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: