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I am a huge fan of the clamshell on the c4 and especially the one Dodge had on the Viper. If something happened and the C8 turned out to be another front-engined Corvette or if its possible to make a clamshell rear opening, who else would like to see a clamshell on the C8? (sadly I do not have a picture to go with). If GM can't/doesn't put a clamshell, what would you like to see instead? I think a cover glass over the engine would also look cool
Don't even wish for one. The clamshell hood on the C4 let to expensive insurance premiums as a simple fender bender would require replacement of the entire clamshell hood.
Don't even wish for one. The clamshell hood on the C4 let to expensive insurance premiums as a simple fender bender would require replacement of the entire clamshell hood.
Repair costs should never be a consideration when designing a car. It's art, there are enough government rules that hinder the design, let's not handicap the car more by saying a pretty hood is too expensive.
Repair costs should never be a consideration when designing a car. It's art, there are enough government rules that hinder the design, let's not handicap the car more by saying a pretty hood is too expensive.
Should never...but must.
"Art" needs to make economic sense in a higher volume product. In a low volume skys-the-limit price tag product you can afford to go nuts and make impractical things. Generally people don't want to buy things that are difficult or expensive to replace unless they have unlimited dollars to spend. Corvette has always strived to be a more attainable car, so expense will always be considered, not only for the consumer but for the dealers.
Art also need to compromise with performance and engineering which is why products start with loose, anything goes renderings to set a feeling and emotion and then are altered to suit engineering and performance concerns and then altered again for production and cost concerns... then Art gets another chance to make these needs pretty again...
BTW...this is Art...
Last edited by firstvettesoon; 02-07-2018 at 12:06 PM.
From an ease of access point of view, a clamshell hood for a front- or mid-engine car is a great idea. If it means higher insurance premiums, that is indeed a drag, but it makes the car so much easier to work on.
If it's going to cost as much as a Huracan or 570s with a c8 front-engine corvette on the way, I want a clamshell on it. You'd save in labor costs what you pay extra in insurance. And a clamshell looks a lot cooler.
But the rear panels on the test mules appear to be separate, so a clamshell isn't likely.
"Art" needs to make economic sense in a higher volume product. In a low volume skys-the-limit price tag product you can afford to go nuts and make impractical things. Generally people don't want to buy things that are difficult or expensive to replace unless they have unlimited dollars to spend. Corvette has always strived to be a more attainable car, so expense will always be considered, not only for the consumer but for the dealers.
The higher volume you make it, the more ordinary and boring it will become. I would personally be very happy if Corvette was a poster car. If people aren't dreaming about owning one now, they are aren't going to buy them in the future. Keep the price high, the volume low, and let the artistic elements and impracticality flow.
From an ease of access point of view, a clamshell hood for a front- or mid-engine car is a great idea. If it means higher insurance premiums, that is indeed a drag, but it makes the car so much easier to work on.
Certainly the clamshell on the C4 contributed to, along w the targa top, the reduced structural rigidity for that platform but boy does it make working on the motor and suspension soooooo much simpler.
The higher volume you make it, the more ordinary and boring it will become. I would personally be very happy if Corvette was a poster car. If people aren't dreaming about owning one now, they are aren't going to buy them in the future. Keep the price high, the volume low, and let the artistic elements and impracticality flow.
That is certainly one way to go...but not a way GM is ready to take the Corvette IMO.. at least not now.
Certainly the clamshell on the C4 contributed to, along w the targa top, the reduced structural rigidity for that platform but boy does it make working on the motor and suspension soooooo much simpler.
Would it be half the fun if it wasn't twice the work?
If it's going to cost as much as a Huracan or 570s with a c8 front-engine corvette on the way, I want a clamshell on it. You'd save in labor costs what you pay extra in insurance. And a clamshell looks a lot cooler.
But the rear panels on the test mules appear to be separate, so a clamshell isn't likely.
Yeah, I agree that its unlikely to happen but it would be cool.
02-07-2018, 10:55 AM
Clam Shell Hood?
