With a regular type body kit, added piece by piece, to show the effect on the Vette's appearance. This would be the cheap way to do the same thing I'm doing. Hopefully this visual aid helps those thinking about adding some exterior add ons. Let image load till it's smooth. Now you can see what each change does incrementally to the car.

This would use an SLP wing and a regular type of ground effects kit. This body kit I whipped up quick. If I were to go this route, which I probably won't, I would still custom design the kit and have it made. I don't want to totally disrupt the original body lines like so many kits out there do.

 

The car became squished in the processing but you'll get the idea.

Lighting is just for shows. No neons are attached to the underside of my car. I made a 12 volt light module that I slide under my car during evening shows and it emits light from under the car in changing colors. It runs off a spare battery.

Video shows sequential tail lights and
I'm using strobe lighting from a retired Fire Truck in the lights.(DRL,Tail lights, Reverse lights,Side Markers) There is a small strobe unit that operates the strobes which have several different patterns via small switches in the trunk.The light patterns are much cooler in real life. Extremely bright and different!

Audio is of my car at idle from about 15 feet away.
If you ever wondered what the SLP Loudmouth sounds like with the stock H pipe, Here you go.

To me it's sounds a lot like a P'd off Scarab racing boat. I have debated and debated the x pipe thing. I get so many compliments on the car as she sits, I kinda don't wanna mess with it. Sounds awesome wide open and sets off car alarms and scares people. Definitely not the exhaust for you if you like peace and quiet

 

Like it.

 

Cool animation!

Shakey

 

NICE !!!!!! can't believe a Minion didn't pop up and start driving it

 

The C5 is in my opinion the closest anyone has ever come to capturing the perfect body shape. There are some things I would have done quite differently however.

In the illustration it may appear that the changes are subtle however, just about everything has been changed. yet, it still looks like a C5. Angles,heights,dimensions,wheelbase and width have been changed

The nose has been shortened considerably
The rear quarters brought up and back considerably
The window lines have been lowered and angles changed
Rear brake cooling ducts have been integrated into the body
Front brake cooling ducts have been moved into the corners and integrated into the front bumper
Sealed Beam headlights replace the pop ups
Angular and symmetrical changes. Everything from the mirrors, brake ducts to door handles all reside within body lines.
The hood is lower at the base of the windshield
The front fenders have a touch more flare
The front wheel well size has been decreased
The roof height has been dropped substantially
This car is also a wide body with suspension dimension changes but still uses the basic lines of the car.
Side duct lines have been widened considerably

Not Shown is the large (mouth) cooling area in the front bumper
The stock car is begging for air and it shouldn't have to rely on the air deflector (vacuum effect) to get it. Engines temps would plummet with more air. We shouldn't have to turn on our fan and ac compressors at stoplights to keep this car under 200 degrees. Simple air cooling would keep under hood temps much lower than stock.


Seats would be moved closer to the floor of the car( The stock seat height is something I would consider to be one of the biggest fails of the stock design. They are awkward and high, offer little bolstering and create an awkward feel. A buoy effect in a way to the driver, forcing the driver to really plant the left foot into the 3rd pedal during even moderate cornering. This design solves those issues by dropping the cockpit and seats closer to the chassis.
This car should have been wider from the factory.

This illustration was done out of curiosity for what could've been.
I am fully aware that these changes would cause a near complete redesign of the chassis and just about everything else.

The more I drive my C5, the more I want to change things that would cost a fortune to change. I am starting to realize at the ripe age of 43 that I will literally have to build a car from the ground up to be what I envision. When you start talking about the funds needed to do that you might as well buy a Ferrari.

C5 is a great car but could've been even better

 

^^^^ Very nice. Looks very modern too. I like..! I would shave the door handles and put a button on top that you push to open the door. The button would be flush with the body so it wouldn't stick out.



.

 

IMO the GM design team knew what they were doing; most everything you show detracts from what is a great car as is. Some subtle changes could improve the car, but to me your picture looks like a kit car trying to look like a C5. Sorry, not good at all IMO.

 

If this car showed up at the shows it would take every trophy home with it. This is superior to the stock car in every way. Form and functionally. Thanks for your opinion though

 

Every trophy... OK.
Build it, let us know.

 

Also the design resembles more of what Saleen would do as opposed to a kit car.

