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Looking at one of these recently, there was a fair amount of space above the trans in which a removable "trunk" was fitted.. Certainly enough for the set of golf clubs or other luggage. A modern engine will be less tall without the big intake, carb and air cleaner. So enough space for a Ferrari style folding roof. So, in terms of packaging, is this basically what we are looking at with the ME?
Yes absolutely. The plus of the Pantera, which I think will be also true for the ME C8, is having a great looking mid engine serviceable at a bunch of Chevy dealerships and parts from just about anywhere.
Not to throw cold water on this, but the Pantera was a unibody design. Highly doubtful the Corvette would follow. That would probably have an impact on engine placement and any rear storage capability.
The Pantera was normally aspirated and I don't remember any radiators besides the coolant radiator in the nose. I imagine that the C8 will have some heat exchangers and radiators that the Pantera didn't have and that will eat up a lot of room.
The Lotus Europa had a removable trunk like the Pantera and despite being a really small car had a fair amount of luggage space.
It just depends on the priority that they have placed on luggage/golf bag carrying ability. Personally, I don't golf, so I hope that the emphasis will be on keeping the car small and light and ignore the two golf bag carrying requirement that drove the design of previous generations, but I'm not holding my breath.
The Pantera was normally aspirated and I don't remember any radiators besides the coolant radiator in the nose. I imagine that the C8 will have some heat exchangers and radiators that the Pantera didn't have and that will eat up a lot of room.
The Lotus Europa had a removable trunk like the Pantera and despite being a really small car had a fair amount of luggage space.
It just depends on the priority that they have placed on luggage/golf bag carrying ability. Personally, I don't golf, so I hope that the emphasis will be on keeping the car small and light and ignore the two golf bag carrying requirement that drove the design of previous generations, but I'm not holding my breath.
The Mid-engine Corvette CAD drawings show a fair sized air breather/filter/ducting mounted directly above the transaxle, where a rear cargo area in the Pantera is located.
We all have a car that we say we should have kept. Mine is the Pantera. In fact, the mid engine feeling (it almost came in between the seats) is what is making me hold off from buying a C7. I never tried, but I don't think I could have gotten a set of clubs in the back with the storage tray.
The Pantera was normally aspirated and I don't remember any radiators besides the coolant radiator in the nose. I imagine that the C8 will have some heat exchangers and radiators that the Pantera didn't have and that will eat up a lot of room.
The C8 (at least Z51 and higher models) will have transaxle coolers in the engine bay. With 500+ HP being developed, these radiators will emit large amounts of heat to the engine bay--thus the need to cooling air flow from exterior vents.
Water and A/C radiators are expected to be up front.
I have never seen a ME with as much uncluttered space as a Pantera. Having said that I can’t imagine any new ME car having that kind of space what with all the emissions, safety and track related heat exchangers that would be fighting for space. By the way I bet that the Pantera’s storage area is so hot you could probably cook a nice holiday meal.
Simple solution if golfing by yourself, or if you aren’t driving to the course with a passenger: PUT YOUR CLUBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT! Compromise for the greater good!
We all have a car that we say we should have kept. Mine is the Pantera. In fact, the mid engine feeling (it almost came in between the seats) is what is making me hold off from buying a C7. I never tried, but I don't think I could have gotten a set of clubs in the back with the storage tray.
Me too. have owned many HP cars over the years, the ONLY car I miss was my 72 Pantera. : cry
Not to throw cold water on this, but the Pantera was a unibody design. Highly doubtful the Corvette would follow. That would probably have an impact on engine placement and any rear storage capability.
Simple solution if golfing by yourself, or if you aren’t driving to the course with a passenger: PUT YOUR CLUBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT! Compromise for the greater good!
Might well work! With the top off for those great golfing weather days, perhaps even two bags vertically, with the seat all the way back and a towel for protection on the seat, the towel dropping onto/over the carpet, maybe?
It is not a pure unibody. The frame can be driven without the body panels. Well if you could keep enough of the electronics to keep from throwing codes to shut the car down. I have seen more than a few pictures of C4 and above Corvettes driven without body panels.
It is not body on frame either. You can't just lift the body off the frame by undoing a few bolts, hoses, and linkages.
It is more of a perimeter frame. Kind of like a Fiero. but different.
Simple solution if golfing by yourself, or if you aren’t driving to the course with a passenger: PUT YOUR CLUBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT! Compromise for the greater good!
Originally Posted by elegant
Might well work! With the top off for those great golfing weather days. Anyone please try this on a C7?
The only way the golf clubs will fit in the passenger seat of the C7 is with the roof off the car - there isn't anywhere near 45" of height from the seat bottom to the roof. I can't imagine the ME will have Suburban like headroom, which is about what you would need.
The only way the golf clubs will fit in the passenger seat of the C7 is with the roof off the car - there isn't anywhere near 45" of height from the seat bottom to the roof. I can't imagine the ME will have Suburban like headroom, which is about what you would need.
You have them in a carry bag and they go in diagonally?
While I managed to live several years with only a small two seaters without this being an insurmountable problem, most Corvette owners have more than one car.
05-25-2018, 06:56 AM
Does the Pantera have any lessons for us?
