Corvette Styling - RIP?!?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
Class in session: What the General is bringing back is not a retro Camaro in my opinion. There is something vaguely retro to the rear quarter panels but to what comes to mind isn't clear.
GM originally came out with two designs for the Camaro - One that was retro and one that was NOT - the "WAS NOT" retro won. Here's what was said at the Chevy styling department when the decision was made - Retro will only sell for a few years and then sells will drop off because the customer will get tired of the design.
Take that idiot out and shoot him. All he has to do is look at Ford's numbers for the Mustang. Now the Mustang is comes in many styling accessory fashions, where they originally only had the Base, GT and Cobra. They have added many more in between and above (or beside the Cobra as the case may be).
GM had their chance to retro the Camaro to the 67-69's and they let it slip through their fingers. Heck I may have even bought one. That thing coming out looks like a Mustang would have looked if Ford Had Not Retroed it.
GM originally came out with two designs for the Camaro - One that was retro and one that was NOT - the "WAS NOT" retro won. Here's what was said at the Chevy styling department when the decision was made - Retro will only sell for a few years and then sells will drop off because the customer will get tired of the design.
Take that idiot out and shoot him. All he has to do is look at Ford's numbers for the Mustang. Now the Mustang is comes in many styling accessory fashions, where they originally only had the Base, GT and Cobra. They have added many more in between and above (or beside the Cobra as the case may be).
GM had their chance to retro the Camaro to the 67-69's and they let it slip through their fingers. Heck I may have even bought one. That thing coming out looks like a Mustang would have looked if Ford Had Not Retroed it.
Look at the retro mustang, you instantly recognize it. Same with the new Charger.I look at the new retro Camaro and Huh? instantly pops into my head. It's a shame, too. I've been a Chevy man since I could drive. But I've been looking at a new Mustang.
John
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 545
Likes: 2
From: Peoplez Republik (communist portland) Orygun
The C6 is awesome in every possible way. Looks, style, performance, value, handling, on a real dyno, top-speed, During HPDE / Corevette Challenge days you really get to see what a new Vette is about...Good lardy jeebuz!!! THAT is a car... By far the best made Vette ever. (imho).
Today's Zo6 is much more car than any C1, C2, C3, C4 (aka "giant fiero"), C5.
Best yet, I hope that the C7 (which they've been drawing for a while now) is even better than the C6. That's the cool thing about these cars. Moving forward, staying inspirational. As opposed to "looking backward" or retro for gestalt purpose.
.
Be honest, what part of our beloved C3 looks like a C1 corvette?
not a whole heckofalot. thank goodness huh?
.
Last edited by Vette80regon; Jun 21, 2008 at 02:43 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
I think the notion that the cars are done setting the bar in styling is well taken. We bought a new '03 because we liked it, but I waited impatiently for the C6... anticipating (foolishly) a knockout home run like the '63 or '68. I hated it, still do. The car isn't ugly, but with an NSX rear molded onto the Viper nose, all the undersized rounded curves are obviously a sell-out to the Euro crowd. Corvettes used to be the epitome of American sports car, and now I can't tell it from just another Eurocar. Don't care for Europe anyway, and the idea we are trying to please those clowns makes me dislike the C6 even more.
Oh well, Ill stick with the '58 and the '69 when I want style.
Oh well, Ill stick with the '58 and the '69 when I want style.
All about money. There is no reason to change anything drastically if they're selling right now. They needed sales in Europe and made the changes necessary to compete more over there. Harley Davidson is starting to do the same thing. I kind of like the C6 but I agree it looks too Euro.
