Question for old timers
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,116
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From: Southern California
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Question for old timers
Guys I have a question about the C5.
when this car came out in 1997 it was basically game changer and super car killer of its time,
since we already know what C8 corvette did to sports car industry,
C8 turned sports car world upside down and kicked everyone in the a$$ basically with its looks and value and performance,
What was the reaction of ppl and car magazines in 1997 when the first C5 came out ?
Even today C5 looks beautiful and has amazing performance
I can only imagine in 1997 it was something never seen before.
Thank you.
when this car came out in 1997 it was basically game changer and super car killer of its time,
since we already know what C8 corvette did to sports car industry,
C8 turned sports car world upside down and kicked everyone in the a$$ basically with its looks and value and performance,
What was the reaction of ppl and car magazines in 1997 when the first C5 came out ?
Even today C5 looks beautiful and has amazing performance
I can only imagine in 1997 it was something never seen before.
Thank you.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 324
From: Mid Ohio
I was there at the Detroit auto show when the C5 was introduced. GM had a lot of displays w/cutaways and gave special attention to differentiating it from the C4, hydroformed rails, chassis stiffness, touted it was made from fewer parts, and interior space improvements. It's been several decades but I might still have 35mm pics that I took at the show.
I'm not completely sure which yr it was.. but I also remember a engine dyno and them running a LS util the exhaust manifolds were glowing red. That might have been the LS6?
As best I recall it was a technological step fwd but other than car mags and hard core enthusiast (like us) it escaped most people as just a "new corvette".
The C8 looks radically different, has the mid-engine layout, and we now have the internet. Between those three I think (mostly internet) its gotten far more attention than the C5 intro did.
I'm not completely sure which yr it was.. but I also remember a engine dyno and them running a LS util the exhaust manifolds were glowing red. That might have been the LS6?
As best I recall it was a technological step fwd but other than car mags and hard core enthusiast (like us) it escaped most people as just a "new corvette".
The C8 looks radically different, has the mid-engine layout, and we now have the internet. Between those three I think (mostly internet) its gotten far more attention than the C5 intro did.
Last edited by wydopnthrtl; Jul 27, 2021 at 08:03 AM.
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I remember seeing the new C5 at the St. Louis auto show and loved the front end styling but was not enthused at the huge rear end that the car had. Took me a while to finally come to like the styling, but I obviously did adjust my perception of the car as evidenced by ownership of three C5s covering nearly 18 years.
The C5 does have some classic styling that has survived the passage of time very well.
The C5 does have some classic styling that has survived the passage of time very well.
Le Mans Master
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I was there at the Detroit auto show when the C5 was introduced. GM had a lot of displays w/cutaways and gave special attention to differentiating it from the C4, hydroformed rails, chassis stiffness, touted it was made from fewer parts, and interior space improvements. It's been several decades but I might still have 35mm pics that I took at the show.
I'm not completely sure which yr it was.. but I also remember a engine dyno and them running a LS util the exhaust manifolds were glowing red. That might have been the LS6?
As best I recall it was a technological step fwd but other than car mags and hard core enthusiast (like us) it escaped most people as just a "new corvette".
The C8 looks radically different, has the mid-engine layout, and we now have the internet. Between those three I think (mostly internet) its gotten far more attention than the C5 intro did.
I'm not completely sure which yr it was.. but I also remember a engine dyno and them running a LS util the exhaust manifolds were glowing red. That might have been the LS6?
As best I recall it was a technological step fwd but other than car mags and hard core enthusiast (like us) it escaped most people as just a "new corvette".
The C8 looks radically different, has the mid-engine layout, and we now have the internet. Between those three I think (mostly internet) its gotten far more attention than the C5 intro did.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Picked mine up in the summer of 1997. A definite head turner back then, but not really appreciated outside the car enthusiast community. Ditto the C8, IMO, even though it's a much more radical design. Face it, everyone buys SUV's these days, and the F250 is still the best selling vehicle here in the US.
