Convertible Zo6
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
The vert looses this roll hoop and instead has a cross brace that goes just under where the tonneau cover and deck lid mount and hinge from.
The C5 convertible is actually 10 or 15 pounds lighter than the coupe
Marketing... the car was so new and so fresh they focused on the one car, then released the vert in '98 to continue the feeding frenzy... smart.
The point I'm trying to make is that this has NOTHING to do with frame "twist" of "flex". Your C5 has one of the best chassis' on the planet... they're amazing and they really don't flex... even in convertible configuration.
Last edited by Cobra4B; Apr 30, 2007 at 09:18 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
[QUOTE=Cobra4B;1560033587]I don't think so... but not 100%. Need to go to caravaggio for the targa or vert Z06.
John Cafaro was one of the main designers of the C5 it was a COPO
John Cafaro was one of the main designers of the C5 it was a COPO
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 191
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From: TEXAS
Race Car?
I thought of that but the Z06 is a Race Car. Just without the C5R headlights. That is what sets it apart. Seems like if you put the same engine and suspension in a vert (which I doubt would be a problem), or coupe the the Z06 wouldn't even exist. What would be the point?
Last edited by msb184; Apr 30, 2007 at 10:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,556
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From: SoCal Twin Turbo, Any Questions?
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
apaprently noone here has been in a 700 HP vert
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Brett Foote
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 557
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From: 15 miles south from the Raisin Capitol of the World Caifornia
Thers is a C5 Z06 here in central California that was converted to a retractable hard top by www.coachbuildersltd.com in Florida. It is very expensive. If anyone went to Gamblers Classic Corvette Show in Laughlin,NV in March, it was there. Torch Red w/black rims. You loose use of the entire trunk with top down. They will also make one from a vert C5 or C6. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 14
From: Honolulu, HI
The Z06 evolved from the FRC chassis which was designed specifically to be the lighter, stronger, cheaper The stripped-down racer model.
It did not sell well as they hoped. Simple IMO b/c it was still too much $.
So when they wanted to build a "quasi-track day car" the FRC was the natural choice economically and the obvious embodiment of the Z06 design goals, of "Fast and Light".
Besides, I find that majority of corvette owners tend to be the of the "waxer" rather than the "boy-racer" types. The Waxers who care about T-tops and Convertibles wouldn't dare sacrifice the comfort levels required to get to a track-day spec. You don't see any convertibles GT3's either for this reason. The C5 Z06 isn't quite as spartan and aggressively setup as the GT3 as GM was just testing the water for this concept.
It did not sell well as they hoped. Simple IMO b/c it was still too much $.
So when they wanted to build a "quasi-track day car" the FRC was the natural choice economically and the obvious embodiment of the Z06 design goals, of "Fast and Light".
Besides, I find that majority of corvette owners tend to be the of the "waxer" rather than the "boy-racer" types. The Waxers who care about T-tops and Convertibles wouldn't dare sacrifice the comfort levels required to get to a track-day spec. You don't see any convertibles GT3's either for this reason. The C5 Z06 isn't quite as spartan and aggressively setup as the GT3 as GM was just testing the water for this concept.
Last edited by dagon138; May 1, 2007 at 12:43 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 1
From: Calgary Ab
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
The Z06 evolved from the FRC chassis which was designed specifically to be the lighter, stronger, cheaper The stripped-down racer model.
It did not sell well as they hoped. Simple IMO b/c it was still too much $.
So when they wanted to build a "quasi-track day car" the FRC was the natural choice economically and the obvious embodiment of the Z06 design goals, of "Fast and Light".
Besides, I find that majority of corvette owners tend to be the of the "waxer" rather than the "boy-racer" types. The Waxers who care about T-tops and Convertibles wouldn't dare sacrifice the comfort levels required to get to a track-day spec. You don't see any convertibles GT3's either for this reason. The C5 Z06 isn't quite as spartan and aggressively setup as the GT3 as GM was just testing the water for this concept.
It did not sell well as they hoped. Simple IMO b/c it was still too much $.
So when they wanted to build a "quasi-track day car" the FRC was the natural choice economically and the obvious embodiment of the Z06 design goals, of "Fast and Light".
Besides, I find that majority of corvette owners tend to be the of the "waxer" rather than the "boy-racer" types. The Waxers who care about T-tops and Convertibles wouldn't dare sacrifice the comfort levels required to get to a track-day spec. You don't see any convertibles GT3's either for this reason. The C5 Z06 isn't quite as spartan and aggressively setup as the GT3 as GM was just testing the water for this concept.
Exactly... The Z06 is the HPDE model... it will not be offered as a vert. Porsche doesn't offer the GT-3 as a vert. If you want a fast vert there are plenty of people willing to take your money to make a vert fast or chop the roof off of a Z06.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 191
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From: TEXAS
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
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From: LaPine Oregon
National Corvette Museum......
Check out the National Corvette Museum websitehttp://www.corvettemuseum.com/index.shtml and go to the specs/downloads section for reliable /viable information such as ;
The convertable for '01 was only (4) pounds lighter than the coupe, then of course the ZO6 just under 100 pounds lighter at 3115#s , which put the ZO6 38 pounds lighter than the previous '99,'00 C5 hardtops. I did not know that.
The C5 was designed to be a convertable, which didn't come out untill the next year. '99 brought out the FRC which became the lightest , stiffest and fastest Vette available. According to Bob Wallace the C5 ZO6 chassis is 13% more rigid than either the coupe or convertable. The Corvette Team indicated right from begining that the hardtop would be the platform for further performance dimensions in the form of the ZO6. The FE4 suspension is a suspension all its own.
Very interesting reading, for sure.
The convertable for '01 was only (4) pounds lighter than the coupe, then of course the ZO6 just under 100 pounds lighter at 3115#s , which put the ZO6 38 pounds lighter than the previous '99,'00 C5 hardtops. I did not know that.
The C5 was designed to be a convertable, which didn't come out untill the next year. '99 brought out the FRC which became the lightest , stiffest and fastest Vette available. According to Bob Wallace the C5 ZO6 chassis is 13% more rigid than either the coupe or convertable. The Corvette Team indicated right from begining that the hardtop would be the platform for further performance dimensions in the form of the ZO6. The FE4 suspension is a suspension all its own.
Very interesting reading, for sure.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
With a few tweaks it will outrun most anything on track under $150,000.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
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From: Haymarket VA
If they made a convertible Z06 I'd have one. But since they don't I have to settle for a Z06 suspended 500RWHP vert. 
Not trying to be a Z06 but did take the best parts of one and added a ton more HP.
Not trying to be a Z06 but did take the best parts of one and added a ton more HP.