I think the camaro was a safe choice for them since it was no longer made and they saw the success of a couple of retro cars but you don't mess with a good selling product when your company is in the state GMs is. I see the vette going to rear engine or something else that will increase sales overseas but I really doubt retro.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
I love the C3's but unfortunaley they were a product of their time all show and little go. A C3 is nothing untill it gets Modded (with the exception of maybe 68-73) the Vettes of today are a total package the C6 is wicked all around I personally think the best looking years are 63/67 73/82 then skip all the way to the C6 body style C4's are nice but lack character. I agree that I like the way the Vette has allways progressed there will allways be styling cues ie. Coke Bottle silouette, quad tails, for the longest pop up lights (I never liked those) but every Vette is allways unmistakeably a Vette they just kind of progress. I think retro with the Vette would be a mistake.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,387
Likes: 534
I love the C3's but unfortunaley they were a product of their time all show and little go. A C3 is nothing untill it gets Modded (with the exception of maybe 68-73) the Vettes of today are a total package the C6 is wicked all around I personally think the best looking years are 63/67 73/82 then skip all the way to the C6 body style C4's are nice but lack character. I agree that I like the way the Vette has allways progressed there will allways be styling cues ie. Coke Bottle silouette, quad tails, for the longest pop up lights (I never liked those) but every Vette is allways unmistakeably a Vette they just kind of progress. I think retro with the Vette would be a mistake.
Lack character?! We're a rolling display of 80's technology! Who DIDN'T love the 80s?
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Tampa by way of MIAMI! FL
Don't get me wrong I've had some great times in C4's but they just were kind of plain, especially after the C3's. I loved them but the styling was kind of plain compared to the other gens.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 6
From: Nevada City California
I'm glad that GM won't or isn't willing to make a retro 'vette. I'm thankful that Mitchell and Duntov were such mavericks in getting what they wanted in style and performance during the early years of the 'shark'.
I just love that coke bottle, pinched waist styling. I love all the gadgetry. The car was light years ahead of anything else American made during the '68 thru '70 years.
I have people all the time come over to the house and not realize that I have two '71 Corvette Stingrays sitting in the garages. When I open up the doors, there mouths drop open and the ooh's and ahh's just come rolling out of their mouths. It's just the greatest feeling to watch people marvel over the looks of these cars, I for one am happy that the cars have never been imitated.
I just love that coke bottle, pinched waist styling. I love all the gadgetry. The car was light years ahead of anything else American made during the '68 thru '70 years.
I have people all the time come over to the house and not realize that I have two '71 Corvette Stingrays sitting in the garages. When I open up the doors, there mouths drop open and the ooh's and ahh's just come rolling out of their mouths. It's just the greatest feeling to watch people marvel over the looks of these cars, I for one am happy that the cars have never been imitated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,387
Likes: 534
There's no rule saying you have to love them all. We'll see in time if the C4 gets a chance to be admired like the earlier generations. It's going to be a while though, the electronics and snake pit of wires scares people. The low mileage C4 Grandsports sure are a hit, though.
Unfortuntately, this problem only gets worse with each new generation that gets tacked onto the Corvette legacy. Just more electrical stuff and new gadgets packed into them meaning more stuff to break. I love the new C6 to death but I cringe at the thought of those around the 200,000 mile mark.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Saginaw Texas
Let me admit this to start, I LOVE the styling of the C3 Vettes and think they are some of the hottest styled cars ever made.
I was watching a program on Corvette Racing the other day and they were talking about all the new technology that went into the C5 and now the C6 to make it more aerodynamic, when I had a thought. These cars, although much faster with lower wind resistance, are having the best parts of the styling taken out of them.
Could GM do a C3 inspired C7 like Mustang did or has the pursuit of 2 additional top speed MPH made styling take the perverbial back seat?
Does anyone else even lament this development?
I was watching a program on Corvette Racing the other day and they were talking about all the new technology that went into the C5 and now the C6 to make it more aerodynamic, when I had a thought. These cars, although much faster with lower wind resistance, are having the best parts of the styling taken out of them.
Could GM do a C3 inspired C7 like Mustang did or has the pursuit of 2 additional top speed MPH made styling take the perverbial back seat?
