Corvette Models - Comparative Dimensions
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Corvette Models - Comparative Dimensions
Hi All,
Over the years I've had C1's, C2's, C3's and, now a C4. Looking at the C4 it seems to be lower, longer and wider than the earlier models. Looks can be deceiving, so I put together a little chart comparing the dimensions of the various Corvette models. It has yielded some unexpected results. For instance, the C4 shares the same length with the C1 and the new C7 and, only the C6 is shorter. Additionally, the C4 has the lowest height and the shortest wheelbase. Only the C3 had a lower Length-to-Wheelbase Ratio. The C3 must have had the longest overhang though the C4 appears (to my eyes) to be the winner of that category!
See what the numbers reveal to you:
Over the years I've had C1's, C2's, C3's and, now a C4. Looking at the C4 it seems to be lower, longer and wider than the earlier models. Looks can be deceiving, so I put together a little chart comparing the dimensions of the various Corvette models. It has yielded some unexpected results. For instance, the C4 shares the same length with the C1 and the new C7 and, only the C6 is shorter. Additionally, the C4 has the lowest height and the shortest wheelbase. Only the C3 had a lower Length-to-Wheelbase Ratio. The C3 must have had the longest overhang though the C4 appears (to my eyes) to be the winner of that category!
See what the numbers reveal to you:
Last edited by DrDyno; Jan 1, 2014 at 02:26 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Hi All,
Over the years I've had C1's, C2's, C3's and, now a C4. Looking at the C4 it seems to be lower, longer and wider than the earlier models. Looks can be deceiving, so I put together a little chart comparing the dimensions of the various Corvette models. It has yielded some unexpected results. For instance, the C4 shares the same length with the C1 and the new C7 and, only the C6 is shorter. Additionally, the C4 has the lowest height and the shortest wheelbase. Only the C3 had a lower Length-to-Wheelbase Ratio. The C3 must have had the longest overhang though the C4 appears (to my eyes) to be the winner of that category!
See what the numbers reveal to you:
Over the years I've had C1's, C2's, C3's and, now a C4. Looking at the C4 it seems to be lower, longer and wider than the earlier models. Looks can be deceiving, so I put together a little chart comparing the dimensions of the various Corvette models. It has yielded some unexpected results. For instance, the C4 shares the same length with the C1 and the new C7 and, only the C6 is shorter. Additionally, the C4 has the lowest height and the shortest wheelbase. Only the C3 had a lower Length-to-Wheelbase Ratio. The C3 must have had the longest overhang though the C4 appears (to my eyes) to be the winner of that category!
See what the numbers reveal to you:
Perhaps I'm missing something here but I've only seen length/wheelbase ratios or the concern of that when evaluating RV's or "straight" trucks OR when evaluating any vehicle being considered for towing. It becomes a matter of concern in those environments.
Overhang?
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jan 1, 2014 at 06:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
You've done a considerable bit of "rounding" and there seems to be maybe discrepancies but generally speaking they qualify as "approximate".
Perhaps I'm missing something here but I've only seen length/wheelbase ratios or the concern of that when evaluating RV's or "straight" trucks OR when evaluating any vehicle being considered for towing. It becomes a matter of concern in those environments.
Overhang?
Perhaps I'm missing something here but I've only seen length/wheelbase ratios or the concern of that when evaluating RV's or "straight" trucks OR when evaluating any vehicle being considered for towing. It becomes a matter of concern in those environments.
Overhang?
This little exercise was not done for engineering purposes... just to satisy my curiosity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Interesting. Good info. I like looking at and comparing specs too.
I think the C5 height is incorrect though. My C5's look to be about the same as my C4. I looked up my '99's on the corvette action center and found the C5's height to be 47.7"-47.9" or rounded to 48".
I think the C5 height is incorrect though. My C5's look to be about the same as my C4. I looked up my '99's on the corvette action center and found the C5's height to be 47.7"-47.9" or rounded to 48".
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
WITH CORRECTED (C5) DATA
Last edited by DrDyno; Jan 1, 2014 at 02:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 914
Likes: 277
From: St. Petersburg FL
Added Height/Length Data... The C3, again, has the lowest ratio, followed by the the C4. The C7 is very similar to the C2. You've got to wonder what goes on in the minds of the designers!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 48
From: Henderson Nevada
Wow, that's pretty surprising about the C4's length. The simply defined, sleek long nose design really makes quite the illusion, doesn't it? Makes sense, though. They were really targeting the EU sports cars of the era.
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 20
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Dave Mclellan was going after an exotic bunch from Europe and designed accordingly for the time. No different then what Duntov did for the 63's.
Ferarri 308GTS specs
Length 172.4 in
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 321
Likes: 2
From: Auburndale FL
I damn sure wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.
The C6 is 2 inches shorter than the C4 but yet its wheel base is 10 inches longer. I just find that incredible, of course it might be the adult beverages talking....
The C6 is 2 inches shorter than the C4 but yet its wheel base is 10 inches longer. I just find that incredible, of course it might be the adult beverages talking....