Corvette Model History
04-21-2006, 06:25 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by prseasix
: There were several 1983 Corvettes made -preproduction models used mostly for destructive testing. ONE 1983 Corvette did survive- and it's on display at the National Corvette Museum. It is highly unlikely that it will ever be sold.
04-21-2006, 06:26 PM
#22
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by 2HD's2vettes
No arguement, there are no 1983 vettes for all practical purposes. There are a million people out there that "had one" in the past.
04-21-2006, 06:59 PM
#23
Melting Slicks
A bit more
'53 - '54 Blue flame 6 only
'55 265 V8 introduced, some 6s still produced (7 to be exact)
'57 283 V8 and fuel injection introduced
'62 327 V8 introduced, 2 - 4bbl carb option disappears
'65 disc brakes and 396 big block; last year for Rochester FI
'66 427 big block
'69 350 V8
'70 454 big block
'74 last year for big blocks
'80 last year for L82/350 and 305 required in CA
'82 throttle body 'cross fire' injection
'85 TPI (tuned port injection)
'86 Alumninum heads
'92 LT1 gen II small block
You know the rest, most likely.
Rarest engine option - 1969 ZL1 (aluminum L88) 2 sold
'55 265 V8 introduced, some 6s still produced (7 to be exact)
'57 283 V8 and fuel injection introduced
'62 327 V8 introduced, 2 - 4bbl carb option disappears
'65 disc brakes and 396 big block; last year for Rochester FI
'66 427 big block
'69 350 V8
'70 454 big block
'74 last year for big blocks
'80 last year for L82/350 and 305 required in CA
'82 throttle body 'cross fire' injection
'85 TPI (tuned port injection)
'86 Alumninum heads
'92 LT1 gen II small block
You know the rest, most likely.
Rarest engine option - 1969 ZL1 (aluminum L88) 2 sold
04-21-2006, 07:16 PM
#24
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by Gburg
I do not know how Vette models are classified and released to the public. I am trying to learn my Vette history.
What does the "C" in C6 stand for? Why not "G" for Generation 6? When does the new Z06 model become available for sale? A year after the new Vette generation has been introduced?
2005: C6
2006: C6/Z06
Is this correct....?
Conventional headlight mounts: 1953-1962
Hide-a-way headlight mounts: 1964-2004
Return of "Conventional" headlight mounts: 2005-Date (C6)
Thanks,
Gburg
What does the "C" in C6 stand for? Why not "G" for Generation 6? When does the new Z06 model become available for sale? A year after the new Vette generation has been introduced?
2005: C6
2006: C6/Z06
Is this correct....?
Conventional headlight mounts: 1953-1962
Hide-a-way headlight mounts: 1964-2004
Return of "Conventional" headlight mounts: 2005-Date (C6)
Thanks,
Gburg
04-22-2006, 01:01 PM
#26
Safety Car
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2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Originally Posted by royalcasa
Question regarding two tone pain on corvettes, what was the first year for two tone colors?
04-22-2006, 01:19 PM
#27
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CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
Originally Posted by prseasix
:ONE 1983 Corvette did survive- and it's on display at the National Corvette Museum.
04-22-2006, 01:28 PM
#28
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2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
History at the NCM website:
Have a look at this and the pages that follow it:
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/librar...ine/1951.shtml
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/librar...ine/1951.shtml
04-22-2006, 01:36 PM
#29
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Originally Posted by royalcasa
Question regarding two tone pain on corvettes, what was the first year for two tone colors?
04-22-2006, 02:08 PM
#32
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09
Originally Posted by 3XBlack
There's also some good books out on the C5 development as well as the C6.
All Corvettes are Red is a great read for new C6 owners. It details the corporate intrigue behiind the on-again, off-again introduction of the C5. (ie. How Corvette became a world class GT1 competitor).
04-22-2006, 04:15 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by H&J
If you ever see a '83 for sale. Be suspicious.
If you are not into reading there is a great DVD that tells the history of the corvette excluding the C6. The DVD is -The Fastest 50 Years "CORVETTE". Did you know that the Ford Thunderbird saved the Corvettes but! When the vette first started there were only 300 built in 1953 and they were saved for celebraties, political people, sports personalities, ect... and they didn't sell well (not to mention it was only a six cylinder). In 1953 Chevrolet sold 1,542,480 cars and only 180 were Corvettes out of the 300 that were built. So they thought there was no market for a sports car and they were going to cancel Corvette. Corvette struggled through 1954 with color chances and a few minor things but was going to be cancelled. Then in 1955 Corvette only sold 700 cars, the Thunderbird sold 4000 the first DAY. That is when GM knew there was a market for a sports car but they were going about it the wrong way.
The name "Corvette" came from a speedy class world War II British War ship. There were 1500 names that were summitted. Then on Sept 27, 1952 the name was offiically given to the car. (Sept 27 is my birthday even though it is not the same year so this made me love Vette's even more). The code name until a name was found was "Project Opal Sports Car".
