Category: Vette Videos

Vette Videos: 1973 4-Rotor, Mid-Engine AeroVette

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.13.11
Take a trip in the CorvetteReport Time Machine back to 1973 for a look-see at what could have been the first mid-engine production Corvette!

 

 

Chief of GM Design, Bill Mitchell had one order for designer Henry Haga, "Make it sleek!"

With all the chitter-chatter in the C7 Corvette rumor mill about a possible mid-engine Corvette, we thought it would be fun to take a trip back to 1973 for a look at what many thought would be the replacement for the C3 Mako Shark-styled Corvette. Corvette chief of engineering, Zora Arkus-Duntov had been pitching the mid-engine layout since the 1960 CERV I car. Not only was the AeroVette a mid-engine layout, it was to be powered by a 420-horsepower, 4-rotor Wankel rotor-motor engine. GM had licensing rights to develop the radical rotary engine that seemed to have a lot of potential.

The car's bi-fold gull wing doors made it fairly easy to step into the car.

In ‘73 there were two, rotary engine-powered Corvette prototypes. The XP-892 used a 2-rotor engine and had a body designed by Pininfarina. While it was a nice-looking car, it really didn’t shout, “CORVETTE!” The 4-rotor car was built on the chassis platform of a previous 1970 experimental Corvette that was simply known as the XP-882. The 4-rotor car definitely screamed, “CORVETTE!” Continue reading “Vette Videos: 1973 4-Rotor, Mid-Engine AeroVette” →

Vette Videos: C6 ZR1 Corvette “SMOKIN!!!” TV Commercial

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.13.11
Is 638-horsepower from the factory HOT ENOUGH for ya?

So far we have heard no news at all as to the possibility of a C7 ZR1 Corvette. But, then again, we’re not getting any news about the C7 base Corvette either. Corvette engine developers and engineers have proven that the computer controlled emission devices on the ZR1’s LS9 engine are more than up to making sure high horsepower and emissions standards can be maintained. And with the winds of change swirling around Detroit and rumors of much smaller Corvette engines, turbo versions, hybrid setups, etc… it’s anyone’s guess as to what will be under the fiberglass or carbon fiber hood of the next generation Corvette.

Depending on where Detroit goes in the next few years, the ZR1 may be the hottest factory Vette for a long time. We'll see!

In the mean time, the ZR1 is still with us, at least for another two years. Who knows, Continue reading “Vette Videos: C6 ZR1 Corvette “SMOKIN!!!” TV Commercial” →

Vette Videos: 1953 Corvette TV Commercial

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.12.11
It all had to begin somewhere…

Harley Earl was a leader in women's rights in the workplace.

What an OUTRAGEOUS proposal! Take a Chevy sedan chassis and drivetrain, soup up the in-line-six “Stovebolt” engine, and dress it with a sexy lightweight body made of an exotic new material – fiberglass. That’s was GM chief of design, Harley Earl’s idea of an American sports car.

The Stovebolt-Six engine was goosed by adding three Carter one-barrel carbs, a more aggressive solid-lifter cam, increased compression to 8:1, dual valve springs, stronger exhaust valves, and a high-efficiency water pump. The 115-HP Stovebolt six was reborn as the Blue Flame Six and packed a mighty 150-HP @ 4200 rpm and 224 LB/FT or torque. (calm down, calm down) The transmission was the tried-and-true Chevrolet Powerglide automatic with the shifter on the floor.

The Blue Flame Six engine had 150-horsepower, 223-lb/ft or torque, and a redline of 5,000 rpm!

While the fiberglass was exotic for 1953, there was a more practical reason for using the plastic material – COST. Even though finishing the body was more labor intensive, it was no where near the cost of making the huge metal stamps for steel body parts. Chevrolet engineers determined that if the car failed, they would have a minimal financial risk using fiberglass. Continue reading “Vette Videos: 1953 Corvette TV Commercial” →

Vette Videos: 1992 C4 ZR-1 Corvette Promotional Video

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.12.11

Take a ride in the CorvetteReport.com Time Machine back to 1992 for
a review of the ’92 ZR-1 Corvette.

Even though the big news for the ‘92 Corvette was the LT1 350 engine with 300-horsepower (a 50-hp jump from the previous L98 engine), the 375-horsepower ZR-1 continued to get most of the attention. The ZL-1 and its LT5 engine had proven itself in March 1990 when the Morrison Motorsports ZR-1 shattered a 50-year 24 hour average speed record, recording an astonishing speed of 175.885-mph!

 

Photo from www.ZR1NetRegistry.com

The engine was so stout that engine builders, such as Corvette racing legend, Kim Baker, were building LT5 engines that were pulling horsepower figures in the low 600-plus range, WITHOUT the use of turbos, roots, or centrical superchargers!  The LT5 was arguably one of the strongest engines to ever work under the hood of a Corvette.

Unlike the C6 ZR1, which is its own unique model, the C4 ZR-1 was an option package that cost a staggering $31,683 on top of the $33,635 base price of the ‘92 Corvette, for a grand total of $65,318 – PLUS other options!  Continue reading “Vette Videos: 1992 C4 ZR-1 Corvette Promotional Video” →

Vette Videos: Building the 1957 Corvette SS Racer Video

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.11.11
Take a trip in the CorvetteReport.com Video Time Machine to 1957!

