How fast will a C3 go?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Gale Banks was involved in a c3 Corvette years ago. with a stock body at Bonneville the car exceeded 280 m.p.h. it could not get 300 m.p.h. they put the powertrain in a third generation trans am body and went 300 + .this was of course with a twin Turbo Banks engine with over 1000 h.p.. I'd expect no less from a Guy whostreet drives a Dakota pick up with a diesel that tops 200 m.p.h.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
As pretty as they are, the drag coefficient of an early C3 is horrible. Like maybe 0.55. Very similar to a brick. So to get to serious 3 digit speeds with a C3 requires enormous horsepower. The flares and such that Chevrolet put on the 79 to 82's were an early example of trying to improve that.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 148
From: East London/SW Essex UK
As pretty as they are, the drag coefficient of an early C3 is horrible. Like maybe 0.55. Very similar to a brick. So to get to serious 3 digit speeds with a C3 requires enormous horsepower. The flares and such that Chevrolet put on the 79 to 82's were an early example of trying to improve that.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
As pretty as they are, the drag coefficient of an early C3 is horrible. Like maybe 0.55. Very similar to a brick. So to get to serious 3 digit speeds with a C3 requires enormous horsepower. The flares and such that Chevrolet put on the 79 to 82's were an early example of trying to improve that.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
The C5's and C6's probably present only half to two thirds as much drag to the wind as the earlier cars, so the horsepower requirements for the late model cars to reach very high speeds are significantly less.
I believe Dick Guldstrand was able to get a factory prepared, race prepped '67 L88 up to about 185 mph at Le Mans that year. So maybe a similarly prepared '69 L88 could hit 190. With probably 550 hp. And ***** the size of grapefruits.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
The L88's were Fast and I heard they could reach over 170MPH and the LS6 was quoted at 154MPH in which I have an article comparing the 71 LT1 vs LS5 vs LS6 and Zora was explaining how he was upset that the LS6 was not to be offered after 71.
The C3's don't look like Bricks.. The curves over the front and rear help improve downforce at high speeds and this was done inorder to keep stability at the speeds they could attain! Hence the highier drag coefficient was built purposely into the C3 design and other designs wish they had! (I try to convince myself of this theory..LOL )
The C3's don't look like Bricks.. The curves over the front and rear help improve downforce at high speeds and this was done inorder to keep stability at the speeds they could attain! Hence the highier drag coefficient was built purposely into the C3 design and other designs wish they had! (I try to convince myself of this theory..LOL )
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Probably
The scarce time I had driving my vette i did 180 kph at one time. It didn't feel good. Than again, the car had it's set of problems meaning front and rear alignment and stuff. Since the suspension is a lot tighter now and there are VBP offset front upper arms in there. I think it will be alot better.
The lifting of the front end is a problem imo. For that reason I installed a front stock type wing. Not sure if that will help. I sure will help cooling though.
However I seriously doubt a C3 could hit 200 mph. The drag resistance the car will feel doesn't go up lineary with speed....my guess is 220-240kph is somewhat the limit for the suspension. I think the engine would allow more, but it will become unstable at those speeds. Just my .02
The scarce time I had driving my vette i did 180 kph at one time. It didn't feel good. Than again, the car had it's set of problems meaning front and rear alignment and stuff. Since the suspension is a lot tighter now and there are VBP offset front upper arms in there. I think it will be alot better.
The lifting of the front end is a problem imo. For that reason I installed a front stock type wing. Not sure if that will help. I sure will help cooling though.
However I seriously doubt a C3 could hit 200 mph. The drag resistance the car will feel doesn't go up lineary with speed....my guess is 220-240kph is somewhat the limit for the suspension. I think the engine would allow more, but it will become unstable at those speeds. Just my .02
Last edited by Belgian1979vette; Dec 9, 2011 at 02:42 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,341
Likes: 6
C3's have been over 200 more times than can be counted.
http://www.supercars.net/cars/315.html
"At Le Mans, this car set the GT-class record for top speed down the Le Mans straight with 215 mph."
http://www.supercars.net/cars/315.html
"At Le Mans, this car set the GT-class record for top speed down the Le Mans straight with 215 mph."
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Yup! First time as a kid at Le Mans watching the Ferrari 512's Porsche 917's Lola's, Ford Cosworths.. and Corvette Stingrays!
They were Loud and Fast!
That and having earplugs stuffed in my ears, and wanting a Corvette ever since. Then my neighbor had to wake me up every Saturday morning with his 73 Stingray which had Sidepipes and me running outside to see that car stuck in my mind ever since.
Hence Corvettes from day one were bred to Race the competition. Wake up neighbors and hypnotize young kids like me! LOL
They were Loud and Fast!
That and having earplugs stuffed in my ears, and wanting a Corvette ever since. Then my neighbor had to wake me up every Saturday morning with his 73 Stingray which had Sidepipes and me running outside to see that car stuck in my mind ever since.
Hence Corvettes from day one were bred to Race the competition. Wake up neighbors and hypnotize young kids like me! LOL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Gotta disagree with a couple items. Drag coefficient is not related to frontal area. Drag coefficient is an indication the efficiency of the shape of the object. A very large aircraft can have a low coefficient of drag. Total drag is the product of Cd and frontal area. Total drag is what limits a vehicle passing through air.
Weight is only a minor issue in top speed pursuit. Theoretically weight only affects the rate of acceleration (F=mA), not the top speed. However, a heavy vehicle can have more bearing/tire friction which would limit its top speed, but for our discussion it can be ignored.
Weight is only a minor issue in top speed pursuit. Theoretically weight only affects the rate of acceleration (F=mA), not the top speed. However, a heavy vehicle can have more bearing/tire friction which would limit its top speed, but for our discussion it can be ignored.
