Month: January 2013

According to our friends at Autoweek, Chevrolet is planning on holding the unveiling of the the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. Autoweek cites sources for the info and claim that the Stingray will be a 2014 model and that it could be in dealer showrooms at the end of the year.

Following the successful reveal of the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe, images of a Stingray convertible model appeared on the web with GM issuing a “these aren’t officially released images by the PR Department” statement. Previous spy photos have depicted the Stingray Convertible as having a fabric top that is very similar in design to what was on the C6 Convertible.

The Geneva Motor Show reveal of the Convertible model makes sense from a public relations standpoint. GM wants to show the Corvette is a world class sports car and what a better way to show it off by giving the European press the first look at the new drop top model.

This is not the first time that GM has introduced a new Corvette model in Geneva. The 32-valve 375 hp Corvette ZR-1 took the world by storm with its unveiling at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show while the C6 Corvette convertible made its debut there in 2004.

Autoweek’s sources say that the Stingray convertible will trail the launch of the coupe by about three months. That’s in line with what we heard and the idea that the Convertible could be available in time for Christmas would make many Corvette dealers happy too. The Stingray Coupe is expected to start retail production in the summer with volume ramping up for deliveries in September.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is powered by the LT1 V8 producing an estimated 450 horsepower and 26+ mpg. Performance figures and pricing for the Stingray Coupe is expected to come later this spring.

The 2013 Geneva Motor Show runs from March 7th to the 17th. The international press has their preview days on March 5-6th.

Source:
Autoweek

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Inside Line Renders the C7 Corvette Convertible in Yellow

 

All of the pomp and circumstance that is the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction spectacle wrapped up last week and prices were high as expected. After the break is our summary of the top 10 Corvettes sales from the event which includes a pair of new members in the million dollar club.

The star Corvettes of the show were the 1968 Owens/Corning L88 racer and 2014 Corvette VIN 001. We expected these cars to be the top Corvette sellers, but we didn’t expect them to end up in the same garage. Both cars as well as the Guy Fieri C6 and Dan Akerson’s C1 are now owned by NASCAR’s Rick Hendrick.

The top 10 Corvettes consist of a variety of different cars. You’ve got the aforementioned L88 racer and C7 VIN 1, but there’s also 4 tricked out customs, 2 celebrity cars, and 2 restored big blocks – one a mighty 1969 L88 coupe and the other a delicious triple black 1965 396 convertible.

To land on this top 10 list you needed to plunk down at least $187,000 or to purchase all of them it would have cost you a whopping $4.28 million.

Here are the top 10 Corvettes from Barrett-Jackson’s 2013 Scottsdale event including the final sales price with the 10% buyer’s commission. Click on the car description from more information on each lot.

We’ll be wrapping up the rest of the January auctions later this week so stay tuned.

Source:
Barrett-Jackson

Related:
First Retail VIN 2014 Corvette Stingray Sells for $1.05 Million At Barrett-Jackson
The Corvette Enthusiast’s Preview to Barrett-Jackson’s 2013 Scottsdale Auction
Barrett-Jackson to Auction a C7 Corvette on January 19th In Scottsdale

 

Corvette is off to a good start in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series.

Max Angelelli, Jordan Taylor, and Ryan Hunter-Reay – competing for Wayne Taylor Racing – came through with the first-ever Daytona 24 podium position for the Corvette Daytona Prototype as their No. 10 Velocity Worldwide Corvette DP finished second on Sunday during the 51st running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

“Just representing Team Chevy it’s such a big deal for me,” said Wayne Taylor, team owner. “I wanted to win so bad for Team Chevy just so much for Velocity Worldwide and everybody. I’m really happy. I’m relieved I guess you know. I was not prepared to not be the face of Team Chevy with my team. I know there are a lot of teams, but I wanted to be the one.”

The runner-up finish was redemption after an engine failure 22 minutes in last year’s event ended the team’s day.

Corvette DP wound up with three of the top five finishers. The No. 9 Action Express Racing Corvette DP driven by Joao Barbosa, Burt Frisselle and Mike Rockenfeller captured fourth, one spot ahead of the No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP with drivers Richard Westbrook, Ricky Taylor, Oliver Gavin and Antonio Garcia.

Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, congratulated Wayne Taylor Racing for the historic podium finish. “I am very proud of the tremendous effort put forth by all of our Chevrolet teams and applaud the ‘never give up’ attitude of our Corvette Daytona Prototype and Camaro drivers and crews as they battled for their finishing positions this weekend,” Campbell said. “We are looking forward to an exciting 2013 GRAND-AM season.”

Likewise, Mark Kent, Director of Chevrolet Racing, praised the Chevrolet DP and GT teams for their efforts.

“All of our Chevrolet Daytona Prototype and GT teams fought a great battle during this grueling race,” he said. “There is no other race in North America as demanding as the 24 Hours of Daytona and just finishing is an accomplishment. It was great to see the #10 Corvette Daytona Prototype finish in second place and on the lead lap in a race that tests the limits of endurance for man and machine. We now turn our focus to the balance of the 2012 Grand Am season as we work to defend Chevrolet’s Daytona Prototype Engine Manufacturers Championship.”

Chip Ganassi Racing made up for last year when both its cars failed to make the podium. This time, lead driver Scott Pruett picked up his fifth victory, tying Hurley Haywood’s record for wins in the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.

In all, Ganassi’s two cars combined to lead an overwhelming majority of the 709 laps. The No. 01 team led 421 laps in a race that had 24 drivers combine for a record 77 lead changes.

Source:
Motorsport.com
Photo Credit: Grand-AM.com

Related:
GRAND-AM and ALMS Announce Classes for Unified Series in 2014
Chevrolet Wins 2012 Rolex Series Engine Manufacturers Championship
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