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2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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Originally Posted by JoesC5
Gotta remember that it was in 1958 that GM hung about a million pounds of chrome on each car they built. Before that, not much chrome used. The bumpers on the 53-57's are nothing compared to the bumpers on the 58-62's.
Joe, I've had my 61 on a scale and even with all that chrome and a full steel frame it weighed in at 3042 lbs. I stuffed a 383 stroker in it with about 450 horses. I guess I'm in C7 territory except for the Fred Flinstone handling
The early 6 cylinder cars were slugs but some of the later solid axle cars, especially the fuelies with 4:11's, would run 13's and accelerate to 60 in under 6 seconds. Not bad for that era. The old cars will hold their value alot better than the new ones.
I just don't think it's possible in this day and age of airbags, door beams and crumple zones along with the 'industry standard' A/C, infotainment systems and sound deadening to get the car much lighter than that.
I'm guessing it could be as low as 3040 and as high as 3130.
Technology is amazing. The cars are dramatically safer, faster, emissions, and packed full of goodies and the fact that they can even sniff the weight of a 50 year old car is a blessing.
Give me a break. If you actually weigh an 84-87, they are not much more than 3000, WITH 60 POUNDS WORTH OF JACKS, SPARE TIRES and extra crap, which the new ones don't have.
I would bet a small block 65-7 is probably actually under 3000 in some trim as well.
My 70 was under 3000, and that was with 300 extra pounds worth of iron calipers, wheels, and engine parts.
I'd bet ALL of the 50's vettes come in close to or under 3000.
3000 is HEAVY. Not light.
A g machine c1-4, with modern wheels, calipers, coilovers or fiberglass springs, and a modern motor will be in the 26-2800 range, in FULL street trim.
all that is with NO carbon fiber, etc.
you can thank the government for a lot of that BS weight, and then thank fat butts and out of control electrical engineers for the rest.
This car should be sub - 2800, and actually it should be about 7/8 scale and be sub 2600.
Agree completely, Same power and around 2700 lbs. would be awesome.
Boy a lot of you guys are dreaming. The McLaren F1 was about 2,500 lbs and is about the size of a miata. It used the absolute lightest materials known to man, with a carbon monocoque.
How do you honestly think a 2014 corvette with all of the emissions regulations and safety standards is going to weigh under 3,100?
I'd be shocked if the new car is sub 3,100 REALLY. Trust me i hope it's great, but lets be realistic here.
Seriously, though, what does this post have to do with anything? Point is, very early Vettes actually were lighter than the '58, albeit way slower. Oh, and the collectors out there will pay MUCH more for a nice example of a '53 than they'll pay for a 2013 ZR-1. So, I guess that's who wants them.
Oops! yeah, you know what I meant. The point is that everyone is so caught up on how this new C7 is goin or not going to be lighter or the lightest vette ever. This I guess is a good topic of conversation, only for bragging rights, IMHO, because the technology and performance far more outweighs (pun intended) the older model.
Give me a break. If you actually weigh an 84-87, they are not much more than 3000, WITH 60 POUNDS WORTH OF JACKS, SPARE TIRES and extra crap, which the new ones don't have.
I would bet a small block 65-7 is probably actually under 3000 in some trim as well.
My 70 was under 3000, and that was with 300 extra pounds worth of iron calipers, wheels, and engine parts.
I'd bet ALL of the 50's vettes come in close to or under 3000.
3000 is HEAVY. Not light.
A g machine c1-4, with modern wheels, calipers, coilovers or fiberglass springs, and a modern motor will be in the 26-2800 range, in FULL street trim.
all that is with NO carbon fiber, etc.
you can thank the government for a lot of that BS weight, and then thank fat butts and out of control electrical engineers for the rest.
This car should be sub - 2800, and actually it should be about 7/8 scale and be sub 2600.
