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During production of C5, a FRC (Fixed Roof Coupe) model was introduced which was based on Z06 body style but with the base engine. This was a lower priced (MSRP) Corvette. Some owners made and joined this FRC club.
Many Corvette owners paint or modify their Fuel Rail Covers. This is also a good club to join.
The club one should never join is the Flying Roof Club
Last edited by bimmerborn; 05-15-2017 at 07:18 PM.
Reason: typo
The FRC, I think, came out in 2000 or maybe 1999. The FRC Z06, which had a higher horsepower motor (385hp) came out in 2001. I am not sure if there were any non-Z06 FRCs in 2001 and later.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 05-16-2017 at 08:06 PM.
I owned a 2000 Nassau Blue FRC for 16 years. I replaced it with my new C7.
The FRC was the predecessor to the Z06. If had some very interesting components like a Power Steering Cooler and Sway Bars that they used on the Z06.
It was a fabulous car, but it was time to move on.
Odd that this ended up on the C7 side, since there are not yet any C7 FRCs. That said, the fixed roof coupe was originally conceived as a "bubba Corvette" which would have had a smaller low performance engine and would have been cheaper. The idea for the bubba car was eventually scrapped but someone thougth it might be a good idea to release the FRC as a little less expensive version of the C5 but with the same engine. After a selling the FRC a couple years as a base car, the idea that the roof might make the car more rigid (along with a beefier suspention and a stouter mill) for performance driving was conceived and the C5 Z06 was born.
Last edited by crawfish333; 05-16-2017 at 09:17 AM.
Odd that this ended up on the C7 side, since there are not yet any C7 FRCs. That said, the fixed roof coupe was originally conceived as a "bubba Corvette" which would have had a smaller low performance engine and would have been cheaper. The idea for the bubba car was eventually scrapped but someone thougth it might be a good idea to release the FRC as a little less expensive version of the C5 but with the same engine. After a selling the FRC a couple years as a base car, the idea that the roof might make the car more rigid (along with a beefier suspention and a stouter mill) for performance driving was conceived and the C5 Z06 was born.
I had a 2000 Torch Red and loved it. I will add it was only available with base interior in black, and 6 speed. (If my memory is correct auto was included on reg vettes with 6 speed be added cost). The FRC was also lighter.
(snip)After a selling the FRC a couple years as a base car, the idea that the roof might make the car more rigid (along with a beefier suspention and a stouter mill) for performance driving was conceived and the C5 Z06 was born.
I had a 2000 C5 FRC, and the difference in stiffness and complete lack of roof noise over the C5 targa car was remarkable.
If there was an FRC version of the C7, I'd buy it instantly. I never will remove the roof on my Stingray (I don't like the look of the car without the roof in place), so the targa's risk of noise/rattles and loss of structural rigidity are no benefit to me whatsoever.
Hey GM -- the 80's called, and they want their targa tops back!
Beyond the obvious (this should be in the C5 section), the 1999-2000 FRC was a bad idea on so many levels. The upside is that it went on to become the Z06, which was a GREAT idea, and opened the door to even greater Z06's
^^^^
Sorry, it wasn't a "bad idea", it was poorly executed. The FRC was originally supposed to be a "budget" de-contented Corvette (that's the "Bad idea" part)....cloth seats, smaller engine, etc...When someone at GM figured out that stripping away amenities/power didn't really save enough money to amount to anything (and the C5 was doing great anyway), they offered the FRC with minimal options. The car was a sales flop, to say the least. Again, the upside is that it birthed the 2001 Z06, so a happy ending was born!
Here's a good history lesson on the 1999-2000 FRC:
The only 'bad' thing about the C5 FRC concept was the idea to make it a "cheaper version" by decontenting it. That's it. Nothing else was different. The FRC wound up being only ever so slightly cheaper -- certainly not enough to appeal on price alone. Maybe "so many levels" = "1 level"? LOL
But smart enthusiast buyers saw the advantage of the more rigid body, and the *slightly* cheaper price was just frosting on the cake.
Beyond the obvious (this should be in the C5 section), the 1999-2000 FRC was a bad idea on so many levels. The upside is that it went on to become the Z06, which was a GREAT idea, and opened the door to even greater Z06's
I loved mine, especially the looks. It looked like a vert with the lift off hard top rather than the fish bowl/greenhouse back window. I ordered verts on my 2 C6s to avoid the window until C7 did the flat glass. Just ordered my 2nd C7 coupe.
I had a '99 FRC. After they canned the "cheaper option" concept it was later viewed as an enthusiast model; lighter weight, more rigid, manual only, Z51 suspension.
As a bonus, I thought it was better looking than the C5 coupe.
Sorry, it wasn't a "bad idea", it was poorly executed.
Gotta disagree with this. The original concept with the 5.3l engine was bad, but that was never executed. I love my '00 hardtop; no leaks/creaks etc. from the top, plenty of storage, and then there's the quirkiness: the simplicity of manual seats, with the tech of Active Handling and the HUD.
When I was on the market for a c5 my 2 criteria that I would not compromise on was it had to be a fixed roof and it had to be a 6 speed. After that the rest was irrelevant as long as it was not yellow
When I was on the market for a c5 my 2 criteria that I would not compromise on was it had to be a fixed roof and it had to be a 6 speed. After that the rest was irrelevant as long as it was not yellow
I was thinking you were ok until that last sentence.
05-15-2017, 07:18 PM
Corvette FRC Clubs
I loved mine, especially the looks. It looked like a vert with the lift off hard top rather than the fish bowl/greenhouse back window. I ordered verts on my 2 C6s to avoid the window until C7 did the flat glass. Just ordered my 2nd C7 coupe.
