October 2012 - Page 13 of 15 - C6Performance Journal

October 8, 2012

George Clooney drives his C1 Corvette

Rich and famous people are known for their passion in new and expensive cars but it seems that George Clooney is an exception from the rule and he is currently reliving his youth.

October 8, 2012

[PICS] George Clooney and His Little Red Corvette

Photo Credit: FameFlynet Pictures

I’ve always been a bit of a George Clooney fan – the Oceans 11 franchise and the Fabulous Mr. Fox are among our Clooney favorites here at the CorvetteBlogger compound. So it was cool to see the actor has a thing for Corvettes as well.

This Saturday, he was spotted cruising about tinsel town in the classic American sports car – a red/white C1 Corvette. Check out Clooney looking like a million bucks in his little red Corvette after the jump.

Clooney is just the latest A-list celebrity we’ve spotted who likes America’s favorite sports car. Check out some of these other stars and cars that we tagged in Pop Culture.

Source:
Buzzfeed
Photo Credits: FameFlynet Pictures

October 7, 2012

More consumers seek new-car smell

Despite high fuel prices local dealers say they still sell lots of trucks. Nationwide, truck sales rose 3.8% in September and 9.6% this year, compared to 2011.

October 6, 2012

[VIDEO] Chevrolet Pays Tribute to the C6 Corvette Generation

It’s time for the final segment in the Corvette Generations video series. Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles is at the Corvette Time Line display at Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise and he takes us through some of the biggest changes that occurred during production of the C6 Corvette generation that started in 2005 and ends in 2013.

October 5, 2012

[VIDEO] Chevrolet Pays Tribute to the C6 Corvette Generation

It’s time for the final segment in the Corvette Generations video series. Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles is at the Corvette Time Line display at Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise and he takes us through some of the biggest (and lightest) changes that occurred during production of the C6 Corvette generation that started in 2005 and ends in 2013.

Introduced in 2005, the emphasis for the C6 Corvette was making it leaner and meaner with a more lightweight, compact and shorter body. The C6 was five inches shorter than the C5 Corvette and it has a shorter overall length than a Porsche 911.

A lot of work was done to make the Corvette lightweight. In 2006, the Z06 returned to the Corvette lineup. It featured an aluminum frame and Carbon fiber panels along with a new LS7 7.0 liter 505 horsepower V8.

In 2009, the Corvette ZR1 returned after a 14 year absence. It has the most powerful engine Chevrolet has ever put in a vehicle – the 638 horsepower supercharged LS9 V8.

And now it’s the C6′s swan song. Chevy gave customers something they’ve been clamoring for since 2006 – An LS7-powered convertible. The 427 Convertible Edition Corvette features a carbon fiber hood, fenders, door panels and ground effects, along with magnetic selective ride control and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.

All 2013 Corvettes are available in a special one year only 60th Anniversary package which has a white exterior with silver-blue full body racing stripes. It’s a great way to send off the C6!

That’s it for the Corvette Generation series. It’s too bad that Corvette Time Line only goes backwards because we have a feeling that the next generation 2014 C7 Corvette will be the best Corvette ever!

Source:
Chevrolet’s YouTube Channel

October 5, 2012

Mike Yagerâ€™s White Callaway B2K Car

Callaway Hood Emblem

Right in the middle of the Callaway Cars exhibit at Corvette Funfest sat one of Mike Yager’s personal Corvettes. It received a lot of attention, in part because it sat right next to a 2012 Callaway Corvette that had been named in its honor.

In 1987, Reeves Callaway modified a number of Corvettes with twin turbos (188 in all). Power was increased to 345 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. that first year, and the look of the Vette was modified to show it was something special – very special!

The photos of Mike’s 1988 car reveal the powerplant and the special badging. Unique in the history of the world through 2011, the Callaway modification received its very own Chevrolet Regular Production Option code, which appeared on the factory invoice as B2K.

You can read Mike’s description of his car from his museum’s website.

Twenty five years later, to honor the first Corvettes converted to Callaway power, the 2012 Callaway Corvette B2K Car once again exhibits exceptional prowess, and the Option Code has been returned to the invoice. This time, though, the horsepower is not 345 (or even 382, like Mike’s) , but a whopping 620! Instead of twin turbos this time, it’s a special iteration called SC620 which applies cold air intake, intercooler, supercharging, and easy-flow exhaust, enough to blow one’s doors off.

Twenty five of these 2012 models were built, and just a few remain. In fact, we have a B2K Coupe right here,available for sale. Check this link.

