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When I ordered my 2019 C7Z I opted for the Shark Gray Vent Package and then added a C7.R-inspired custom painted Shark Gray center stripe the first week after taking delivery. Before placing my order, I went back-n-forth on whether to order the Carbon Flash side mirrors or just stay with the body-colored Arctic White. In the end, I thought the Shark Gray vents matched up better with the body-colored side mirrors and I was happy with the look.
Fast forward to last November when after returning from a weekend club cruise to the other side of the state, I noticed a nickel-size chip off my passenger side mirror. We drove the back road twisties there and back and I didn't notice it until after I arrived home and while washing the car the next day. It most likely happened in the hotel parking lot the last night of the trip or when a few of us stopped for lunch on the way home.
Oh well, I bought the car to drive it so I decided to turn lemons into lemonade and have the body shop paint the side mirrors Shark Gray to match the vents and custom stripe. The body shop was backed up for 8 weeks however the owner told me if I could remove the mirrors instead of leaving the car, he could squeeze the paint job in between other projects so I removed the interior door panels and the front door speakers to access the bolts and wiring for the side mirrors. This was my first time removing any of the interior trim pieces from my C7Z so I was a little nervous and cautious considering these cars are basically snapped together with clips, 10 MM bolts, and torx screws.
After removing my C5 door panels many times over the years, I admit I was curious as to how much better the C7 door panels were and was pleasantly surprised by the higher quality connectors, tabs, and materials. You just have to get past the loud cracking noises the panels make when you are pulling the tabs off the door frame as it really sounds like you're breaking the doors.
After re-installing the freshly painted side mirrors, I added some felt tape to the top of the male connector pins to help tighten them even more within the door panel frame. This was a trick I used on my C5 for many years to help keep the panels as tight and quiet as possible. Not sure how much it helped with the C7, but the pins didn't jiggle as much as they did when I removed the panels.
Thanks. I really think Shark Gray is one of the best gray tints GM ever produced for the Corvette. Since I liked the color so much, I strongly considered it for my C7Z but since I was keeping my MSG C5, I decided on Arctic White and added the Shark Gray vents.
I know the C7 and now the C8 have had many different gray tints rolled out through their production runs but to my eyes the Shark Gray tint is the best of the bunch as it’s a pure metallic gray without a tint of another color mixed in. My paint guy even commented that it’s an easy color to blend compared to many other metallics.
My next paint project is a refresh spray of the front fascia, hood, and fenders on my C5 to clean up the small blemishes after 20 years of driving. I drove my C5 to the body shop when I picked up the C7 side mirrors to get a soft estimate on the paint work and my paint guy told me the Medium Spiral Gray will be a little harder to blend in than the Shark Gray. He then jokingly asked if I wanted to repaint the C5 Shark Gray instead. I laughed and told him thanks for putting that idea in my head.
I plan to stick with MSG but I’m sure a Shark Gray C5 would look amazing.
Thanks. I really think Shark Gray is one of the best gray tints GM ever produced for the Corvette. Since I liked the color so much, I strongly considered it for my C7Z but since I was keeping my MSG C5, I decided on Arctic White and added the Shark Gray vents.
I know the C7 and now the C8 have had many different gray tints rolled out through their production runs but to my eyes the Shark Gray tint is the best of the bunch as it’s a pure metallic gray without a tint of another color mixed in. My paint guy even commented that it’s an easy color to blend compared to many other metallics.
My next paint project is a refresh spray of the front fascia, hood, and fenders on my C5 to clean up the small blemishes after 20 years of driving. I drove my C5 to the body shop when I picked up the C7 side mirrors to get a soft estimate on the paint work and my paint guy told me the Medium Spiral Gray will be a little harder to blend in than the Shark Gray. He then jokingly asked if I wanted to repaint the C5 Shark Gray instead. I laughed and told him thanks for putting that idea in my head.
I plan to stick with MSG but I’m sure a Shark Gray C5 would look amazing.
there’s an easy solution to this problem. Allow me to put this thought into your head as well.
add a 3rd vette to your collection. A shark gray z
I would leave the c5 as is. That’s a great color on that body style
there’s an easy solution to this problem. Allow me to put this thought into your head as well.
add a 3rd vette to your collection. A shark gray z
I would leave the c5 as is. That’s a great color on that body style
Thanks. I agree on the C5 and the existing MSG paint. It's also a great color and I've received many compliment on it over the years. The most common being that many wished GM had originally offered it on the C5 Z06.
Too bad the C8 doesn't offer Shark Gray. A Shark Gray HTC C8 Z06 would be a great addition to the stable. However, I seem to like the odd number generations so maybe the C9Z?
I love my carbon flash painted trim bits and how it ties together all the CF trim. You've accomplished the same thing in Shark Gray and it looks great.
Painted Side Mirrors Shark Gray
However, I seem to like the odd number generations so maybe the C9Z? 
