RonBurgAM

Friend of a friend sees my Z06 and after some talking states that he has direct knowledge of some parts being made for a new limited edition Vette. I can't say how he has this knowledge but it seems legit. I'll share as much as I can without (hopefully) implicating my source.

He knows of 3 parts being made. All are compression molded SMC. Two are located somewhere near the rear windows. Shaped like hockey sticks, length is shoulder width apart. Of note is that there is a channel integrated for rear brake cooling.

The other part was described as triangular but with more sides. They way he made the shape with his hands in the air was like a Transformers face. Angular, triangular jaw at the bottom and ears. Maybe something for the hood intake?

He was not super knowledgeable with Corvette but I asked a ton of questions and got a few small nuggets. These parts will be finished and also painted. So apparently they are visible. I also asked about major changes and explained the ME rumors and that doesn't appear to be it. The real interesting info is that 100 parts have been made of each already, supposedly saleable. But maybe the most interesting thing he said was that this is a special model that is limited to 1000 units.

That is literally everything of note from the conversation. He believed everything that he told me. Not sure if any of it was filtered before it got to him but it seemed legit. We'll find out soon but certainly interesting and adds to the speculation. Doesn't make sense initially that they would limit this model to 1000 but you never know. I am super curious to see what of this ends up being true but think it will be pretty accurate.

>>>Well some back-tracking is in order. Just got a follow-up text claiming that these parts are for a rear engine vehicle that will be out in 2020. Guess this could be the C8 but who the hell knows. Sounds like it has nothing to do with the ZR-1. And ultimately none of this is particularly useful information. Sorry for wasting your time. Feel free to flame!

Steve Garrett

Rumors......all rumors.

mschuyler

The last "special" model limited to 1000 units was the Collector Edition, except it didn't make 1000 units--something like 930 or so. Ironically, many other iterations were made in far fewer units, e.g. LBR verts at 230 or so, so the so-called "Collector Editions" are more common than many other variants. So would GM actually paint 1000 units in advance? That seems unlikely to me. Also, for GM to limit the ZR-1 to 1000 units would be counter-productive. The object is to increase sales well beyond +1000, so I'm not seeing the scenario you describe myself.

mountainears

I wouldn't be surprised of a limited run, in a ME. The ZR1 to me would not be...unless they did some limited edition within the ZR1 production.

wonka12_98

Its ALWAYS a friend of a friend who knows someone!

sunsalem

I think it might be the other way around...

dvilin

More about nothing.

LoganExplosion

I heard it was going to be made with all left-hand-threaded bolts and screws. So it's easier to work on for lefties and can turn faster. Also, no windshield for the first model year

vbdenny

Sounds more like Ford with the limited nonsense. In a capitalist society, you sell as much as you can.

davepl

It could well be a limited production "track only" model that is meant to fix the C7Z's heating reputation and stir up some interest in the current model while we await the C8. That'd make sense.

Total speculation though.

And in a capitalist society, sometimes you limit supply, depending on the shape of the supply and demand curves ala Econ 101. Just ask De Beers.

LDYSTIG

Good god, this is worse than the girl's gossip forum at my local junior high.

l2vette

Fake News!

ZenicaPA

I don't imagine a vehicle manufacturer sharing with a parts supplier information on how many vehicles the manufacturer plans to produce. Even the number of parts ordered isn't indicative of anything as parts are made for many more reasons than just new vehicle assembly.

Glenn Quagmire

My neighbor's brother-in-law works for a firm near Detroit, which makes among other things, floor mats for motorcycles. Anyway, he claims that they're making the handle bar grips for the mid engine vette, which is set to debut next July at Comic-con in San Diego.

tarepas

Almost all special editions have had LARGE numbers produced. Except the 2015 Atlantic Edition. The lowest RPO of any series Corvette Only 17 produced

ZenicaPA

Glenn, would the other things be muffler bearings ?

JoesC5

When the 2006 C6 Z06 was under development GM contracted with the carbon fiber supplier and contracted with the company molding the front fenders for 7,000 of each front fender(right & left) for the 2006 Z06. GM knew exactly how many Z06's it planned to produce in 2006 and contracted for that amount of Z06 parts to be produced, the Vermont Composites knew exactly how many cars would be built with the front fenders it was to mold for GM.

Press release...

"Vermont Composites to Produce Carbon Fiber Fenders for GM's Corvette Z06

Vermont Governor Douglas and Dave Hill of General Motors visited Vermont Composites on Tuesday, May 10 to celebrate the announcement that the company will be producing carbon fiber fenders for the new Corvette Z06. Both Vermont Composites and General Motors believe that production of this part represents a major step forward in the application of carbon fibers to high production automobiles.
Vermont Composites has worked closely with General Motors for the past year to develop a light weight front fender for GM's new 2006 Corvette Z06. This car was introduced to the public last January at the North American Automobile Show in Detroit , Michigan and will be available at dealers in Q4 2005.
The use of carbon fiber composites saves a total of 5.5 kilograms (12.1 lbs) for the two front fenders, compared to the standard RIM molded parts used on other Corvettes. Each fender weighs approximately 1.7 kilograms (3.8 lbs). The fenders are delivered to General Motors ready for application of the final color top coat and subsequent assembly onto the car.

And another article....

" When Tier 1 manufacturer MacLean Quality Composites (West Jordan, Utah) successfully molded, autoclave-cured and delivered 2,100 carbon/epoxy prepreg exterior hood panels for the Z06 LeMans (see "Editor's Picks," at right), the landmark achievement spurred GM engineers to pursue more carbon on a future model. A Z06 was not built for model-year 2005, but 7,000 were slated for 2006, offering an ideal platform for pushing the production envelope for autoclaved prepreg."

"During the hood project, Lasell was the R&D product engineer at GM responsible for its design and validation. As the hood was moved forward into production, Lasell began development of a carbon fender, but shortly thereafter returned to his home state of Vermont and went back to work with former employer Vermont Composites. GM approached him there and asked Vermont to validate the fender production. Before bidding on the fender contract, however, Vermont had to prove not only to GM but to itself as well, that production of 7,000 sets of fenders was feasible."

So, yes, certain outside suppliers do know how many parts are ordered by GM ahead of actual automobile production, and they then supply that amount. The supplier has to know the quantity so thy know how to set up production for those parts and to also to bid on the parts.

sunsalem

In a capitalist society, you sell make as much profit as you can.

Agreed.

Ferrari limits supply to keep prices high...not just on NEW cars, but on the Ferrari used car market as well.

True.

Can Vette

Still speculation...but we've seen 2 versions of the (assumed) ZR1 ... perhaps the vr with the huge wing is in fact a limited edition, while the other is the standard ZR1?

ZenicaPA

That number does not correlate to number of vehicles produced.
GM has to account for damage in transit, pieces not installed at factory due to a defect, orders from dealers and body shops, orders from customers, pieces used for compliance testing.