LarryMJones

Someone on another post has pictures of TBSS badges on his Vette.

This one is real not a fake.

I was looking in the rear storage compartment for a place to store some stuff when I discovered a small GM envelope in with my front license plate holder. To my surprise the envelope contained a hand initialed piece of paper that looked like a dyno print out. It appeared to indicate a test run of 427 HP at 6500rpm, and get this 2 beautiful GM SS badges. see photo

The next day I called Bowling Green and talked with a PR person who indicated the origional name for the ZR 1 was to be the SS. (see Automobile magazine Sept 2006 article available online) When the GM brass decided on ZR 1, the SS was dropped.

Well it turned out that a special project was started at BG to build a SS 07 C6 since the SS was dropped for the ZR1. It was to be a COPO option with the LS2 engine dyno tuned to produce 427 hp in honor of the great 427 L88 engine in the 67 427. It was to be limited production with a MSRP option price of $1250.00. GM brass found out about the project and stopped the program. They were concerned that 427 hp from a LS2 would not be good PR for the upcoming 435 hp LS3.

The BG guy indicated a few of the special tuned 427 HP LS2 engines were actually ready to go when the project was cancelled. they were supposed to be detuned back to 400 hp and returned to the line.

He speculated one of the envelopes of SS badges and the dyno certification print out was accidentally left on the engine, and later ended up in the trunk of my C6. He was confident it had been detuned bach to 400 HP but only after a long pause.

Then he asked me to return the dyno print and SS badges to the Bowling Green plant freight collect FedX.

fat chance that is going to happen.
LJ

Wayne O

Interesting how the marketing department dictates what they'll allow to compete with the performance attributes of another model (it was a similar situation with the F55 suspension). Well, at least your call to BG confirms the SS emblems don't belong on a C6.

dvilin

Interesting story, kind of surprised they want the paperwork and SS badges back.

BLACK 08

Good story...What's interesting is that GM itself tunes an LS2 and gets 27 hp. It makes me want to really have my LS3 tuned now.

08vycpe

Aren't those SS badges on the white car upside down?

KenHorse

I'd tell him "Sure thing! In return for a new ZR1 did you say?"

STEVE MC

Great story Larry.

I woudn't have given them back either.

AirBusPilot

I would've kept the badges in the original packaging. This could be worth something, someday..

Ames

Maybe not. I'll go look at my TBSS.

Gordon Shumway

I have that exact same badge. However, they came from the factory on my 2007 TrailBlazer SS.

You think the critics of Z51 badge posing are tough, wait until they see you are impersonating an SUV.

Ames

I think it's the camera angle and that they are so low on the car. GM usually has them higher up.

nwc6

Shows how on the ball GM is..The date from that engine cert was 7/8/07...The LS3 was already announced and being produced..
Your motor must have been one of the last LS2 produced and used in a Corvette.

LarryMJones

I just had a private message from someone connected with a collector car aution. They want to see the car and dyno paperwork. If it is a real COPO car that somehow got out of the factory they want me to bring it to Scottedale next January.
I gave them my email address so they can get back with me.
LJ

C-INRED

RadarP3C

Cool!

Marc V.

They are upside-down. The larger space between the curves of the "S" should be on the bottom, like shown in the bag in the 1st pic.


I would have the car dynoed and see if it was de-tuned. You might have something of value there.

NW94Z

Very cool story. Would love to see how this turns out. Don't think you should have installed the badges though.

danl72

HANNY

larry, is it april 1st? i cant remember a post of yours that didnt have a little "BS" in them. maybe that would make a nice badge? LOL, paul

mcc978

I wonder how many 07 coupes have one of these dyno printouts with the SS emblems? If only your vette then maybe you should have left the package sealed. Have you had your vette on a dyno?