Hey Bill/ET,
Knowing your background, I would never deign to disagree with you about anything to do with a C5. I absolutely LOVE the looks of my C5 and I do agree with you that nothing else has the visual impact and appeal that comes immediately with a glance at one.

I don't disagree with anything you said about the C7, even though I do like them (can't even begin to afford one).

However, there is one thing that you may not be taking into account.

The C5 is your offspring. You helped bring it into existance. No other boy will ever be as good at quarterback as your kid, no other girl will be as beautiful as your daughter. That's just human nature and exactly as it should be!! I guarantee that you would notice your daughter first in a crowd, and likewise your son. Again, just as it shoud be.

That being said, I do agree that no other car has the stance and projected ability/agressiveness that is immediately percieved when seeing a C5. That is one of the things I love about mine!! Nothing else looks like it, and nothing else is so immediately percieved as being the pinnacle of automotive performance as Corvettes are. They give the undeniable impression of speed, even standing still!!

Nothing else will EVER look like it and that is one of the things I like about it.

Yeah, I like the C7 and it may be far superior to my car, but it's not a C5, and never will be. That is the definition of "timeless" my friend, and that is exactly what you helped to create!! Your baby is timeless and very few people can truly make that statement!!!!

Rock on ET, just like your creation!!

DSTURBD

 

I like 'em both! I think they both stunning.

 

First of all, I've been an automotive designer for 35 years. the C5 was far from my only baby... I was honored to move over to the Corvette team back in May of 1995. The C5 was the last of my projects, and by far, the most rewarding and fulfilling creation.

When I was leaving GM there was rumblings of removing the flip up lights and going European with the C6. Most of the senior designers were not enamored by this direction. I was happy to be leaving GM at that time.

AS I said, I don't dislike the C7. There are many nice things about it, and naturally the progression of technology is only understandable. Im talking about the Look of the C7 . The stock ground clearance of the C7 has to be 3 inches taller than a stock C5. that chrome fashion strip across the black mesh grill just doesn't belong there. I can see everyone changing that to satin black. Its the only piece of chrome on the car unless you get chrome wheels. Remove that chrome fashion strip and lower the car 3 inches, and it will be much nicer looking and it will make the car appear to be much wider.

 

I live in central Kentucky, only 2 1/2 hour drive from Bowling Green, I still have not seen a C7 on the road!
Eviltwin, as a former "insider" maybe you know: are there any truth to the rumors that the Aztek design team were some of the original prisoners of Gitmo prison? I read it on the internet, so...

 

Just saw my first C7 in the flesh today, I think they are awesome. I like the look and it's better in person. Thing is, I think the C5 is awesome as well! The pics with both cars side by side truly shows how well the C5 has stood the test of time! Would I buy one? Maybe, way down the road. Right now though I really enjoy the C5, the looks of the car, the interior layout and last but not least the performance! For the price these cars can be had for, they're an absolute bargain! my hat is off to Bill/E.T. and the rest of the team that made this car a reality. Because I love all the different gens of Vette's, I hope the C7 can make the future generations of Vette lovers feel the way we do about the ones we love.

 

As someone else who lives in a "small town in Pennsylvania" I really appreciate cars with a little bit of ground clearance. I sometimes feel like I'm the only person in town who doesn't drive a pickup truck and the roads and driveways are designed to require 5" ground clearance minimum. Even driving my stock height C5Z there are places that I simply cannot go. My driveway itself has a 25% grade to it and the nose on the Z scrapes the ground going in and out of the garage every time.

My other cars have all been German in the past few years so the C7's Euro look doesn't bother me at all, but I did grow up in Detroit with all GM products so I can appreciate the old designs as well. To me it's a toss-up, but at $50000 less for nearly identical performance I'll be driving the C5Z for awhile over a C7 regardless.

 

I have posted a couple of my initial reactions previously in some other threads.

I agree with your assessments.

The first one I saw in person was a red one in the Best Buy parking lot. I saw it from the front and at first thought it was a C6 - had to drive back around to confirm it was a C7. I drove away feeling glad that I had a C5!

Next I saw a Cyber-Gray one at the gym (best looking one I have seen). I parked across from it nose to nose and just kept looking back and forth and deciding that the C5 just looked sexier from the front to me. I actually liked the back of the C7 in person better than I thought I would, but it needs some clean-up for sure. I kept wondering what the C7 would look like with more of a C5 than C6 front end. Just like the C6, the C7 just looked like a "small" car to me compared to the C5.

