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This C designation nonsense

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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 07:14 AM
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Default This C designation nonsense

Whats with this C designation? Mybe somebody can explain to me when the 84 - 96 Vettes became C4's. If its a major configuration change maybe I could understand but for instance, the supposed C1 - C2's are 53's through 67's? I seem to remember 4 different body styles between those years. Two different suspension set up's also??? So is it suspension, if thats it then the 1968's - 1982 should be thrown in to the C1 - C2 group. Then what makes the C3?? Would the C4 roll back to a C3? How does this all add up?? I'm having a little fun here :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 08:23 AM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (indypbody)

It's a complicated thing, the "C" stands for chassis. So C1 is the first chassis design, C2 the 2nd etc. But you are right, the 63-67 share the same chassis as the 68-70 something(I forget when they changed it slightly.) But somewhere along the line, they called the C4 the C4, before that they never called it anything but solid axles and mid years and sharks.

So it was in the early 80's they started using the "C" designation to identify the car. Or actually it might have been the C5 that started all the "C" stuff I'm not really sure.
I never really noticed until the C5 came out that they used the "C" designation.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 09:10 AM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Mr Mojo)

I never recall anyone saying C4 until the C5's came out. It was "late model" if I remember. I do remember C1-C3 I think but never called mine a C4 until now. ;)
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 09:20 AM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (VetteBabe1)

I never recall anyone saying C4 until the C5's came out.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 03:31 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (indypbody)

If I remember correctly, one of the car magazines mentioned the 'C' designation in the early 80's. GM had codenamed the next Vette the C4, but when it came out, it was called "The Wedge" by previous Vette owners.
Solid Axle
Mid-Year
Shark
Wedge
What the hell is that thing?!? (C5 :lol: ).
That's what I grew up hearing anyway :yesnod:
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 03:35 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (92Shawnster)

I heard Chevy came up with it exclusively for the CorvetteForum so we wouldn't have to spell out "third generation" or "fourth" generation" etc. in our posts :D
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 03:38 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Mr Mojo)

I had thought that "C" just stood for Corvette, and the number was the generation. I had a little trouble with this because to me there are four distinct body styles in the C1 designation. It makes more sense if C stands for chassis, but was the chassis actually identical from '53 to '62?
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 04:06 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Silver 96)

GM started using it alot to describe the C5 when it came out. As the 5th major redesign of the exterior.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 04:18 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (vader86)

How is it nonsense? It just helps to group the cars so you know what era your talking about. Don't sweat things so much. It will make an old man out of yah! BTW, C4's were being called that way before there were any C5's. It was used on one of the first forums I ever got on. It was some dyslexic guy's forum way before Yankee Lady! He really knew his stuff. But he sure hated anybody to make fun of his typing.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 05:08 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Casper)

and whatup withthe tearm midyear for 1963-1967?

Mid year of what?

Why not xth generation instead of Cx?
or why not just say the dang year and have 50 designations?

I don't like the Cx nomenclature either.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 05:18 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (cOvette)

I posted this someplace else on this topic but here's what I remember -

The C designation came about through the advertising program to launch the C5. Prior to that C4 -1 were referred to as... Corvettes. Then some genius at Campbell-Ewald said - Hey what if we do a spy shot campaign to hype the new Corvette and we'll call the program C5! Give people 'insider' info on the C5 and let them log on for disguised photos and email alerts. It was their first foray into cyber marketing.

All the rest of us have worked to fill in the gaps forward from 1997. So we need to find the copywriter and fed him burnout bleach until he fesses up to the actual breakdown.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 05:30 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Silver 96)

I had thought that "C" just stood for Corvette, and the number was the generation.
Me too! :yesnod:
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 05:33 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Mr Mojo)

But somewhere along the line, they called the C4 the C4, before that they never called it anything but solid axles and mid years and sharks.
And to make matters worse. The 'sharks' are the only models with the word 'stingray' on 'em!!! :crazy:


[Modified by cgtarga1, 3:34 PM 7/22/2002]
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 05:47 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Mr Mojo)

I always thought it stood for Corvette

And how many vehucles out there can say they have had five body styles? You gotta have a numbering system when it gets this complicated.


[Modified by Feenix566, 4:49 PM 7/22/2002]
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 07:06 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (cgtarga1)

And to make matters worse. The 'sharks' are the only models with the word 'stingray' on 'em!!! :crazy:
They were? I thought it said "Sting Ray" (2 words) under the word "Corvette" on the rear of the 63-67's, no "Stingray" on the 68, and "Stingray" (1 word) on the 69-76's...?
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 07:28 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (92Shawnster)

What the hell is that thing?!? (C5 :lol: ).
------- :lol: :lol: :lol: ------------- (No, really... what the hell IS that thing!)
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 08:24 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (indypbody)

All I know is the "C" designation may switch to the "BU" (Butt Ugly) acronym if the "C6" ends up looking like the spy shots....
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 09:14 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Justin1984)

And to make matters worse. The 'sharks' are the only models with the word 'stingray' on 'em!!! :crazy:


They were? I thought it said "Sting Ray" (2 words) under the word "Corvette" on the rear of the 63-67's, no "Stingray" on the 68, and "Stingray" (1 word) on the 69-76's...?
That is correct.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 09:15 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Dan Parker '96)

All I know is the "C" designation may switch to the "BU" (Butt Ugly) acronym if the "C6" ends up looking like the spy shots....
From what I heard, when Bob Lutz saw that thing, he said no way that thing is going to be the next 'vette.

That may be why you are seeing spy shots of the butt ugly one so that way when they release the real one, it will really be a surprise.
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Old Jul 22, 2002 | 09:16 PM
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Default Re: This C designation nonsense (Dan Parker '96)

I guess they couldn't call the C5 the "Late, late model", :smash: so they had to put generation numbers. I still refer to them as:

Straight axles (52-62)
Mid years (63-67)
Shark bodies (68-82)

But have to confess I call the 84-96 models C4s (used to call them late models before the C5) and the 97-present C5s.

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