When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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:
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.
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. ;)
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:
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
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?
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.
From: Top of the hill, 3rd mailbox on the right. Texas
CF NCM Ambassador
CI 6-7-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
NCM Member '09
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.
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...?
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...?
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.