Then a couple weeks ago, my brother came in town and we went to the Dealership to check them out. "He" was really excited about the C7 (and he also liked the C6). Once we got in the C7, we did not have to choose... beautifully done interior if you are a midget. I was squeezed on both sides and my brother's knees were hitting the dash and his head was hitting the top. I really can't ever remember sitting in such an uncomfortable seat with no room - I felt like I was sitting "on" something instead of "in" something. We were both glad to get back into the C5 for the comfortable drive home. I am 6'-0" 225-lbs and he is 6'-1" 170-lbs. So if you are small enough, the C7 interior is awesome.

I agree with the statement that I can spot a C5 from a mile away out of the corner of my eye, but I miss lots of C6's until I am up on them. I am guessing the C7 will be a similar experience from the front at least.

To me the C5 looks like a Luxury (sexy) Street Cruiser (just what I am in the market for). The C6 and C7 look more like they are designed to go to the track (or to Mars in the case of the C7). The C7 would have looked a lot better with hidden headlights!

 

Bill,
I hope you're feeling better. I also saw my first C7 earlier this week. It was the metallic blue pictured in some of the photos already posted on this thread. I think the front end looks good. It looks like a logical updating and evolution of the C6 front end. I don't care for the rear, and especially the tail lights, but must say they are less objectionable on the real thing than in the pictures I have seen.
The one overall styling issue that I do not like is all of the sharp creases, folds, intakes and scoops. I get the idea that there are some Ferrari styling cues here, but perhaps too many. Someone stated earlier here the same thing that I had said month ago about the C7, that it had too many styling cues reminiscent of an 80s vintage Celica.
When I was shopping for my present Corvette, I had it narrowed down to the car I bought and a C6. I just liked the looks of the C5 better. There is just something about that long low hood that causes the styling of the car to look timeless.

 

This is one hot photo!!!

 

It has been said countless times over the years on this forum, there is no denying the front end of a C5 coming straight at you from a mile away.I still think it's very sexy.

 

 

Hope you are feeling better

I agree that the C7 appears to have a lot of build up and then you see one and its not all that.

I think your observation about the C7 being remarkably unremarkable is spot on.

I like the car its cool and all but not the end all be all it was built up to be.

I like the look of my C5 better

 

I agree about the C7's high stance, but that Blue C7. WOW!!! Nice

 

Yes the blue is a very nice color. The biggest difference I see between the styling of a C7 and a C5 is the C7 has a lot of sharp angles, the side cove area of Past has turned into the mark of Zorro, and what are those two pointed protrusions on the lower front Fascia?? Chrome them and they are right out of the 55 Buick design book.
The C5 has all smooth sculptures lines. It did very well in the wind tunnel. The harshness of the sharp angles and the business ( too much going on ) are not appealing to me, as a designer. The C7 is definitely on track with the Euro cars, Its no longer American muscle looking which we always took pride in achieving.

 

Short and simple, The c-5 is a beautiful and smooth looking car!
The c-7 is what we used to refer to as "squirrely"! I.M.H.O. Of course.
Actually, Evil Twin said it much better than I did! I loved the reference to the old Buicks by the way.

 

When Corvettes started to lose their American look after the C5's and started to take on the look of the imports is when they lost me. It's pretty bad when you start hearing people comparing the looks to a 240Z. Nobody ever confused a big block chevelle SS or GTO for an import. Lets stop trying to copy their cars and get back to making our own.

 

Please understand, this is not a Bash the C7 thread. I never meant it to be.. So please understand, its a nice car. with the latest and greatest. Its just not as American as I would have wanted it. Its too busy, with styling queues from all over the place. Going back 60 years.
Certainly not Chrome bullets, but a chrome fashion bar like the Buick but similar in its placement design to break up the grill area. the 55 Buick was also busy. Are we going back that?

 

The first one I saw was leaving a parking lot as I was coming up a couple of cars behind it from a rear angle. At first I thought it was a new Camaro, but after a 'couple' more hard looks I finally realized that it was a C7. Just didn't jump out at me as a Corvette .. and I also think it a little too Euro looking to be an American muscle car ICON !

 

I have nothing against the C7 other than the styling cues. What I've read and observed it seems to be a very capable platform. That said, I have to agree with a few others that have touched base on it's turn to look more like a European/Foreign sports car.

I understand that GM is looking at the bottom line and appeal to a larger market but, taking away that so-called American look and distinctiveness of the Corvette was their Ace in the hole. Foreigners, especially at venues like Le Mans could tell in a millisecond, "hey, that's a Corvette". You can't deny the sound of an American V-8 but, among other cars it might be like, I know it's V-8 and a Corvette is out here but, I'll be d**ned if I can tell which one.

 

First of all I hope you feel better. Second (and perhaps a little off topic), I would have thought that as a past Vette designer, you would have been invited to an advanced showing of the C7 before the general public as a small token of appreciation of your past work.

Peter