Convertible Zo6
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
From: TEXAS
Convertible Zo6
Does anyone know the official reason Chevy won't build high hp Corvette Convertibles anymore? Are they saying it can't be made stiff enough? If that were so, every blown 427 C-5 or C-6 should twist into a knot (including mine) !! I know the C-2 & C-3 cars had a frame . In any case there are hundreds( or thousands?) of modified late model 'verts around to kill that thoery. Every other builder of exotic cars, including Dodge, builds high hp Convertibles. What's the deal? WHILE I'M ON A RANT..... NHRA needs to look at the 13.99 roll bar rule. The old Wally Parks B.S. about NHRA needing to be tax-exempt because they "fought illegal st. racing" is long gone ,they could get back to real rules for real people
Last edited by msb184; Apr 28, 2007 at 05:22 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: CO
Does anyone know the official reason Chevy won't build high hp Corvette's anymore? Are they saying it can't be made stiff enough? If that were so, every blown 427 C-5 or C-6 should twist into a knot (including mine) !! I know the C-2 & C-3 cars had a frame . In any case there are hundreds( or thousands?) of modified late model 'verts around to kill that thoery. Every other builder of exotic cars, including Dodge, builds high hp Convertibles. What's the deal?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I'm not sure the question is even valid. My vert has the same HP as every coupe and FRC out there except the Z06. The C6 verts have 400HP just like the C5 Z06. The only model with more HP is the Z06 (in both C5 and C6) and I'll bet it has nothing to do with twisting or anything else. It is so the Z06 will be set apart from the rest like it was intended to be.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,783
Likes: 15
From: Hurricane Alley
I'm not sure the question is even valid. My vert has the same HP as every coupe and FRC out there except the Z06. The C6 verts have 400HP just like the C5 Z06. The only model with more HP is the Z06 (in both C5 and C6) and I'll bet it has nothing to do with twisting or anything else. It is so the Z06 will be set apart from the rest like it was intended to be.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
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?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: San Jose Ca
I'm not sure the question is even valid. My vert has the same HP as every coupe and FRC out there except the Z06. The C6 verts have 400HP just like the C5 Z06. The only model with more HP is the Z06 (in both C5 and C6) and I'll bet it has nothing to do with twisting or anything else. It is so the Z06 will be set apart from the rest like it was intended to be.
So you'd be saying that the difference from the c5 to c6 frame does NOT make up for that?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: Dayton Ohio
Does anyone know the official reason Chevy won't build high hp Corvette Convertibles anymore? Are they saying it can't be made stiff enough? If that were so, every blown 427 C-5 or C-6 should twist into a knot (including mine) !! I know the C-2 & C-3 cars had a frame . In any case there are hundreds( or thousands?) of modified late model 'verts around to kill that thoery. Every other builder of exotic cars, including Dodge, builds high hp Convertibles. What's the deal? WHILE I'M ON A RANT..... NHRA needs to look at the 13.99 roll bar rule. The old Wally Parks B.S. about NHRA needing to be tax-exempt because they "fought illegal st. racing" is long gone ,they could get back to real rules for real people
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
To start with, it depends on whether you're talking about the C5 or the C6 because there are different reasons for each.
For the C5, it was due to the somewhat convoluted path taken by the FRC body style. When it first came out in 1999, it was originally designed as a price leader offering few frills, hence no convertibles. It was supposed to offer the maximum performance for the least money. This marketing idea expanded later when the Z06 was released although it had been found since then that the standard targa coupe is actually more aerodynamic and hence slightly faster, all other things being equal. That's why the professional race teams used the targa coupe rather than the FRC. So to address your comments, there really was no reason why there couldn't have been a C5 Convertible Z06.
When the C6 came out however, a real, functional reason was designed into the car. The standard C6 coupe and convertible have the same sort of steel hydroformed frame that the C5's have but the Z06 has an Aluminum body structure with one-piece hydroformed perimeter rails frame and magnesium front cradle. This aluminum/magnesium frame is significantly lighter than the standard frame but not as rigid. Therefore it needs the top to maintain structural rigidity.
For the C5, it was due to the somewhat convoluted path taken by the FRC body style. When it first came out in 1999, it was originally designed as a price leader offering few frills, hence no convertibles. It was supposed to offer the maximum performance for the least money. This marketing idea expanded later when the Z06 was released although it had been found since then that the standard targa coupe is actually more aerodynamic and hence slightly faster, all other things being equal. That's why the professional race teams used the targa coupe rather than the FRC. So to address your comments, there really was no reason why there couldn't have been a C5 Convertible Z06.
When the C6 came out however, a real, functional reason was designed into the car. The standard C6 coupe and convertible have the same sort of steel hydroformed frame that the C5's have but the Z06 has an Aluminum body structure with one-piece hydroformed perimeter rails frame and magnesium front cradle. This aluminum/magnesium frame is significantly lighter than the standard frame but not as rigid. Therefore it needs the top to maintain structural rigidity.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Ugh... so much misinformation.
*C5 were designed to be verts from the start... chassis is very strong, no additional bracing needed
*No issues w/ frame "twist"
*Z06 is meant to be a tack car
*If you want a faster vert then mod it.
*C5 were designed to be verts from the start... chassis is very strong, no additional bracing needed
*No issues w/ frame "twist"
*Z06 is meant to be a tack car
*If you want a faster vert then mod it.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,487
Likes: 5
From: Naples Florida
If it is that important take your vert to lingenfelter or callaway and have them add whatever horsepower your wallet will allow
It is only a matter of time next year the base car is supposed to have 430hp, I think
It is only a matter of time next year the base car is supposed to have 430hp, I think
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 661
Likes: 5
From: New Jersey
The Z06 is built as the pinnacle of Corvette performance. As such, it is expected that folks will want to take them racing. A coupe doesn't need a rollbar to run the typical HPDE or drag race. However, it is nearly impossible to fit the required rollbar into a convertible without rendering the top inoperable. Plus, a convertible will always weigh more than the equivalent coupe.
Last edited by DBL001; Apr 28, 2007 at 11:27 PM.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
No. That was marketing. The 97 C5 coupe was the big story that year and they sold every one they could make. The convertible in 98 only kept the fire going.
He's right that the C5 was designed for both coupe and convertible from day one. That's why there's only a very few light extra pieces of bracing used on the convertible.
He's right that the C5 was designed for both coupe and convertible from day one. That's why there's only a very few light extra pieces of bracing used on the convertible.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,573
Likes: 0
From: The AutoBuffs Army is unmatched in the Custom world! www.autobuffs.net
S. Jersey Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
the guy owns a local body shop. you can see the custom fender flares (not maxacc) and the smooth front license plate area.
Last edited by jdmvette; Apr 29, 2007 at 08:39 PM.