Does anyone else even lament this development?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2058660
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 9
From: California
I gotta say I wish the C6 looked like this
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1959881
its called the Z03 and I think its already been made, from what I understand, aside from the name and the engine, Chevy had nothing to do with it though
Miles
its called the Z03 and I think its already been made, from what I understand, aside from the name and the engine, Chevy had nothing to do with it though
Miles
I am a Ford guy I own ford trucks and a couple of FE powered Fords but Ford guy or not I own two vettes. I'd love to have a GT but have no desire to own a c6. I'll admit the c6 gets the job done quite well but It just doesn't spark any desire on my part.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
That top shot you posted is the only decent looking one, the ghetto wheels throw off the rest of it and make it look kind of tacky. Not too thrilled with that front slope or windshield/roof thing either. I guess the only thing I like is the early C3-is rear.
I say if someone wants a "new C3 inspired" car, it's easier than we think - just buy the SR-III frame with full suspension, your favorite crate or dealer-ordered LS motor, and find a rust-free C3 to drop on top of it, paint in a modern color, and if you really want to look more modern go for the digital gauges. You now have a "brand new" C3, with all of the latest technology and handling/reliability improvements, with the classic C3 look. The cost to do all of this is around what you would pay for a new Z06 anyway, so why not? If it's not something you can do yourself, you might be able to hire your local restoration shop to do it for you. Heck I've always wondered if doing this very thing would be a viable business ... just modernizing classics and selling them at modern prices with a warranty and everything else just like new cars.
I sense a picture of Frankensport coming...
I say if someone wants a "new C3 inspired" car, it's easier than we think - just buy the SR-III frame with full suspension, your favorite crate or dealer-ordered LS motor, and find a rust-free C3 to drop on top of it, paint in a modern color, and if you really want to look more modern go for the digital gauges. You now have a "brand new" C3, with all of the latest technology and handling/reliability improvements, with the classic C3 look. The cost to do all of this is around what you would pay for a new Z06 anyway, so why not? If it's not something you can do yourself, you might be able to hire your local restoration shop to do it for you. Heck I've always wondered if doing this very thing would be a viable business ... just modernizing classics and selling them at modern prices with a warranty and everything else just like new cars.
I sense a picture of Frankensport coming...
If you can do a lot of the labor you can do it for a lot less then the price of a new Z06. If you can do a lot of labor and forgot the bling, you can probably do it for less than half the price if you find the right donor and good used parts.
I drive it almost every day now, get over 20 plus mpg around down, thumbs out the windows at lights, and the g-force feeling in my stomach when I put my foot into it ever so slightly ;-)
And it looks like a Corvette. At least to me.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,716
Likes: 300
From: Concord VA, U.S.A.
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
Couldn't resist!
If you can do a lot of the labor you can do it for a lot less then the price of a new Z06. If you can do a lot of labor and forgot the bling, you can probably do it for less than half the price if you find the right donor and good used parts.
I drive it almost every day now, get over 20 plus mpg around down, thumbs out the windows at lights, and the g-force feeling in my stomach when I put my foot into it ever so slightly ;-)
And it looks like a Corvette. At least to me.
If you can do a lot of the labor you can do it for a lot less then the price of a new Z06. If you can do a lot of labor and forgot the bling, you can probably do it for less than half the price if you find the right donor and good used parts.
I drive it almost every day now, get over 20 plus mpg around down, thumbs out the windows at lights, and the g-force feeling in my stomach when I put my foot into it ever so slightly ;-)
And it looks like a Corvette. At least to me.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Norwich Connecticut
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,214
Likes: 1,140
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
[QUOTE=milo30;1565952033]
The C6 was made to appease the europeans. That's why it is smaller than a C5. It seems that everyone is trying to sell their cars to them nowadays. QUOTE]
I spotted one C6 in Europe over a 2 week period.
The C6 was made to appease the europeans. That's why it is smaller than a C5. It seems that everyone is trying to sell their cars to them nowadays. QUOTE]
I spotted one C6 in Europe over a 2 week period.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Sharks rule, but I don't see the General doing a retro Vette as, unlike that blue oval company, they've proven not have run out of better ideas 40+ years ago.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 545
Likes: 2
From: Peoplez Republik (communist portland) Orygun
FAIL
I would sell my Vette, cancel my Corvette maganzine subscription, stop going to see ALMS and buy an Audi.
For real, if GM made that "thing" and called it a Corvette, it would be a HUGE leap backwards.