Would you buy a C1/C2 Corvette with an automatic transmission?
03-16-2019, 11:19 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Would you buy a C1/C2 Corvette with an automatic transmission?
I asked this question deep in the bowels of another thread. Maybe it'll get a little more response here. I am interested (maybe other are) in the results.
POLL: Would you buy a C1/C2 Corvette with an automatic transmission?
POLL Results
POLL: Would you buy a C1/C2 Corvette with an automatic transmission?
POLL Results
03-16-2019, 11:23 AM
#2
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Had to add this from the Opinions on these C1/C2 for sale thread since it still has me laughing...
The Corvette is a sports car and for 80 years a proper sports car involved a manual transmission on the floor. Mostly but not always.
Corvettes sold with automatic transmissions were ordered with base or lower HP motors and were owed by women or girly-men. Mostly but not always.
Many Corvettes with automatics were also equipped with air conditioning which is a much coveted option on a C2 and brings up the value significantly, automatic notwithstanding. Funny, when I was a kid, ANY car we had, muscle car or otherwise, Corvettes, you name it, the A/C was sawed out and chucked in the can to "save weight." Mostly and always.
Mopar muscle cars were often equipped with automatics, the 727 being the best mixer made and many believed it could outshift a manual so it does not hurt. Same is true with some others, a Buick GS with a THM400 comes to mind, no one would throw one of them out of bed.
But a Corvette with an automatic? "Say, your wife has a nice car...hey your sister or girlfriend was sweet to loan you her car.....never learned to drive stick?" Mostly but not always.
Lastly, The C2 received the new 396 in April of 65 but not the new THM400 which was too big and in too short supply for use in a Corvette. The Powerglide was a 2 speed with a tall first gear that made for leisurely takeoffs. It was an excellent transmission, among the toughest ever devised and extensively used in racing because it shifted only once.
But...in a C2 Corvette the combination of girlliness and lower HP engines/performance dampens value, mostly but not always.
Dan
Corvettes sold with automatic transmissions were ordered with base or lower HP motors and were owed by women or girly-men. Mostly but not always.
Many Corvettes with automatics were also equipped with air conditioning which is a much coveted option on a C2 and brings up the value significantly, automatic notwithstanding. Funny, when I was a kid, ANY car we had, muscle car or otherwise, Corvettes, you name it, the A/C was sawed out and chucked in the can to "save weight." Mostly and always.
Mopar muscle cars were often equipped with automatics, the 727 being the best mixer made and many believed it could outshift a manual so it does not hurt. Same is true with some others, a Buick GS with a THM400 comes to mind, no one would throw one of them out of bed.
But a Corvette with an automatic? "Say, your wife has a nice car...hey your sister or girlfriend was sweet to loan you her car.....never learned to drive stick?" Mostly but not always.
Lastly, The C2 received the new 396 in April of 65 but not the new THM400 which was too big and in too short supply for use in a Corvette. The Powerglide was a 2 speed with a tall first gear that made for leisurely takeoffs. It was an excellent transmission, among the toughest ever devised and extensively used in racing because it shifted only once.
But...in a C2 Corvette the combination of girlliness and lower HP engines/performance dampens value, mostly but not always.
Dan
Last edited by gjhinc; 03-16-2019 at 11:28 AM.
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Yankeededandy (03-21-2019)
03-16-2019, 11:40 AM
#3
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Most look the other way at autos becouse they mostly came only with base engine cars. As most turn there noses at base engines cars too. How ever in 66-67 you could get the 427/390 and 67 427/400 with a auto. But they are fairly uncommon so often forgot. And haven helped restore one and driven one it’s a experience all on its own.
03-16-2019, 11:44 AM
#4
Racer
I certainly would if the price was right, but not if I did not already own a four speed. No real mechanical problems with the automatic, and makes a non power brake non power steering car easier to drive. No one these days drives old corvettes for the handling (especially with bias ply gold wall tires like mine has!!!!) so down shifting into curves, heal toe around the racing track is just a thing of the past for these old beauties
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Roger Walling (03-16-2019)
03-16-2019, 11:54 AM
#5
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I voted no but that is with an exception. If I had a medical reason for not being able to drive it manual then I would buy an automatic.
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Yankeededandy (03-21-2019)
03-16-2019, 12:13 PM
#6
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I'm a 4 speed guy as well, and am not interested in two speed automatic sports cars. That said, if it were a medical issue, if the price was right, etc. I would buy one. One thing I've noticed on pretty much ALL performance cars with automatics over the decades: they are almost ALWAYS creampuffs compared to their stickshift brothers. They tend to be much less abused and tend to still have their original drivetrains. A loaded coupe with AC and all the trimmings swapped over to a 3 speed or 4 speed auto would be just fine. Randy G is an example. Love that car!
