Get over your case of the Mondays with our mega Midyear Monday gallery featuring 33 random photos of 2nd generation Corvettes from 1963-1967. This is our biggest gallery yet so let us know which is your favorite! If you really like it, share it with friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook.
If you were hoping that this was the official Go-Fast lap for the 2014 Corvette Stingray on the Nurburgring, we are sorry to disappoint.
Last year as Chevrolet was working on suspension testing for the European version of the 2014 Corvette Stingray, part of that testing took place at Germany’s Nurburgring. Since then, Corvette enthusiasts have been clammoring for video of a fast lap at the ‘ring, but according to Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter, that didn’t happen due to inclimate weather which interrupted their one and only opportunity.
Tadge did give us some good news at the recent NCM Bash by telling the crowd that that the Corvette Stingray and the Z06 will be back in Germany later this year for additional testing and validation. So hopefully an official Nurburgring run will be made then.
In the meantime, here is video from a youtuber named Automotive Mike who filmed a not-so-fast lap of the Nurburgring from the passenger seat of the 2014 Corvette Stingray. The Corvette was one of the test models in Europe and was at the Nurburgring as part of a track day from Gran Turismo Events.
The Corvette’s performance around the ‘ring in this video can be described “mild mannered” as best, but I did take offense when I saw the 460-hp Stingray get passed by a Mini Cooper Clubman at the 2:50 mark. I don’t know about you, but getting passed by a Mini on the Nurburgring would certainly cause my feet to engage the accelerator and brakes a little more forcefully, but the driver here seems content to follow instead of leading.
Still, it’s great to see America’s favorite sports car running on one of the greatest tracks in the world.
About three years ago the team at Heartland Customs approached the National Corvette Museum about their Specvette custom Corvette program. Each Specvette takes a classic C1, C2, or C3 Corvette and treats it to a full makeover incorporating all the modern bits from a late model C6. Last weekend at the NCM Bash they unveiled Specvette #1, a stunning 1958 packing a 7 liter LS7 under the hood.
The goal of every Specvette build is to combine the classic styling and heritage of the early Corvette with all the modern amenities of the newer Corvettes.
As you can see the external appearance of Specvette #1 remains largely as it was born in 1958. The trademark washboard hood and trunk spears are still there as are the contrasting coves and dual headlights. What you can’t see is the totally custom frame the car rides on. Each frame is custom designed and assembled based the individual build. A complete C6 drivetrain then gets bolted to that custom chassis. Specvette #1 has the C6 Z06’s 505hp LS7 under the hood. Showing off the motor is as simple as hitting the power hood button on the key fob. Electronic ride control allows you to manage the suspension setting based on your needs.
Like modern Corvettes, the Specvette has automatic headlights that turn on and off as needed. The custom 1 piece, CNC cut wheels mimic the original 1958 hubcaps and are wrapped by modern Nitto rubber. Those shoes even have special white walls which won’t yellow over time. The original gas filler now houses a plug for a CTEK battery charger.
Inside, the classic yet modern theme continues. The gauge cluster is clad with brushed aluminum and appears stock. Look closely and you’ll see the telltale redline for the LS7. The car also features power locks and windows. The windows are actuated by pressing down on the original window cranks. The radio mirrors the original version, yet packs all modern technology inside. Open the glove box to reveal the jack for your iPod. There’s even a hidden subwoofer in there too.
Just like a C7 Corvette, each Specvette can be delivered through the National Corvette Museum and each car is individually numbered on a plaque affixed to the firewall. The NCM delivery also includes your very own Walk of Fame brick and a letter from museum director Wendell Strode. You’ll also get VIP tours of the Corvette Museum and Bowling Green Assembly Plant in addition to several other extras.
For more information on Heartland Custom’s Specvette program swing by their website for more information. Meanwhile enjoy our video and photos below from the big reveal last week in Bowling Green.
Here is the video from the introduction at the National Corvette Museum’s Bash:
Motor Trend’s Roadkill Ep 27 features a 1975 Corvette and the Corvette Museum’s Sinkhole.
Chevy runs deep! This time Freiburger and Finnegan find out just how deep as they visit the infamous sinkhole that opened up inside the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. To do it Roadkill style, the guys find the worst Corvette they can buy, get it running after sitting for six years, break auto parts, experience gators firsthand, and visit the Corvette assembly plant. Finally, they try and convince the Corvette Museum to let them leave their ’75 Stingray behind…inside the sinkhole.
Visit CorvetteVideos.TV for the best selection of hand-picked Corvette videos.
That might be the motto for Callaway’s third generation supercharger system that was officially unveiled a couple weeks back at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.
It looks like an ordinary Stingray (if you can call a Stingray ordinary) sitting in a parking lot…almost, but your friends will know you’ve got something very special as soon as they see the supercharger itself sticking up through the hood.
Callaway says that set-up allows more heat transfer capability and that in turn leads to more power.
And power is definitely one thing this car has plenty of – with its 6.2-liter LT1 V8 cranking out 620 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque that’ll leave just about any challenger in the dust. You’ll also be glad to know that that power won’t cut very much into your fuel economy as the active fuel management system and modulated supercharger valving kick in with their smarts.
