Corvette Model History
 

I do not know how Vette models are classified and released to the public. I am trying to learn my Vette history.

What does the "C" in C6 stand for? Why not "G" for Generation 6? When does the new Z06 model become available for sale? A year after the new Vette generation has been introduced?
2005: C6
2006: C6/Z06

Is this correct....?

Conventional headlight mounts: 1953-1962

Hide-a-way headlight mounts: 1964-2004

Return of "Conventional" headlight mounts: 2005-Date (C6)

Thanks,

Gburg :auto: :steering:

It's C for Corvette so as to not be confused with a Gremlin or GMC. :D

C1 1953-1962 Solid rear axle, mostly shortened Chevy sedan based chassis with fiberglass body.

C2 1963-1967 Independant rear suspension, still with a lot of Chevy sedan parts in the chassis.

C3 1968-1982 restlyled C2, lots of changes but still basically the same car with a new body.

C4 1984-1996 First Corvette with a Corvette exclusive chassis designed from the ground up as a Corvette.

C5 1997-2004 Major technical leap over the C4 as a purpose built modern sports car.

C6 2005-???? New body, basically still a lot of C5 and improved C5 stuff under the skin.

Almost exactly right. C3 was 68 to 82 (but you knew that). The '67 was supposed to be the C3, but they weren't ready. So it has the console mounted handbrake and other minor changes that were slated for C3.

:cheers:

Not true:
C5 1997
C5/FRC 1999 (same body as C5/Z06 without all the go fast stuff)
C5/Z06 2001

One other bit of lore. The C3 lasted so long (from '68 to '82) that many people came to think of it as the last Corvette model. In fact it almost was.

Anyway, that left the Solid axle first generation and the Sting Ray second generation as the only two before the 'last' generation. Therefore, the C2 Sting Ray became known as 'mid-year'. You'll still hear that at some Corvette gatherings. The Cx designation was never used until the C5, so C1 - C4 are purely new stuff.

In the 'olden days' we just used solid axle, mid-year, shark, and late model. to describe C1 - C4.

:cheers:

And:

C2 Z06 1963/64

Tom

Lets start a CORVETTE history thread:flag:

Cool thread from some who really know the story. Thanks for the reply posts guys.

Yes, thanks for the good replies guys. :thumbs:

OK, "C" is for Corvette, I should have known. :withstupid:

Am I a novice Vette driver or what!?!?!? :o :leaving:

With a large useful forum like this, I am surprised that there is not a Corvette history thread. Or a Corvette "Back in the Day" thread. Would love to see articles and pics of classic Vettes. :thumbs:

Gburg :auto:

Ok, I'll bite. What happened to 1983?

The C4 was supposed to be released in the Fall of 1982 as an 83 model, but was plagued by bugs and was so late coming out, it debuted as an 84 in mid-1983. As a result, there was no 83 Corvette.

It was postponed to 1984 year model to work out the bugs in the more complicated manufacturing process.

The plant moved to BG in 82. Some '82s were produced in St. Louis and some in Bowling Green. There was such a delay getting the '83 ready that the whole model year was cancelled. Supposedly there is only one '83 left in existence. It was at the Museum the last time I toured it.

You'll pick up stuff at shows and swap meets. There are books you can read too. I learned by building models of them in the '60's as well as knew older guys who had vettes in the 60's and 70's. '57 was the 1st year for Fuel Injection, '65 got disc brakes. Then you get into the known problems to look for in each year, like '65 brake calipers that need to be sleeved 'cause they're leaking. Where to look for rust on the frame of a '63. Which engines had solid lifters like the LT-1. Some guys out there are freightening with the stuff they know. Casting numbers, how many teeth in the grill of a 56.
Have fun with it.:yesnod:

If you ever see a '83 for sale. Be suspicious.

Pre " C5 "
 

For Historical information, go to NCRS ( National Corvette Restorers Society ) website.

You do not need to be a pre- 1984 owner, and there is a National Road Trip every year around the country and you can participate with hundreds of fellow Corvette owners for the pleasure of enjoying the American Sportscar Dream. ( See the Oldest and Best Corvettes in the country )

Last year was the first International Meeting in Windsor Ontario Canada.
This is the Top of the list of Must Do Road Trips every Year.

Cruises, 2000 Vert, 2006 Coupe
NCRS Member # 39182

The plant moved in 1981 around June. All 1982's were built in BG. The two-tone 81's are BG cars but not all BG cars were two-tone.

The 84 was introduced in March 1983. It met all of the 1984 government requirements so Chevrolet made them 1984 models. Delays were caused by quality issues in the manufacturing process. The 1982 model year ran long (my CE was a 9/82 build) so tool up took longer as well. The goal was to release as error free as possible world class sports car. There's a book out called "The Newest Corvette" by Michael Lamm that details the C4's development and explains why no 83's were sold to the public. There's also some good books out on the C5 development as well as the C6.

:nono: June of 1981 was the date of the move, not 82. :bs:

1983 was an off year from the drastic switch from the very long running C3 to the C4. There IS NO such thing as a "1983" corvette. The cross fire (quite a dog) was put in some late 82s and exclusivly in the "collector edition" (collector edition-the only C3 with a rear opening hatch-bubble window) The C4 was the most radical change for the vette in a long time.

In the complacent years the C3 ran a remarkable 68 to 82 run. Kinda funny, cause sometimes you will be sitting there talking to someone that "loves" corvettes, and they will say I had an 83 vette, Sorry no such thing. I have stopped in many a watering hole where someone insists that they have an 83.

After so many mods to my 79 457 (flywheel) HP - 386 stroker, suspension, all digital gauges, on and on, It can't hold a candle to the C6, My C3 would edge the STOCK C6 in the 1/4 mile, but that's where the performance ends. The ride, handeling, comfort, and reliaibilty is just so different, and after 27 years it only stands to reason. The mid 70s to 80s vettes (and I love them) where a victem to the overall US car syndrom at the time. In a really ironic way, the foreign car invasion was the best thing to happen to US car buying consumers.:cheers:

:bs: There were several 1983 Corvettes made -preproduction models used mostly for destructive testing.

ONE 1983 Corvette did survive- and it's on display at the National Corvette Museum. It is highly unlikely that it will ever be sold.