I would like to know, however, how Chevy managed to make a rear engined car (fewer components than the front engined equivalent) heavier than a conventional design. That takes determination...
I would like to know, however, how Chevy managed to make a rear engined car (fewer components than the front engined equivalent) heavier than a conventional design. That takes determination...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: DFW TX
This ^^C5 was a great leap forward but only to car nuts. Balsa floors, hydroformed frame, new engine, rear mounted trans, torque tube, fewer parts, etc etc. But for the general public it was just a curvy new 'Vette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,149
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From: cary Il
Picked mine up in the summer of 1997. A definite head turner back then, but not really appreciated outside the car enthusiast community. Ditto the C8, IMO, even though it's a much more radical design. Face it, everyone buys SUV's these days, and the F250 is still the best selling vehicle here in the US.
I would like to know, however, how Chevy managed to make a rear engined car (fewer components than the front engined equivalent) heavier than a conventional design. That takes determination...
I would like to know, however, how Chevy managed to make a rear engined car (fewer components than the front engined equivalent) heavier than a conventional design. That takes determination...
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Safety Car
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From: N.E. Suburb MN
Guys I have a question about the C5.
when this car came out in 1997 it was basically game changer and super car killer of its time,
since we already know what C8 corvette did to sports car industry,
C8 turned sports car world upside down and kicked everyone in the a$$ basically with its looks and value and performance,
What was the reaction of ppl and car magazines in 1997 when the first C5 came out ?
Even today C5 looks beautiful and has amazing performance
I can only imagine in 1997 it was something never seen before.
Thank you.
when this car came out in 1997 it was basically game changer and super car killer of its time,
since we already know what C8 corvette did to sports car industry,
C8 turned sports car world upside down and kicked everyone in the a$$ basically with its looks and value and performance,
What was the reaction of ppl and car magazines in 1997 when the first C5 came out ?
Even today C5 looks beautiful and has amazing performance
I can only imagine in 1997 it was something never seen before.
Thank you.
However the C5 was a great evolution of the brand and launched it into the future. The basic chassis of the C5 ended up being evolved into the C6 & 7. The performance of the C5 was without question on par with anything in the world at the time. The ergonomics of the interior and styling were a leap forward but the fit and finish were the typical knock deservedly so. So all in all you had a car that could put the numbers down with anything of the era, but had the same radio, HVAC, door handles, etc in the Lumina.
The following generations got better in each of those areas and finally in the C8 they got it right so there is no "yeah.... but" other than we've been waiting for this since the 60s. It can't be compared to the C8, but should be appreciated for what it is. It's success allowed for the subsequent generations and now the C8 to exist. Without the C5 GM could have canned the vette.
Last edited by WalterSobchak; Jul 29, 2021 at 02:57 AM.
Drifting
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Drove a new 02 6 spd convertible...it was just "the new vette" to me I guess. Liked the interior didnt like the huge rearend, big tailights and 4 tips.
Power seemed lackluster but still a nice car. I dont think it turned the auto world on its tail .
Power seemed lackluster but still a nice car. I dont think it turned the auto world on its tail .
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For me. there was only 3 corvettes that I fell in love with
at first sight. The C1, C2 and C5. I have owned all 3.
at first sight. The C1, C2 and C5. I have owned all 3.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
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From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Saw the C5 at the Detroit Auto Show in ‘97 - Red on stage. It was WOW factor right away. Decided to sell the blue ‘95. Ordered the early ‘98 in about Aug ‘97 and found out active handing option coming out mid year ‘98 so cancelled order to a few months later had to wait till March to get the RedC5. It was hot when came in. Dealer offered me $1500 to just walk away when arrived at dealership. A big Noooo…
Kept the same value for a few years after like the C8 is doing. My car has not seen a dealership since new - except for stupid column lock recall.
Kept the same value for a few years after like the C8 is doing. My car has not seen a dealership since new - except for stupid column lock recall.
