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There are plenty of filthy rich people who want the "latest and greatest" of whatever comes out new. They are not overwrought with emotion, either. They just want to show off to their cronies and, hopefully, make others jealous of what they have. My experience indicates that MOST (certainly not ALL) owners of new (or relatively new) Corvettes have absolutely no real interest in cars. They just want to show off. We get lots of C6/C7 owners to attend our monthly car shows [Apr-Oct] and they rarely are seen looking at any other cars. They just like to sit by their cars and watch others looking at THEM. You know what they say about big egos....
This past Summer I had lunch with the President of General Motors (Barry Engle, former boss at Ford/longtime friend, now moving on to a new adventure as a private equity company owner). A true car guy and a genuinely good, humble person. He proposed that we take my C3 to lunch as he had recently been driving a C8 (by coincidence he drove over for dinner last July (2019) the same day they announced the C8 and he was pretty thrilled with the media's feedback on the vehicle). He lives in a quiet residential neighborhood, kids, including his own were everywhere, so taking a virgin cruise in a hopped up flagship C3 chromie vs. my `slower but just as fun/beautiful `last of the breed' wouldn't have made much difference to his first C3 experience that day a few weeks ago. He seemed to greatly enjoy driving the C3. He obviously had a lot on his mind, but you could tell he was taking it all in from his focus, body language, studying the instrument panel/gauges, feeling the steering wheel on turns, and smiling while gazing down the long hood, etc. No doubt he was thinking, `how do we reignite the same passion for the C8 that this car had in its generation.'
As an aside, his initial comments were - "this paint is better than when it came out of Bowling Green' in `82" (picking up that I had it repainted with more modern 2-stage PPG paint technology), and after getting situated, looking around and bumping elbows while we were both buckling in. after a moment he said "I didn't realize how cozy these [C3 interiors] are looking from the outside". I reminded him that they were perfect for their day - and, the NASA astronauts thought so, too! Later, after he drove us back to his home and I left, I am quite certain that he was beaming and sharing his experience with his team during the next Webex meeting that he was on his way, to after a long lunch.
In keeping with the scope of the O/P's post, C8's have a rightful place in Corvette history and I really hope they excel for all the right reasons - but, C3's will never lose their rightful place - and, know that the top of the house in GM still appreciates/respects what they did for the Corvette brand - and, can enjoy driving them the same as you and I in this awesome hobby.
Thought you might enjoy this `behind the scenes' GM executive impression.
Last edited by Lakeside49; Dec 15, 2020 at 09:57 PM.
That’s your opinion on the C3.....I disagree. Late model C3 corvettes are 90 percent the same as a 69 and some of us actually like them better.
c8 looks like a cartoon car.
C3 entered with a bang and went out with a bang. The 68-72 are beautiful. The 80-82 are really pretty. The ones between are huhum. No that I hate them but the 70's wasn't a good decade for cars in general. Hell, I love the Lamborghini Countach but the early ones were *** ugly. Looked lock a wedge. Just a bad time for cars. I'm not loving the C8 but times change. It took awhile for the C7 to grow on me. I hope the C8 wide body versions look a lot better. I hate how the front of the C8 angles under.
Sacrifice too much on styling and nobody wants the car. Most folks buy a car based on EMOTION. The modern Corvettes do not tug at my emotions. They may be technologically superior, but I am not a race driver and, if I had one, I could never use it as it was intended. So, it becomes a relatively expensive car, which doesn't "trip my trigger", with which I cannot utilize its capabilities. What's wrong with that picture???
Unfortunately, you and I aren't the target consumer any longer, Chevrolet is wanting younger buyers. So far it is working but they need to make sure that they don't lose us. We older men who have the money have been the ones keeping the corvette alive. If we bail on them they might be in trouble.
Me and you think alike. I bought this 69 convertible as a project, and its a big one. I have the birdcage seperated from the underbody, front clip off, and both rear fenders will be off before I am done. Frame is stripped down to bare, all weld spatter cleaned up, ready for blasting. One step at a time. I just spent five hours outside in the cold, stripping paint off the birdcage, with stripper, scotchbrite pads, and putty knifes. Some would say I am crazy.....but this is along journey with my new and beautiful C3 Corvette. I will essentially be starting over,......but I love it, and it will be built better than Chevy built it. You could give me a C8,.....and I would sell it to buy another C3.,,,,,or maybe just pay for this one!!!
7T1vette, on the mark, it’s called Emotion! My wife doesn’t get why I like
cars, 61 and still love them. C8 is one awesome car....but does not make me say wow. Like my father said, we are not all constipated Alike! Lol
I admit that I'm biased toward the a red C3, but yours is really indicative of why the white/red scheme was the most popular in its day. Nice car.