You, of course, are wrong on every point. Reminds me of the guy who proclaimed that SCCA would let anyone compete with an automatic transmission. The internet is not perfect but can be a GREAT resource at times.
Boy a lot of you guys are dreaming. The McLaren F1 was about 2,500 lbs and is about the size of a miata. It used the absolute lightest materials known to man, with a carbon monocoque.
How do you honestly think a 2014 corvette with all of the emissions regulations and safety standards is going to weigh under 3,100?
I'd be shocked if the new car is sub 3,100 REALLY. Trust me i hope it's great, but lets be realistic here.
McLaren F1 the size of a Miata? Not even close (except weight):
I think that the 3,000 weigh is achievable. All carbon fiber body panels, carbon fiber floor, aluminum frame (all these reported by Car and Driver). The aluminum frame saves well over 100 pounds over the steel frame alone. Anyhow, we'll find out next week.
Technology is amazing. The cars are dramatically safer, faster, emissions, and packed full of goodies and the fact that they can even sniff the weight of a 50 year old car is a blessing.
1950 Crosely Hot Shot(my uncle had one) two seater sports car had a curb weight of 1175 pounds. Just think how it would move with a LS7. Great until you slamed the wall at Taledaga at 162 MPH.
I had a 1946 Crosely sedan while in college. 1151 pounds curb weight.
They had real engineers back then, instead of these today that only know how to use a computer that results in 3200 pound lead sled sports cars.
I think that the 3,000 weigh is achievable. All carbon fiber body panels, carbon fiber floor, aluminum frame (all these reported by Car and Driver). The aluminum frame saves well over 100 pounds over the steel frame alone. Anyhow, we'll find out next week.
You, of course, are wrong on every point. Reminds me of the guy who proclaimed that SCCA would let anyone compete with an automatic transmission. The internet is not perfect but can be a GREAT resource at times.
'84- 3239 lbs
'65- 3230
'70- 3425
'59- 3080
Ramey is delusional with his weights, especially his 87.
Give me a break. If you actually weigh an 84-87, they are not much more than 3000, WITH 60 POUNDS WORTH OF JACKS, SPARE TIRES and extra crap, which the new ones don't have.
I would bet a small block 65-7 is probably actually under 3000 in some trim as well.
My 70 was under 3000, and that was with 300 extra pounds worth of iron calipers, wheels, and engine parts.
I'd bet ALL of the 50's vettes come in close to or under 3000.
3000 is HEAVY. Not light.
A g machine c1-4, with modern wheels, calipers, coilovers or fiberglass springs, and a modern motor will be in the 26-2800 range, in FULL street trim.
all that is with NO carbon fiber, etc.
you can thank the government for a lot of that BS weight, and then thank fat butts and out of control electrical engineers for the rest.
This car should be sub - 2800, and actually it should be about 7/8 scale and be sub 2600.
3,000 pounds was heavy 40 years ago, not any more. Safety standards have eliminated the flyweight car (except the Lotus Elise which no normal American male can get in). A 2013 Honda Civic EX weighs 2,855 pounds, for pete's sake.
I really shouldn't say this, but anything starting with a 3xxx curb weight will leave me let down. I need to convince myself to be happy with a 30xx weight so I'm either not that let down or estatic when its 29xx
Gotta remember that it was in 1958 that GM hung about a million pounds of chrome on each car they built. Before that, not much chrome used. The bumpers on the 53-57's are nothing compared to the bumpers on the 58-62's.
Yep -- and as I understand it, they were thinking about fins!!!
That look would have held up well over the years
I think R&T would refer to those days' Detroit styling as "wretched excess"
^^^ I think you very well may be right and, with their emphasis on every gram earning the right to be there, I think they very well might make it. What a screamer that will be with 450+ hp and a 7 or 8 speed transmission
getting your hopes up wayyy to much. It's GM. They will have to leave room for the next c8 corvette. They can't give us what we all want not. It will be a tad lighter......and a bit faster. that's all.