DeWitt Moyer’s 2017 “Grey Ghost
A modern-day sleeper C7 2017 Corvette Stingray with a spooky alter ego Dateline: 5-27-22 / This story was originally published in the September 2019 issue...
Category: C7 Corvettes
Rene Lopez-Duprey’s 2016 Z06 Corvette Convertible- the Perfect Florida Corvette!
Rene was a happy Corvette owner, enjoying his Corvette convertible in the beautiful Florida climate. There’s nothing quite like top-down motoring in a mostly warm, sunny area. All was well, that is until the C7 Z06 came out. Rene prefers convertibles, so when he learned that the new Z06 was available as a convertible; he just had to have one.
Michael Tran’s STUNNING Wrapped C7 Corvette Stingray
Michael Tran, of Baytown, Texas has been into cars since the age of eighteen. For years Tran bought and fixed up a variety of Hondas and BMWs, but in his heart, he wanted a hot American car; not a Camaro or a Mustang; a Corvette!
After his jewelry business took off, Tran started looking for a C6 to fulfill his very specific plans for his vision of a daily driver, supercar Corvette. But when the C7 came out, Tran knew that was the car he wanted. In 2014 Tran purchased a pre-owned Arctic White 2014 Z51 Corvette with black wheels and just 2,000 miles on the odometer. Since Tran knew exactly what he wanted for his Corvette, upon delivery, the car went directly to the shop for what would become a long journey.
Corvette Chiefs, Pt. 5 or 5: Tadge Juechter
All five Corvette chief engineers contributed mightily and in their own unique ways. But only Tadge Juechter has the distinction of having done hard engineering on five generations of Corvettes. When Juechter went to work in 1993 as chief engineer Dave Hill’s right-hand-man, there were two objectives; keep the then-current C4 fresh and interesting; and design and develop the most revolutionary Corvette to that date, the C5. After Hill’s retirement, Tom Wallace was Vehicle Line Engineer (VLE) and chief engineer for the Corvette. Wallace accessed that because of Juechter’s 15 years of experience, he was the right man for the chief engineer position.
The Story of Carbon Fiber and Corvettes
The C8 ZR1 will have an all-electric, all-wheel-drive drivetrain with a combined electric motor power of 1,000-horsepower and 1,000-lb/ft of torque. Electric motors have their full torque starting at 1-rpm; that’s why diesel-electric locomotives are so powerful. Here’s the carbon fiber leap. Remember how we were stunned when the 2006 Z06 was debuted and we learned that the frame was aluminum. Next, all C7 and C8 Corvette have aluminum frames. To safely handle the tremendous leap on power, I predict that the C8 ZR1 will have a carbon fiber chassis. Think about it. We’ll see. Stepping off soapbox…
Joanne Woodard’s 2016 Custom Z51 Daily Driver
We all have a story about “the day” a Corvette grabbed your attention and never let go. For Joanne Woodard of Avon Park, Florida, the Corvette contagion occurred in 1986 when a Classic White 1974 350 Corvette stung her. 1974 was a pivotal year for Corvettes, as it was the first year that a Corvette did not have exposed chrome bumpers. This was a big deal because all Detroit cars had to abide by the new front and rear safety crash bumper government regulations. The 1973 Stingray had a soft bumper cover on the front and the 1968-1972 chrome bumpers on the rear. 1974 was the beginning of the chrome-less Corvettes.
Corvette Chassis History, Pt 6: The C7 Chassis Tadge Juechter Built
When Tadge Juechter’s C7 Corvette debuted, fans were stunned to learn that the base model C7 was built an even better version of the Z06’s aluminum chassis. But wait, there’s more! The same new aluminum chassis would be used for the coupe AND convertible Corvette. This was a major breakthrough and bespeaks of advanced engineering. Here’s how Juechter’s team did it.
Juechter’s objective was to build a modern performance car that delivered enhanced driving experience, more efficiency that yielded more performance. Every element had to contribute to the overall performance and there would be nothing fake. That explains everything that we see on the C7 Corvette, but what’s unseen is even more amazing.
Dan & Sue Black’s 2015 Z06 Corvette
In February 2017 Dan and Sue bought what we have to call, their “first” 2015 C7 Z06. We use the word, “first” because in October 2017 the car was totaled! A rear end collision caused severe damage to the frame, to the tune of $70,000 worth of damage! Needless to say, the insurance company totaled the Z06 Corvette. We hate to see any Corvette totaled, but it happens. Dan immediately started searching for a replacement Z06 and found the perfect car in Orlando, Florida, but this one was better.
Speed Society Delivers Stunning Z06 C7.R-Inspired Street-Beast! – VIDEO
With the 2018 racing season completed and the Corvette Racing Team racking up another championship the timing of the Speed Society Z06 couldn’t be better. The Z06’s LT4 engine has been goosed up to 850-horsepower and the deco on the car is a salute to the C7.R. The ZT1 rear wing and ADV.1 two-piece forged alloy wheels pulls the whole look togethe
Is Chevy Working on a COPO Corvette?
The last time we saw something like this was in 2010 when Chevy showed the Z06-X Concept Corvette. The formula is the same; your basic Z06 with all the latest racer-type hardware. This is right out of the old Zora Arkus-Duntov RPO “racer kit” model from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.
The first time we ever saw something like this was back in 1969 when Duntov held court at the GM Proving Grounds with one of his mule development Corvettes. Zora and his team built the car like a racer would have; they removed everything that shouldn’t be on a racecar and added everything that should be on a racecar, plus a ZL-1 engine! It was one of my favorite Duntov Corvettes.
The Tadge Juechter & Harlan Charles Show! ’18 Recap & 2’19 Preview – VIDEO
The National Corvette Museum hosted their three-day annual Michelin NCM Bash from April 26 to April 28. Corvette product manager Harlan Charles and Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter delivered a 1-hour and 47-minute presentation recap of the 2018 season and a preview of what’s in store for 2019. Check out the full video!
Excellent Engineering, Stunning Performance, INSANE Speed!
Years ago, a good friend gave me a book about race car driving. Inside the cover Joe wrote, “The insanity of speed is only understood by those that cautiously extract it.” With a two-run average speed of 212-mph, the new ZR1 has entered the Insane Zone for production automobiles.
2018 Carbon 65 Z06 Corvette #001 Sells for $1,400,000!!! – VIDEO
1.20.18 – 2018 Carbon 65 Special Edition Z06 raked in an astonishing $1,400,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction tonight! Star Power played a heavy roll because not only was former Tonight Show Jay Lenno (and host of Jay Leno’s Garage) on hand, but former President of the United States, George W. Bush, both helped lift this unique Corvette WAY over the million dollar mark.
Corvette Timeline Tales: January 10, 1999 – Two C5-R Corvette race cars start testing for the 1999 24 Hours of Daytona – 2 VIDEOS
The Chevrolet-backed Corvette Racing Team starts its 20th racing season this month and has consistently raced longer than any other team in IMSA history. But...
