GM Track Car?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,017
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St. Jude Donor '10
I don't know if Id call them "nearly stock" but here is a little more info and pics on the Z06RR project.
http://www.tv4autos.com/forum/viewto...p=15830#p15830
Last edited by SurfnSun; Jan 30, 2012 at 08:35 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 278
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From: recently back to Fort Lauderdale Florida
The Mustang that was running in GT at the 24 was built from spare parts , 302R engine, a 4 speed cup tranny, 9" straight axle.
Unfortunately they had problems but cars costing 10 times as much did too. They had about 70k into it....
And the Only GT Corvette was running a stock type transaxle and stock rear brake calipers :-)
Unfortunately they had problems but cars costing 10 times as much did too. They had about 70k into it....
And the Only GT Corvette was running a stock type transaxle and stock rear brake calipers :-)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,629
Likes: 19
From: Chesapeake VA
It was annoying to see an all Porsche show in GT yesterday. I kept wanting to see the Ferrari and Camaro get back up there, but it wasn't to be. Porsche has done a masterful job supporting racing; Mazda has too. Not sure why GM can't/won't do something similar... maybe too many bean counters? When the Z06-X appeared I was excited only to find that it was merely a concept car.
Last edited by travisnd; Jan 30, 2012 at 03:54 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Burlington NC
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
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From: Houston TX
It was annoying to see an all Porsche show in GM yesterday. I kept wanting to see the Farrari and Camaro get back up there, but it wasn't to be. Porsche has done a masterful job supporting racing; Mazda has too. Not sure why GM can't/won't do something similar... maybe too many bean counters? When the Z06-X appeared I was excited only to find that it was merely a concept car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 980
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From: Des Moines Iowa
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,629
Likes: 19
From: Chesapeake VA
Good spelling there. Suprised I didn't fat finger Camero in there as well.
I think GM has the 911 in their sights as far as how they manage the Corvette brand. Of late, they have been offering more customization from the factory: stiching color choices, brake caliper colors, headlight colors, more wheel options, etc. etc.
I think GM has the 911 in their sights as far as how they manage the Corvette brand. Of late, they have been offering more customization from the factory: stiching color choices, brake caliper colors, headlight colors, more wheel options, etc. etc.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 4
From: Houston TX
Good spelling there. Suprised I didn't fat finger Camero in there as well.
I think GM has the 911 in their sights as far as how they manage the Corvette brand. Of late, they have been offering more customization from the factory: stiching color choices, brake caliper colors, headlight colors, more wheel options, etc. etc.
I think GM has the 911 in their sights as far as how they manage the Corvette brand. Of late, they have been offering more customization from the factory: stiching color choices, brake caliper colors, headlight colors, more wheel options, etc. etc.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,439
Likes: 920
From: CONCORD NC
I think the GT3 Corvettes are as "stock" as any race car. Other than the Coil-overs and minor body mods, they are very production based.
I know the intent of GT3 was to be a restricted, production based series, but looking at the 2011 races (sans corvette) it looks like the Ferraris and Audis pushed the limits higher than the original intent.
I know the intent of GT3 was to be a restricted, production based series, but looking at the 2011 races (sans corvette) it looks like the Ferraris and Audis pushed the limits higher than the original intent.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
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Wonder what their autoworkers make compared to ours?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
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From: Houston TX
I'm not sure about their wages, but I bet they don't have janitors and fork lift drivers making 6 figures like we do in the UAW here.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 14
From: Phoenixville, PA
About wages:
In 2010, Germany produced more than 5.5 million automobiles; the U.S produced 2.7 million. At the same time, the average auto worker in Germany made $67.14 per hour in salary in benefits; the average one in the U.S. made $33.77 per hour. Yet Germany’s big three car companies—BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz), and Volkswagen—are very profitable.
.........
Does such a happy relationship survive when German automakers set up shop in the U.S.? No. As a historian observes in the article, “BMW is a German company and it has a very German hierarchy and management system in Germany,” yet “when they are operating in Spartanburg [in South Carolina] they have become very, very easily adaptable to Spartanburg business culture.” At Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, the nonunionized new employees get $14.50 an hour, which rises to $19.50 after three years.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/frederic...twice-as-much/
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
IIRC Porsche makes their profit of currency speculation and spread, not on the sale of their cars.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
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From: Phoenixville, PA
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 4
From: WA
there's nat geo documentary out there for the build process for 911 cars. Light years ahead of most automakers and it is obvious there is a heavy (and ongoing) investment in both automation/robotics as well as worker training and quality control. I would seriously doubt there is a big per car profit margin. those people are insane about doing every little thing the right way, even if they have to pay triple to do it, if you ever opened up your corvette, you know that GM is nowhere near that.
