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When I think of a Corvette, the C3/shark shape seems like *the* definitive Corvette design to me. My Dad had a '65 with a 327 4-speed and I enjoyed the heck out of driving it and it was a bad *****. I don't know what the 0-60 was but it would break the wheels loose in 3 gears (pretty sure it had a 4.11 rear) and I personally never got beaten in the local stoplight wars. Those C2s absolutely are pretty and from what I've seen they go for more money today than C3's but it's always seemed they were a stage in the evolution to the C3 - it's like that's when the designers found *the* shape. I've always thought that basic C3 shark shape is the slickest car design of all time.
Yeah, newer Vettes are better aerodynamically and have high tech gizmotry but the aesthetics of all Vettes after the C3 just don't strike me with the same cool factor. Later gens look like they're all trying to retain some suggestion of the C3 styling. The C3 got kneecapped by emissions regulations but you can always put a hotter than factory engine in them.
Do you have a favorite?
Last edited by brassplyer; 11-12-2018 at 02:04 AM.
You are writing in the c3 forum, so you will most likely get a lot of support, but, I agree with you, there is no Corvette generation that gets even close to the "right look" of a C3. The body styling is simple, clean and sexy. It may not be the most powerful in stock configuration, but it is easily improved. When you read about how the body styling was developed, the car could easily have been different in many ways, and I am glad it became what it did. It is a work of art.
Yes, for me it`s the 68 to 72. I love ALL the Corvettes, and many other makes & models of cars & trucks too, but the chrome bumper C3s were the new thing when I was a kid moving into teen-ager, and first started really noticing girls, and cars. So I think the love for the early shark style has a lot to do with the time I grew up. The sleek, sexy lines were never matched by any other US auto maker.
From birth to 82 vettes were just a standout,
I can only imagine the reactions when people of the day first saw a split window driving along in 63 or a 68 bb rumble by in 68, must have been mind blowing,
But i recall well when c4s came out, i was unimpressed.
84 on to me gm was like "yeah, whatever, corvette name on anything will sell"
From birth to 82 vettes were just a standout,
I can only imagine the reactions when people of the day first saw a split window driving along in 63 or a 68 bb rumble by in 68, must have been mind blowing,
But i recall well when c4s came out, i was unimpressed.
84 on to me gm was like "yeah, whatever, corvette name on anything will sell"
From birth to 82 vettes were just a standout,
I can only imagine the reactions when people of the day first saw a split window driving along in 63 or a 68 bb rumble by in 68, must have been mind blowing,
But i recall well when c4s came out, i was unimpressed.
84 on to me gm was like "yeah, whatever, corvette name on anything will sell"
I have to agree 53 to 82's are Corvettes. The rest are just nice sports cars. Thats what my wife said about the C4 and C5's I had. When you see a C3 you know what it is. No matter what year I had I always went back to a C3.
C3s hands down..................................bu t i also like my C5 and the C7s are growing on me AND i wouldn't mind a C1 if i didnt have to sell a bodily organ..............................
Yes to C3 being my favorite but that's a broad range from 68 to 82. It's my favorite because I can tell you that was the day the Corvette bug bit me...it was in the fall of 1978 and I was riding to school with my mom...we caught the red light next to the Chevy dealer in our little town and sitting in the front show room was a 78 S/A.
I've always liked the 80-82 best; total package, inside (dash/seats) and out with the integrated front and rear spoilers. Timeless. The chrome bumper cars (68-72) are my next favorite but only from the outside...I'm just not a fan of the dash/seats.
As for other models...I fell for the C5 Z body style the day they came out and added one to the stable 12 years ago. Again, timeless.
One day...one day, I'll add a 63 split window but this summer I started looking at wooden boats (57-58 Chris Crafts) and that will certainly suck up my budget and time!
Split window big block C2 is by far my favorite.
I couldn't afford my favorite so I went to my second choice, C3.
I wanted a 68-72, but again budget dictated that I purchased a 73.
At least I was able to get the chrome bumpers on the rear and a big block.
When I think of a Corvette, the C3/shark shape seems like *the* definitive Corvette design to me. I've always thought that basic C3 shark shape is the slickest car design of all time.
I strongly agree with that. I remember when I was 12 or so visiting my sister and telling her how much I liked the looks of Corvettes (At the time I thought the only Corvettes were C3s). She said her son had an aftershave bottle shaped like a Corvette and I thought "That's so cool!". He showed it to me and it was a C2 - my reaction was "Ewww, that's not a Corvette!"
I do like the looks of the C4 (but not nearly as much as the similarly shaped 3rd generation Firebird), but other than that I think all other Corvettes are butt ugly, the only real Corvette to me remains the C3.
Agree, I like all Corvettes for sure, but for me C3's are the best design of all of the generations.
I never liked the C2 design very much and do not understand the appeal at all. The 57, 61, 62 are great, plus C6's are cool, the rest are the "rest" in my view.
I can't decide, so I have an example of each of the C1, C2, C3, and a C4. But I do tend to gravitate towards the C3.....they are as sporty and as sexy as a car can get.
I grew up a fan of 65-68 Mustang fastbacks and still love them. But in my older years I grew to first like and then love the C2 and C3 Corvette convertibles. My
vette is a 69 L46 Convertible 4spd, and I am ashamed to say that I often sneak peeks of her in my garage at night - she is that beautiful! I will be restoring her to near new condition throughout, and then I will have to hang pictures of her at work to bide the time.
I wouldn't kick a C2 or C7 out of the garage, but I only find the C3s appealing. Most of the C3 "problems" are easy to fix (smog engines for the most part, and simple suspension improvements), but the C3 look is unique, and amazing. I, too, prefer the vinyl bumper, bubble window years the best, in part because they are moddable without guilt, but also because I find that chrome makes the car look dated
11-12-2018, 02:03 AM
Is the C3 your favorite generation?