Last edited by APLark; 04-22-2006 at 04:49 PM.
04-22-2006, 04:49 PM
#34
Who is responsible for the world using the terms C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, & C6?
Nobody called them by those names until the C5 came out in 1997, then we started assigning the names to the older cars.
Prior to the 1997 Vette nobody would have know what a C1, C2, C3, or C4 Corvette was. If someone told you in 1995 that I owned a C4 Corvette you would have asked them what the hell is a C4?
Who is responsible for this?
Nobody called them by those names until the C5 came out in 1997, then we started assigning the names to the older cars.
Prior to the 1997 Vette nobody would have know what a C1, C2, C3, or C4 Corvette was. If someone told you in 1995 that I owned a C4 Corvette you would have asked them what the hell is a C4?
Who is responsible for this?
04-22-2006, 05:22 PM
#35
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According to Corvette Mike in a interview the C5 was the first Vette to use it's platform name C5 and then it just went backwards. But at the plant where Vette's were being built that is the name for each generation as it was being built and with the C5 it just carried out to the public.
04-22-2006, 06:09 PM
#36
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1975 was the last year for the convertible in a C3 body style.
1986 was the first year for a convertible in a C4 body style.
1998 was the first year for a convertible in a C5 body style.
The color black was not offered on a Corvette from 1970 to 1976 but a few cars were special ordered and the paint code tag said SPEC.
1986 was the first year for a convertible in a C4 body style.
1998 was the first year for a convertible in a C5 body style.
The color black was not offered on a Corvette from 1970 to 1976 but a few cars were special ordered and the paint code tag said SPEC.
04-22-2006, 06:29 PM
#37
Team Owner
Originally Posted by Indy-hp
The C4 was supposed to be released in the Fall of 1982 as an 83 model, but was plagued by bugs and was so late coming out, it debuted as an 84 in mid-1983. As a result, there was no 83 Corvette.
Tom
Last edited by AFVETTE; 04-22-2006 at 06:31 PM.
04-22-2006, 06:42 PM
#38
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by xs650
It's C for Corvette so as to not be confused with a Gremlin or GMC. 
C1 1953-1962 Solid rear axle, mostly shortened Chevy sedan based chassis with fiberglass body.
C2 1963-1967 Independant rear suspension, still with a lot of Chevy sedan parts in the chassis.
C3 1968-1982 restlyled C2, lots of changes but still basically the same car with a new body.
C4 1984-1996 First Corvette with a Corvette exclusive chassis designed from the ground up as a Corvette.
C5 1997-2004 Major technical leap over the C4 as a purpose built modern sports car.
C6 2005-???? New body, basically still a lot of C5 and improved C5 stuff under the skin.
C1 1953-1962 Solid rear axle, mostly shortened Chevy sedan based chassis with fiberglass body.
C2 1963-1967 Independant rear suspension, still with a lot of Chevy sedan parts in the chassis.
C3 1968-1982 restlyled C2, lots of changes but still basically the same car with a new body.
C4 1984-1996 First Corvette with a Corvette exclusive chassis designed from the ground up as a Corvette.
C5 1997-2004 Major technical leap over the C4 as a purpose built modern sports car.
C6 2005-???? New body, basically still a lot of C5 and improved C5 stuff under the skin.
Michael
04-22-2006, 09:05 PM
#39
Pro
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Originally Posted by DCBE
Good source!!
Thanks,
Gburg
04-22-2006, 10:40 PM
#40
Race Director
Originally Posted by mforman42
'53 - '54 Blue flame 6 only
'55 265 V8 introduced, some 6s still produced (7 to be exact)
'57 283 V8 and fuel injection introduced
'62 327 V8 introduced, 2 - 4bbl carb option disappears
'65 disc brakes and 396 big block; last year for Rochester FI
'66 427 big block
'69 350 V8
'70 454 big block
'74 last year for big blocks
'80 last year for L82/350 and 305 required in CA
'82 throttle body 'cross fire' injection
'85 TPI (tuned port injection)
'86 Alumninum heads
'92 LT1 gen II small block
You know the rest, most likely.
Rarest engine option - 1969 ZL1 (aluminum L88) 2 sold
'55 265 V8 introduced, some 6s still produced (7 to be exact)
'57 283 V8 and fuel injection introduced
'62 327 V8 introduced, 2 - 4bbl carb option disappears
'65 disc brakes and 396 big block; last year for Rochester FI
'66 427 big block
'69 350 V8
'70 454 big block
'74 last year for big blocks
'80 last year for L82/350 and 305 required in CA
'82 throttle body 'cross fire' injection
'85 TPI (tuned port injection)
'86 Alumninum heads
'92 LT1 gen II small block
You know the rest, most likely.
Rarest engine option - 1969 ZL1 (aluminum L88) 2 sold