myruby2

AutoWeek
Issue: Oct. 15, 2001
Dept: Headliner
Page: 5
Title: “What About Bob?”

Full page article about Bob Lutz and the “Memo”.

But in the last sentence of the second column going on into the third states; Lutz’s influence, say insiders, has already amended the look of the next Corvette {Due in 2004 as a 2005 model}

In the next paragraph it tells how Lutz just sign off on it {with changes} even though he DIDN’T LIKE IT!!!! Hmmmmm.

MDL-01C5

Wonder what to make of that.. :confused:

mattwolf

Well, if the C6 isn't a huge hit, it will make these C5s instant classics. I'm prepared to keep mine in that case.

More pics: http://www.mattwolf.com/vette1.html

Matt Gruber

i take it Lutz did not like it, made changes, and now likes it. i cant imagine he made changes and then criticized his own changes :rolleyes: it is worth another year wait if it looks as good as a ........(fill in your dream car)

C5 YA

This is true. If the C6 doesn't live up to the Corvette name tag, than the C5 will be an instant classic. But, even if the C6 does live up to the Corvette name tag, than the C5 will still be a classic. Oh it's true, it's damn true.

holysin

Ugh. Looks like I'll get the last year C5 then..... Or maybe I should get the last year C5 *AND* the first year C6... (wishful thinking)

C6RAGTOP

Only a few more years to go. Have a beer and chill!!!!!!

ChrisTinaBruce

Nice job on your C5, I would keep it regaurdless. :yesnod:

myruby2

That’s ridicules. The C5 will no more a classic then the C4 or any Vette before it. The same rules will apply to them. It will lose value for twelve to twenty years. It will at sometime, be the least valuable Corvette for resale. Only unique models will have higher demand.{Read here Z06} But not much.{Read ZR1 here} Owners will beat the crap out of them and make modifications that will lower the value of the entire breed. It’s been there done that. Again. And again.

SWCDuke

Right on! I doubt if C5s will ever reach the status of C2s. The reason C2s became cult cars was that it took until the early ninties for performance to regain those levels. As long as new generation Corvettes eclipse superceeded models in terms or performance, engineering, and quality it will take 20 to 30 years for previous models to become "classics" and those will be limited to original low mileage examples. "Cars as investments" is a myth for the most part.

The other issue is restoration. C2s and early C3s are very simple cars, with no "electronics" to speak of. It's my understanding that few C4s are receiving substantial restorations. GM is discontinuing parts, especially for early models, and the repro market hasn't taken much interest to date.

Can you imagine trying to "restore" a C5 with all the electronics? Heck, you can't even bore the cylinder case to restore the cylinder bores. The liners are too thin.

Duke

Corvette Junkie

What position does Bob Lutz hold?

Illini Steve

Vice Chairman of Product Development

psychokiller

I think everyone is losing sight of the big picture: No C6 until 2005? Is this for real? Who will buy a 2004 C5? I understand the C5 50th 2003 demand will be high, but if there's nothing special about 2004, what reason is there to buy?

CALVette

So it looks like the first thing he did was cause a delay.

2004vette

I think they will still have it out by 2004. If we look back to when the C5 came out it was suppose to be a 98, it came out in 97. There going to have this car by then, they been working on it since 99. Everything should be done except for a re-skin. That's my opinion anyway.

87Heaven

Told you so!!! :nono:

:chevy GM never has publicly stated that the C6 will be a 2004 model, so you shouldn't be disappointed that it won't be. I've been one of the few on this forum that has been saying for months now that the C6 will not be a 2004 model. I have no "insider" sources, its just my opinion. :yesnod:

As for the C5, we all know it's anticipation and rollout drug out over a few years. The C6 will be the same. Sure we're talking about it now b/c we're Vette fanatics, but the rest of the population doesn't view the C5 as old or in need of replacement (I don't either).

2003 will be a big year for selling Vettes b/c of the 50th anniversary but that anniversary "hoopla" will also probably strike up interest in all Corvette models and generations. Even the 2004 model C5 will be getting more attention from the general population than the current 2002 after everyone gets reminded of how great the Corvette really is when they see things regarding the 50th anniversary of America's true sports car. :flag

70L46

:confused:
The C5 was supposed to come out before 97.

Considering the long anticipated anniversary edition is shaping up to be a new color and not much else, I would think they could bridge the gap to the C6 by doing what they did with the C4 in its final year. With no ZR1 for the final year of the C4, they came up with the GS and the Collector Edition. We could be in line for something similar if the 2004 Corvette winds up being the last year for the C5.

clem zahrobsky

2005 is fine with me,gives me time to pay off my 2002! :D

clem zahrobsky

that gives me 3 years to pay it off,if they had come out in 03 as a 04 i would have been screwed! :D also i use my SS check to make my payment so all you young guys keep working! :D my big problem is i will be 70 in 04 so i got to make it that far! :D


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 11:34 PM 10/21/2001]


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 8:55 AM 10/22/2001]

BobG

I have a different viewpoint than you on the numbers part. Ever hear of the first generation of Camaros? the 67-69's? Would you consider those to be "classics"? Well many people do, and they made over 200,000 of those in ONE year...:) Those sell for about 8-10 x's their original sticker price in excellent condition. BUT most of us who are enjoying the C5's are going to be dust by the time the C5 values do that....:)