Corvette 35th Anniversary Logo

Callaway B2K Rear View

Callaway B2K Engine I.D.

Callaway B2K Hood

Callaway B2K 2012 Version

October 5, 2012

Chevrolet 1964 Corvette

THIS 1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE. THIS VETTE IS FINISHED IN THE CORRECT ORIGINAL COLOR OF ERMINE WHITE AND COMPLIMENTED WITH A BLACK INTERIOR AND A BLACK TOP.

October 5, 2012

GM Files Trademark Paperwork for â€œTurbo-Jetâ€

GM Files Trademark Paperwork for Turbo-Jet

Photo Credit: Mike L on Flickr

GM Authority reported Thursday that General Motors has applied for a trademark on the term “Turbo-Jet”. They state that the paperwork was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office back in early August. The iconic phrase was categorized under “exterior and interior badges for motor land vehicles”. It was previously used on second and third generation Corvettes which could often perform like a jet while not actually possessing a turbo.

GM Authority goes on to say that the application bears serial number 85699313 and it currently sits at status 681 after review. Soon it will be circulated for opposition where other parties can oppose granting the trademark to GM.

They also speculate that Turbo-Jet could be the name given to an entire line of turbo-charged engines similar to Fordâ€™s EcoBoost line. This is an interesting revelation as it was hypothesized previously that the upcoming C7 Corvette could potentially feature a turbo charged V8 or even V6 motor, although that rumor seems to have fizzled out. As we alluded to above, though, there wasnâ€™t actually a turbo charger present the last time this moniker was applied.

This information is well timed as an article earlier this week on Autoblog also broached the topic of turbo power. They quote supplier Honeywell as saying “â€¦..Last yearâ€¦. turbocharged passenger vehicles accounted for 25 percent of the global market, for a total of 20 million vehicles”. They go on to say that “By 2017, says the report, that number will swell to 36 million new vehicles, which would be about 40 percent of global sales.”

The crew over at GM Authority is quite fond of the possible return of “Turbo-Jet” and so are we. Remember how cool Corvettes look with that term emblazed on a chrome air cleaner lid or attached to a fender badge? Now picture that again on a C7 rendering or a new Camaro or Impala. Yep, thatâ€™ll work.

Source:
GM Authority
Photo Credit: Mike L on Flickr

October 5, 2012

Take a Chevy test drive and help fight breast cancer

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the General Motors’ Chevrolet division is continuing to support the fight against the dreaded illness by sponsoring several walks and hosting various activities throughout the country.

October 4, 2012

Lori Hale Donates Beloved 1954 Corvette to the National Corvette Museum

To say this 1954 Corvette owned by Lori and Morey Hale is just a car would be a major understatement. Like many Corvette owners, their C1 Corvette played a major role throughout their lives – from when Morey courted Lori to when they got married in it in Carson City. Now, after a lifetime of memories, the Corvette was offered a new home after Lori donated the car to the National Corvette Museum.

“My husband Morey, bought the car before we were married. We went on our dates in it, we got married in it in Carson City, and for 46 years we traveled all over in it. We never considered getting rid of it, trading it in or restoring it. He called it a ‘survivor’ and wanted it left untouched.” Morey drove it all the way up until he was 90, when he got heat stroke and passed away.

Lori continued to drive the car in parades and club events, but ultimately decided that it was time to give the Corvette to the Museum.

“The Corvette community really is a family. Leaving the car here is like leaving it with family, where everyone can continue to enjoy it for many years to come. Morey would have wanted it this way. He actually said thatâ€™s what he thought should happen to it.”

Lori drove her Corvette for the last time on Tuesday, taking it for a trip down Victory Lane and Corvette Boulevard inside the National Corvette Museum. She smiled as she made the turn past the Corvette Store to the cheering of staff and guests, before parking it in front of the Corvette CafÃ© and handing over the keys to Museum Director Wendell Strode.

Lori hopes that the Corvette can be enjoyed by Corvette lovers of all ages, but especially children.

“They canâ€™t hurt it.” Lori laughs. “I hope youâ€™ll take it to schools and let kids sit in it. They always loved sitting in it at car shows and getting their pictures taken in it. Morey enjoyed that more than anything else. It would be nice to know that future generations were falling in love with Corvette because of this car.”

Many thanks to Lori and Morey for sharing their beloved Corvette with the rest of their Corvette family at the National Corvette Museum.

Source:
National Corvette Museum