03-16-2019, 12:17 PM
#7
Racer
I would add this: When I was looking for my C-2 I would not in any way look at an automatic, as it for me, dilutes the real nature of the beast. However now that I have one, I would buy an automatic as a second car, again, if the price was right!
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Roger Walling (03-16-2019)
If you wear a dress, YES
03-16-2019, 12:40 PM
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03-16-2019, 12:42 PM
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03-16-2019, 12:42 PM
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Had one w auto, other more powerful and fun to drive cars I have are stick....
03-16-2019, 12:49 PM
#14
Race Director
With a built 700-R4, yes.
FWIW, Corvette used PGs in the C2s because they were made by Chevrolet, the TH 400 was made by Hydramatic. It wasn't a supply issue, it was keep in in house, issue.
I honestly get tired of shifting in traffic, especially in stop and go traffic. A good auto will beat a manual through the 1/4, HP being equal, anyway. A few very practiced drivers can over come the disadvantage of a manual in the 1/4. For any type of road course, a manual is preferred. Clutches are PITA to change, anyway, once you get past about 35 years old.. It doesn't both some hard core masochists, though.
Doug
FWIW, Corvette used PGs in the C2s because they were made by Chevrolet, the TH 400 was made by Hydramatic. It wasn't a supply issue, it was keep in in house, issue.
I honestly get tired of shifting in traffic, especially in stop and go traffic. A good auto will beat a manual through the 1/4, HP being equal, anyway. A few very practiced drivers can over come the disadvantage of a manual in the 1/4. For any type of road course, a manual is preferred. Clutches are PITA to change, anyway, once you get past about 35 years old.. It doesn't both some hard core masochists, though.
Doug
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Roger Walling (03-16-2019)
03-16-2019, 12:51 PM
#15
Race Director
I once bought a 300hp 67 convertible with a Powerglide, thinking it might somehow be cool. It wasn't. I was appalled at how doggy it was and sold it before long.
If a medical issue forced me to give up my 4-speed manual I'd install a 3 or 4-speed automatic in my present 67.
If a medical issue forced me to give up my 4-speed manual I'd install a 3 or 4-speed automatic in my present 67.
03-16-2019, 12:54 PM
#16
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How the times have changed and the new corvette buyers of today have also changed with the times.
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 78 % automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
In what was one of the shortest model years, a total of 9,686 Corvettes were produced. Production started June 5, 2017 and ends January 28, 2018. The plant was down for three months, making the 2018 model year approximately 5 months.
Here’s how the options panned out:
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 78 % automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
In what was one of the shortest model years, a total of 9,686 Corvettes were produced. Production started June 5, 2017 and ends January 28, 2018. The plant was down for three months, making the 2018 model year approximately 5 months.
Here’s how the options panned out:
- 39.3% Stingrays; 31.8% Grand Sport; 28.9% Z06
- 17.5% of Corvettes built were convertibles
- Automatic transmissions outsold manuals once again at 78%. 1 out of 5 were manual shifts
Last edited by CorvetteMikeB; 03-16-2019 at 04:45 PM. Reason: Correction typo...78% not 87%
03-16-2019, 01:00 PM
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How the times have changed and the new corvette buyers of today have also changed with the times.
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 87% automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 87% automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
03-16-2019, 01:22 PM
#18
Race Director
How the times have changed and the new corvette buyers of today have also changed with the times.
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 87% automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
New C7 Corvettes of today average around 87% automatic transmissions each year. They predict the new C8 Corvettes might break into the 90% range of having automatic transmissions.
Electric cars & electric sport cars are the wave of the future and they all are press your foot on the pedal and GO!
03-16-2019, 01:31 PM
#19
1983, Spring Break Daytona Beach in my 82 Z28 pace car, a hot girl in a bikini said “nice car, automatic or stick?” I replied “it is only available with automatic.” Her reply, “get a real car!” I searched for her the rest of the week, but never found her. The car had a new owner by summer.
03-16-2019, 02:20 PM
#20
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While I have always previously owned manual-transmission Corvettes over the last 45 years, and my current '62 is a 4-speed, I wouldn't hesitate to own an automatic in a C1 or C2 if the car and the price were right. One additional thing to consider, if you ever intend to drive the car in a parade you will WISH your car was an automatic. As for the newest Corvettes, my current C7 convertible is a 2014 Premier Edition and that was only available as an automatic, so that's what it is . . . and after a couple of thousand miles, I must admit I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. Times change.