GT3 cup cars are reliable, consistent and (relatively) affordable given what they are. With some adjstments, they are also competetive in several clubs' classes. Not to mention they are very fast, and more or less newbie friendly, at least from what I heard form ppl with experience driving them.
Corvette, in GM factory trim, is a platform, in later generations a capable one, but still just a platform.
911 Cup is a purpose-developed car that came along at just the right time. I doubt GM can repeat that success by slapping some Pfadt parts on the Corvette that was designed primarily for street use
GT3 cup cars are reliable, consistent and (relatively) affordable given what they are. With some adjstments, they are also competetive in several clubs' classes. Not to mention they are very fast, and more or less newbie friendly, at least from what I heard form ppl with experience driving them.
Corvette, in GM factory trim, is a platform, in later generations a capable one, but still just a platform.
911 Cup is a purpose-developed car that came along at just the right time. I doubt GM can repeat that success by slapping some Pfadt parts on the Corvette that was designed primarily for street use
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 14
From: Phoenixville, PA
A new cup car is $230k.
I cannot believe we are even comparing these two.
Spend $230k on a vette and see where you end up vs a cup car.
What difference does it make whether GM builds the car or not?
I cannot believe we are even comparing these two.
Spend $230k on a vette and see where you end up vs a cup car.
What difference does it make whether GM builds the car or not?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,369
Likes: 179
From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
There was talk of building the ZO6X ( by Pratt& Miller again) several times. and some talk of the Tom B special, stripped out bare bones white GS, But never happened do to volume needs to make the production profitable. One of the Top Corvette Engineers was in Raleigh Jan 14 and we did asked him these questions.
the C7 development is talking all the time now.
here are some hints, After the 2012 Z06 and the 2012 GS vert with a 427 production stopping in May the 427 will go away. Not to come back in the C7. Gooberment fuel regs.
Dont look for the same models of the C6, GS, Z06, or ZR1 in the C7 at any time
C7 is a jump in design like the C4 to the C5 vs an evolution of the C5 to the C6.
Increase in HP:WT in base model and increase in fuel mileage too
the C7 development is talking all the time now.
here are some hints, After the 2012 Z06 and the 2012 GS vert with a 427 production stopping in May the 427 will go away. Not to come back in the C7. Gooberment fuel regs.
Dont look for the same models of the C6, GS, Z06, or ZR1 in the C7 at any time
C7 is a jump in design like the C4 to the C5 vs an evolution of the C5 to the C6.
Increase in HP:WT in base model and increase in fuel mileage too
Fuel regs should not affect the Corvette as regs are usually a part of the entire production range and I have to assume that GM produces enough other cars in the range to meet regs. If not, then the Z06 with the LS7 should already be in the clear with mid-high 20's highway mpg. And even if not that, they could sacrifice the base C7 performance and then sell a high performance V8 for the Z06/ZR-1. Then again, going turbo is always an option since it actually helps improve gas mileage and emissions. Always liked them better than SC anyways.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 379
From: NSL UT
If I understand correctly, that sucks!!!
Fuel regs should not affect the Corvette as regs are usually a part of the entire production range and I have to assume that GM produces enough other cars in the range to meet regs. If not, then the Z06 with the LS7 should already be in the clear with mid-high 20's highway mpg. And even if not that, they could sacrifice the base C7 performance and then sell a high performance V8 for the Z06/ZR-1. Then again, going turbo is always an option since it actually helps improve gas mileage and emissions. Always liked them better than SC anyways.
Fuel regs should not affect the Corvette as regs are usually a part of the entire production range and I have to assume that GM produces enough other cars in the range to meet regs. If not, then the Z06 with the LS7 should already be in the clear with mid-high 20's highway mpg. And even if not that, they could sacrifice the base C7 performance and then sell a high performance V8 for the Z06/ZR-1. Then again, going turbo is always an option since it actually helps improve gas mileage and emissions. Always liked them better than SC anyways.
It should not effect it would be sad day to see the 427 go. Who has made a turbo performance car with a smaller displacement that gets better MPG than a Z06 that has the same power?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,369
Likes: 179
From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
However I personally do not want to see a turbo Z06. I'd rather see a bulletproof NA version of the LS9.