Cant build it. Would require extensive chassis and suspension plus more mods.
The C5 is a good car. I wish they would have evolved the design a bit before the c6. No one said GM didnt know what they were doing but the car was far from perfect from the factory. I had mine up to 165 on a closed course and can say that this car is far from stable. Column lock, massive bump steer and 4x4 stock ride height,under sized brakes, shows the package needed to be improved. Those are just a few examples. There are more. Like seat height on seat rails, poor seat bolstering, crap stock shifter, rattle can transmission noises. Poor h pipe design.Too many sensors and dic codes. This is a sports car, it shouldve been kept more simple with focus on component design and function. Things like the control arms are too short. The roll center is too far from the center of gravity during suspension movement. Too much dipping and diving under hard throttle. I will never understand 4/5 inches of wheel well gap on a capable chassis. My window sticker was 58k in 2002. It shouldve been delivered as a 58k car should be. The aftermarket feasts on this car for a reason. Remember that.

 

Eric, you have to remember this was a production car, Gm spent a ton in development of this car, every car has some issues, everything on paper does not result in desired outcome. The car you envision would not have been affordable, this car from day one has had great reviews, I believe in 99 it was awarded best engineered car ??? Anyone can look at the down sides of a car this one in my opinion has so many plus sides !!!! It is capable of 170 mph, because your car doesn't feel right at those speeds means little when you take in account the age of the car tires and everything else. To make 350 hp and get 30 mpg what other cat can do that (not many) From C 4 to C 5 is no comparison and today's C 7 is a world class car !!!!!!!!! My 4 cents !!!!

 

I have been following this thread with interest but have not commented. First I applaud your effort and passion for the project. And the looks of the design have some very appealing aspects and I like it aesthetically very much.

Having said that, your statements above are a little bold and would require more than an opinion to be validated. To state that the design is superior in form and function would lead one to believe that you have performed adequate and comparison tests to the original. Things like, extensive time in the wind tunnel or on the skid pad. In addition, it would also require an exhaustive analysis of the viability of the manufacturing processes required to produce the design as rendered.

Other improvements that you have taken for granted may not necessarily be an improvement. Engine temps for one. The LS engine was designed to operate at a temperature range that would optimize its performance and longevity. A statement that a new font bumper would have temperatures plummet may in fact be detrimental to the performance of the engine. Undersized brakes? On what basis is that statement made? The car was not designed as a track only vehicle and even so there are a score of tracked C5’s running and running successfully on the stock brakes. Again, perceived improvements need to be validated with actual proof of concept testing.

Paper designs and CGI are great tools for rendering a concept, valid testing of prototypes is required to prove statements as you have made.

To be clear, I am not an automotive engineer or designer, yet I have spent considerable monies on changes to my own C5 in all aspects including body, engine, and suspension, braking and interior. At no point however did I ever consider my changes as superior in form and function to the original. They were only an effort to make the car my own.

Hind sight and critique of a design done 20 years ago is rather easy (which aside from all the down sides as you seem more than ready to point out is rather successful regardless), providing a prototype of your design with empirical evidence to back up the claims is something else entirely. Were there compromises made in the original to satisfy the accountants, marketers, and efficiency experts? No doubt. And no mass produced car from other than a marquee maker dedicated to a sports car only line will ever be a designers dream come true. Just my opinion, and worth only what it is worth to me.

 

Thanks . Im a bit boisterous when I get a vision in my head so please forgive me. Ive been hired at jobs to come in and **** some vinegar. Lol. You bring up good points and did so in a mature way. Thank you. This design comes from racing experience and helping with development with rolling chassis and body design. Its so hard for me to see a chassis and body so close to what it could be and just barely miss the mark. Yes, that mark is in my head. The car in stock trim was good enough for me to buy it. I just wish I could realisticly unleash its potential. Thanks for a great reply

 

You are right Buddy. So many variables. I just have this dang vision in my head. Send the Minions. Bring tools!!! Have a great day Bud.

 

I hope you continue your quest and keep us updated. There is always something new to learn and technologies have evolved over the years. Applying those new technologies to older designs where feasible is always good.

 

Thanks Brother. Im just crazy enough to do that. My only hope is my wallet can keep up with my ideas. In stock trim I like the car. My goal is to make it a car that I cant live without.

 

I'm usually behind your ideas a little critique for you. Don't like the side scoop it looks too angular at the top. I still believe the breathless design flows the best with this car. Also not sure about the front I do like the idea of shortening the front a bit but I would have to see it from the front.