bj1k

I think they felt that they needed to bring back the Stingray name to sell in the numbers that they wanted but I can't see Stingray anywhere in those cars. Should have renamed them altogether and named them something other than Corvette . Corvettes died after the C3's . Here we go !

The13Bats

Its a c3 forum, a thread on c3s, i find it ironic i should feel badly i dont want a c7s....i think you hit nail on head, the name was all about marketing,
Died and or became throw away after c3, same difference really.

bkvette3

A throwback to '68 - enjoy. Those bodylines must of caused quite a stir back then.

RMVette

^^^^

TCracingCA

I was a car magazine reading kid and dreamer, and my Father got subscriptions to all of the good ones! Thus saw them coming very early! I did see the real Mako Shark prior to the C3 production! Don't remember where that was!

Saw one on PCH as we were out on a family outing near Manhattan Beach or Venice or Santa Monica . Then went to work with my Dad the next Saturday and we pulled into Harry Mann in his 1964 Coupe days after that Dealership got the first ones, and he test drove one, while the salesmen taught me to take ups! Maybe at 7 years old, I was the first in the Country to participate in a C3 sale! Shortly after that, my Dad was busted racing (car impounded/loss of license) and Mom was pissed! He wasn't allowed to get a new car for awhile!

Corvette Forum Editor

Figured the front page would be into this conversation too...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...me-or-plastic/

The13Bats

Thank you i am very flattered

René K.

Personally I like the Chrome Bumpers the most but I agree that right after the PU front and rear bumpers all previous C3s looked already like vintage cars. My second place would go to the 80-82s and my third place would be the PU-Bumper cars with front and rear spoiler from the 1978 pace car.
However... all of them are Corvettes and so naturally highly admired icons!

sumrtoy

The 1968 was mind blowing. Someone in the thread wrote about not having spy photos like now, but we did have the mako shark making the car show tour and it showed up in just about every car magazine on the market.

The thing about the soft bumpers is that they gave the look of shaved bumpers... something that custom body shops found hard to do. Yet here they were in a production car. From there you saw many models of cars getting some variation of that. And since, all Corvettes have that look. They don't have to... but they do... which means most people buying 74+ must at least be ok with it.

I think the softees were revolutionary in design and function.

LT4_CE

I was seven when the '68 came out, and my Uncle bought one. He was only 12 years older than me (he had the money due to a family inheritance) and to me he was the coolest guy around, almost like a much older brother, and that Corvette was the coolest thing around. Back then, that car was like a rocket ship! The interior was so modern and just riding around in it with him made me feel like I was as cool as he was.

Up until that time (and even to this day) I remember the C2 coupe being about the most beautiful car ever. I never went for the lines of the convertible. Then when the C4 came out, I fell in love with that. Talk about looking like a rocket ship! Finally with the introduction of the LT1 motor, the C4's performance started to live up to its appearance. Then finally back in 2010, I was able to buy a Corvette; a 1996 LT4. I could afford a used C5 or C6, but I went for the C4, with no regrets.

It's been pretty much those three generations for me (C2, C3, C4) ever since. Although for the C3, the loss of the chrome bumpers took away from its aesthetic appeal, imo. It was originally designed with the chrome bumpers, so to me the early C3's look cleaner, sleeker, more efficient, more powerful! As the years wore on, the styling seemed more like add-ons; you know, change for the sake of change since each new model year required something new. It didn't look more modern to me, just more clunky. Specifically, the proportions were off; adding the plastic bumpers up front and in back made it look too long for its width. Just my $0.02! No offense intended to those that like later C3's.

Only the C7 has really grabbed my attention like the C2's, C3's and C4's did. So I sold my beautiful C4 and bought a Grand Sport. No regrets... although I do miss the C4 from time to time. (is that a regret?) Some day when I have the time and money, I'd like one Corvette from each of those generations. That's my new dream!

PeterC3

The chrome front bumper is sexy, the rear chrome design does not appeal to me.

But I'm coming to think the 74 front bumper design is the best compromise between looks and saftey. It's less fragile than chrome, and the attractive shape is more appealing than my 81's more robust design. But the 74 split backside is unfortunate. Of course, as mentioned in another thread, you can replace with a glass unit... it's only money! :-)

cor28vettes

The 68 came out when I was in VN. I put a brochure pic on my locker (along with some nice rear pics from another mag). Could have bought a new 69 when I got out but another SWC came up FS and I snatched it. Uncle Sam should have picked up my monthly payments on my first SWC since he drafted me without my permission but that didn't work out.

So after I was done with #2 I did get a slightly used 68 427 Vert which I loved as well. Till a deer hit the door and a rear tire exploded which took out the rear Q panel. Then I moved on to a 67 Shelby GT500 428.

12 C3's in all. 68-80. So yes, I loved C3's. All years. T-tops & Verts.

Pics below...
First and second SWC, buddy Bruce C. at my 68 427 (he had his own 68 435 there), and the other side, 67 Shelby GT500 that followed the 68 CV.

The13Bats

I am the opposite of you i like the 73 look, my 69 had a 73-79 front clip and it grew on me, i dont like the show cars with 68-73 rears but they leave the bumpers off, youre not on a track just looks unfinished,

I would like the 74-79 rear bumper far more if it wasnt fast back styling, but the pace car spoiler fixes that in a big way.

cor28vettes

I don't see Stingray in C3's. I see Shark perhaps. Stingray badge entered back after one year absence but there was a reason why the Mako Shark concept car had that name. And it wasn't bc i looked like a Stingray.

Far as the C7 Stingray...it's just as much so, or as little, as the C3 in identity or name. Does not bother me either way. Looking forward to a GS or Z06 in a year and skipping the Stingray base car this time around.

Corvettes will never die. Not as long as I'm around

LT4_CE

Amen!


The choir brother... you are preaching to it!!!

OLE442

I remember sitting in an orange 1968 427 convertible at Langs Chevrolet in Fairborn, Ohio with my little brother. We were in awe of this beautiful piece of car art! I was kind of pissed when my Dad bought a 1968 Impala Custom Coupe instead for the family car....how could he??

I prefer the chrome bumper cars but I'm happy with my 1976 Orange Flame that was previously owned by my cousin. It gets a lot of looks wherever I go!

cor28vettes

He did it for you and little brother. He did not want to strap you guys down on the rear luggage rack, although he may have thought about it a few times I bet.

~Stingray

I love the late 80's. Rubber all the way.

jr73

I saw my first 68 in a TV commercial during "Bewitched" (I think Chevy was a sponsor), I was mesmerized soon I was watching the show just for the commercials.

jonny5cam

The plastic bumpers were forced upon the corvette and us just like the camaro by the same umm...folks that choked horse power levels from over 450 to 185 so, i'm sticking with the chrome. Not to mention how the chrome bumpers gave some contrast to all of that fiberglass.