:56 PM
#28
Safety Car
09-02-2015, 09:26 PM
#29
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2007
Location: Richmond Kentucky
Posts: 5,719
Received 1,240 Likes
on
457 Posts
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Modified
2021 C2 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C1 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year (stock)
C2 of Year Winner (stock) 2019
2017 C1 of the Year Finalist
Y'all can have your oscillation overthrusters and gravitic anomalizers and flux capacitors and heads ups and mirrors.
For me, I would have checked whatever THIS option was
For me, I would have checked whatever THIS option was
09-02-2015, 10:29 PM
#30
Race Director
09-03-2015, 08:26 AM
#31
Race Director
