Pilot Production Corvette Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Pilot Production Corvette Question
Can someone explain to me what "pilot production" corvettes are. I did search and it looks like they make 100-200 "pilot production" vettes.
I am looking to buy a vette and noticed it falls within this category. I would like to know if these are:
a.) more rare?
b.) avoid because they are vehicles to work out bugs
c.) Who has one and any issues you have seen?
Thank you very much for your response!
Frank
I am looking to buy a vette and noticed it falls within this category. I would like to know if these are:
a.) more rare?
b.) avoid because they are vehicles to work out bugs
c.) Who has one and any issues you have seen?
Thank you very much for your response!
Frank
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Denver, North Carolina
I'm not 100% sure about Corvette pilot vehicles. But I work at another vehicle manufacturing plant and when we do 'pilot' vehicles it is a first run of something new or different. There is not necessarily anything wrong with them. But often they are watched for warranty returns and customer feedback to work out bugs or engineering problems that may have been overlooked initially.
Last edited by SebringSixSpeed; Mar 3, 2008 at 01:50 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
How will you use the car?
If you're buying a Vette for an "investment" ( notice the " 's around investment) then the Pilot Car is probably fairly rare as they only make 100-300 cars called "pilot".
If you are buying a car to drive and enjoy ( the only way to go, IMHO), buy as new as you can afford and I'd stay away from a pilot as the fit and finish was not the greatest and "bugs" are likely unless they've been addressed by previous owners.
If you are buying a car to drive and enjoy ( the only way to go, IMHO), buy as new as you can afford and I'd stay away from a pilot as the fit and finish was not the greatest and "bugs" are likely unless they've been addressed by previous owners.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Thank you....
Thank you for your responses. Of course I find a vette that I like but there "COULD" be issues due to it being a pilot production car.
I hear you about an "Investment". No way is a car ever an investment unless you win the car or hold out for 25-30 years and don't breathe on it
I would be putting about 5-8k miles on it per year and storing it in the winters.
Thank you!
Frank
I hear you about an "Investment". No way is a car ever an investment unless you win the car or hold out for 25-30 years and don't breathe on it
I would be putting about 5-8k miles on it per year and storing it in the winters.
Thank you!
Frank
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
The link below provides definitions and has some info on the C5 Containment (WDO), Pilot (WD1) and Prototype (WD2) vehicles. It also shows the effected VINs for these cars for each of the C5 model years. Briefly, these C5s were test vehicles for a future model year which were built during the current year's production run. James Schefter wrote quite a bit about these cars in his book, All Corvettes are Red. If the car you're considering is one of these vehicles, then the car's Service Parts Identification (RPO) Label should reflect the appropriate RPO code(s) - WDO, WD1 and/or WD2. For model year 1997 and 1998, the cars RPO label should be under the left rear storage hatch cover. For later model years, it should be on the inside of the glove box lid.
See following link: Special RPO Codes
IMO, one of these vehicles could be quite desirable. Good luck with the purchase!
Service Parts Identification (RPO) Label:
See following link: Special RPO Codes
IMO, one of these vehicles could be quite desirable. Good luck with the purchase!
Service Parts Identification (RPO) Label:
Last edited by GrayC5; Mar 3, 2008 at 04:17 PM.