Many times, a bold project must have a bold leader. Zora Arkus-Duntov was one of the all-time great corporate outsider misfits. Not only was he the only executive at GM that had actually raced cars, he had raced at Le Mans! Plus, he was constantly wandering off the reservation!

Corvette SS racer at Sebring 1957.

After Sebring in ‘57, it was obvious that modified stock Corvettes would never be competitive against the Jaguars and Ferraris. GM’s chief designer, Harley Earl proposed building a “Corvette” based on a D-Type Jaguar with a Corvette engine and a modified body. When Zora heard about the proposal and looked into what would be needed to create such a car, red flags popped up all over the place for the wild Russian. But Earl was no fool, he was a master tactician, and may well have made such an outrageous proposal as a way of pushing Chevrolet towards building their own purpose-built Corvette racer.

Obviously, because of Duntov’s background, he was the only man to lead the project. After he put together his team of designers, draftsman, and fabricators, the chassis of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL was used as a model for how to construct a tube space frame. Continue reading “Vette Videos: Building the 1957 Corvette SS Racer Video” →

Vette Videos: 1997 C5 Corvette TV Commercial “WHAT IS IT?!?”

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.11.11
No, it’s NOT a preview for a new Tom Clancy movie, it’s the NEW 1997 Vette!

The C5 Corvette was supposed to be out years before, but financial troubles at GM kept pushing back the release date. While this was frustrating for Corvette fans, the positive part was that it gave the Corvette team the time to make the car as good as they could. The basic design of the C5 platform was started by Corvette chief engineer Dave McLellan. When mcLellan retired in 1992, former Cadillac engineer, Dave Hill was made the third Chief Engineer for the Corvette. The C5 was so well designed that by ‘99 engineers determined that they had done nearly as much to the car’s platform as they could, without designing a new platform. This naturally paved the way for the C6 Corvette.

1997 Corvette print ad.

Off the C5 platform we got the Z06 Corvette and the C5-R Corvette race. The Corvette Racing Team won Le Mans in ‘01 and dominated the 2002 ALMS  series with 10, 1st place wins and 8, 2nd place wins in 11 races with the two-car C5-R team. An interesting factoid about the C5 Corvette platform is that the car had over 1,200 FEWER parts than the C4 platform!

Someone must have been a Tom Clancy fan when they were designing this TV ad. Fun dialog from the commercial…
“Satellite just located another test site.”
“We don’t KNOW what it is!” Continue reading “Vette Videos: 1997 C5 Corvette TV Commercial “WHAT IS IT?!?”” →

Vette Videos: “The King” Is Back! The 2008 “Elvis Burning Love” Z06 Corvette TV Ad

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.11.11
The C6 Z06 is definitely a HUNK’A, HUNK’A BURN’N LOVE

Elvis Presley’s death on August 16, 1977 touched America like no other. What was initially a heartbreak for the man that took rock’n roll mainstream, has turned into an annual celebration of one man’s music that continues to touch the hearts of millions. Memphis is currently gearing up for Elvis Week, an organic event that began as a solemn remembrance that is now a happy time for visitors from around the world. it is truly a unique American experience.

In the world of high performance cars, the Corvette is very much like Elvis Presley – born of humble beginnings, big, flamboyant, loud, with a strong personality, an American original, often imitated, and never duplicated. The expression, “The King is Back” was PERFECT for the C6 Z06 Corvette. While the C5 Z06 is a fantastic car, the C6 Z06 took the monicker to a whole new and higher level of performance. With an extra 100-horsepower from the LS7 engine and a refined suspension, the C6 Z06 caught even seasoned high performance Corvette owners short.  One man I know that has had many Corvettes over the years told me that Chevrolet should require high performance driving school training with this car. Skeets and others said the same thing and Chevrolet listened.

The commercial begs the question, “Was Elvis a Corvette fan and did he own any Vettes?”  The short answer is, no and yes – kind of. Continue reading “Vette Videos: “The King” Is Back! The 2008 “Elvis Burning Love” Z06 Corvette TV Ad” →

Vette Videos: MotorWeek ‘92 Video Road Test of the 1992 LT1 Corvette!

Published on by Scott

Dateline: 8.10.11
BIG news under the hood, too bad it went largely unnoticed!

For decades Chevrolet was rather shy about drawing attention to significant improvements to the t Corvette. Not in every case, but in many and 1992 was an excellent example. While the press was besides themselves with the exotic double overhead-cam LT1-powered ZR-1, hardly anyone noticed the arrival of the return of the LT1. The 350 L98 served the Corvette well from ‘85 to ‘91, enough to keep the Porsches and everyone else in the SCCA Showroom Stock series scratching their heads. Story has it that Porsche even bought a Corvette just to take apart to see why their 944s couldn’t keep up.

1992 Corvette advertisement.

But with arrival of the ZR-1 in 1990, the hoots and squeals were so loud the LT1 hardly got a notice. it was too bad because buyers of the ‘92 Corvette got to enjoy an extra 50-horsepower! The LT1 was improved in every way and significantly closed the performance gap between the base Corvette and the ZR-1 Corvette. And not even an LT1 hood badge! Oh well. Continue reading “Vette Videos: MotorWeek ‘92 Video Road Test of the 1992 LT1 Corvette!” →