Why does the Corvette hood open backwards ?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 2
From: long beach California
why is the sky blue?
lol
op is a good question would also like to know if there is any actual reason given by gm for the "corvette hood" never having been changed
if I had to guess I would say it is a heritage pedigree type of thing more than anything else. in 1953 reverse hood, or side opening hoods was standard on pretty much anything that was perceived to go fast. the idea was to keep the hood from flying up in a unwanted pop open scenario we all know that. it made plenty of scents too, figure you hit a deer in a c1-c2 at 70mph. hood flew open b/c the hole front of the car is thrashed (fiberglass body remember) so they put a reverse opening hood on. Then as the cars evolved they didn't change the "corvette" hood because it became an icon to the vehicle. jmo though
lol
op is a good question would also like to know if there is any actual reason given by gm for the "corvette hood" never having been changed
if I had to guess I would say it is a heritage pedigree type of thing more than anything else. in 1953 reverse hood, or side opening hoods was standard on pretty much anything that was perceived to go fast. the idea was to keep the hood from flying up in a unwanted pop open scenario we all know that. it made plenty of scents too, figure you hit a deer in a c1-c2 at 70mph. hood flew open b/c the hole front of the car is thrashed (fiberglass body remember) so they put a reverse opening hood on. Then as the cars evolved they didn't change the "corvette" hood because it became an icon to the vehicle. jmo though
Last edited by jesse10886; Jun 20, 2013 at 05:51 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Salem Ohio
Just a thought, It was an error that the engineer made and it made it all the way through to the end of the production line. By the time quality control realized it they made too many cars to change it.
In NE Ohio the sky is often grey not blue
Just fooling around anyone with the real answer it would be interesting to find out why.
In NE Ohio the sky is often grey not blueJust fooling around anyone with the real answer it would be interesting to find out why.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 46
From: Hebron IN
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
MY '72 vert has been highly modded, and so the hood is hinged from the cowl the way GOD intended, reason?? up and over fresh air intake....
see my sites, you maybe have to cut/paste into the tag line.....
see my sites, you maybe have to cut/paste into the tag line.....
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Alternatively you would have to fire up the engine in order to open the headlights so you could then unscrew the headlight bezel for you to be able to reach far enough to the inside through the headlight assembly to reach the latch mechanism on the front of the hood.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
In an accident the GM engineers wanted the hood to open just enough to decapitate the driver and passenger. No witnesses - no lawsuits. No wait - that was Ford!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
It because when they were making the corvette they wanted the motor in the back and have rear steering. But when they started to build the car they put the interior the wrong way. Seeing how much better it was they never look back.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 98
Likes: 3
From: West Chester OHIO
Not sure, but i bet weight had something to do with. Hinges at the front and effectively manually opening is clearly lighter than if the hinges were at the back and then would most likely would have to include a spring system or can you image a rod support. Hey, a couple lbs. savings is what it is -- lighter.