Callaway chose an Eaton 2300cc TVS four-lobe high helix rotor pack for its reliability and thermal efficiency. The intake manifold has been tuned for a wide torque band and excellent peak horsepower, and the new triple-element intercooler allows much lower inlet charge air temperatures than single and dual element designs do. In fact, the system is apparently so new and improved that Callaway has patents pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The company plans to charge $22,995 for the conversion, which also includes an improved exhaust system, embroidered floor mats, new door sill panels, Callaway badging inside and out, a build plaque on the supercharger, and documentation to prove you have an authentic Callaway, plus a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.
Of course, Callaway will be competing with the 2015 Z06, which produces about the same horsepower and offers a much bolder exterior design. It’s likely that the Callaway Corvette will be a little lower priced, though we don’t know the official price of the Z06 yet.
Options on the Callaway – including a 5-year/100,000 mile powertrain service contract, tire and wheel packages, and improved suspension, brakes, body and interior equipment still in the works – could bump that $22,995 figure up considerably.
Isn’t it great to have so many options, though, when it comes to the Stingray?
Here’s the official press conference from the NCM and stick around until the end as we get a quick ride down I65 in the Arctic White Callaway.
With the introduction of the 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible, Chevrolet offers enthusiasts 14 distinct performance-car models — including nine Camaro models, the SS performance sedan and four Corvette models.
Visit CorvetteVideos.TV for the best selection of hand-picked Corvette videos.
There’s no better way to start off the week than Midyear Monday! This week we’re recognizing our over 63,000 Facebook fans. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy an entire gallery dedicated to 1963 Corvette coupes, convertibles, Z06’s and Grand Sports.
Remember that 2014 Velocity Yellow Corvette Stingray that was spotted wearing the Washington D.C. vanity plate “The VP”? Turns out it was for Vice President Joe Biden. At least, that’s the premise behind a video shown at Saturday night’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner.
The video features the acting talents of both the real VP Joe Biden along with HBO’s VEEP Julia Louis-Freyfus who decides to skip the dinner and instead, Biden takes her around Washington D.C. in his Yellow Stingray.
Along the way they check out the Oval Office, eat ice cream in the White House Kitchen and then get matching tattoos.
Biden has been in the news several times this year regarding Corvettes so we’re sure this was a fun video to pull off.
Corvette Design Team Members Kirk Bennion and Ryan Vaughan hosted the C7 Corvette Z06 Design Seminar at the Corvette Museum’s Bash. There was also a discussion and slides showing the evolution of Corvette Racing’s identity from C6.R to C7.R as well.
Kirk handled the presentation duties first and after a brief intro, he went right into the Corvette Z06 showing differences between both the Stingray and the Z06 as well as the Z06 Coupe vs the Z06 Convertible. He said that all four Corvette models (Stingray Coupe/Convertible and Z06 Coupe/Convertible) were on the design table at the same time to make sure all the elements worked on both the standard Stingray and the widebody Z06.
Kirk goes through the three stages of aerodynamics available on the Z06 and talks about the flow of air around and through the car. We also see pics of a Z06 clay model inside the wind tunnel. The Z06 creates more downforce than has ever been measured by a production car inside GM’s wind tunnel.
Kirk also talks about the design of the C7.R race car which was also developed side-by-side with the Z06.
Corvette’s Interior Manager Ryan Vaughn then took the podium and he went into what’s new for Corvette in 2015. Some of the different changes for Stingray include a design change to the automatic shifter which now shows the words “Eight-Speed” on it. A new eSLD gauge screen shows the wheel slip which automatically adjusts as you drive. Ryan jokes that while the gauge is really cool to look at, you need to keep your eyes on the road.
The Z06 gets a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel with a Z06 logo. As the Z06 is a supercharged car, there is now a boost gauge on the gauge. Ryan also showed off the embossed Z06 on the GT seats. The Z06 will also get two unique interior colors – Dark Gray and Twilight Blue. The Twilight Blue is only availabe on 3LZ packages. One other change is that on 2LZ/3LZ interiors, the color of the interior wraps around the driver side only whereas the passenger side console stays black.
The last part of the seminar was hosted by Dennis Finos who designed the new C7 logo. His other specialty was helping create the identity package for the Corvette Racing team. With the changes from C6 to C7, the new logo and script design needed to be updated. Dennis shows different Corvette Racing and Jake logos that were considered as well as the final logos chosen. He also showed many other updates which include everything from the race car transporters, pit and driver suits as well as the new inflatable paddock.
Here is the design team’s seminar from the 2014 NCM Bash.
Following the presentation, the three designers held a question and answer session.
At the National Corvette Museum’s Annual Bash, Corvette’s Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter and Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles went through the highlights of the 2014 Stingray. The new C7 fared pretty well last year, picking up more awards than any other car. In fact, they said that it was most likely the most awarded car ever.
Following the 2014 highlights, Tadge and Harlan jumped right into the “What’s New for the 2015 Corvette” talk, starting with the all new Corvette Z06 coupe and convertible.
Tadge set the tone for the Z06 discussion by talking about how this will be the most capable Corvette ever built. On it’s first outing to the MRC track at Milford, the Z06 set a new track record, besting the previous C6 ZR1s time as well as setting a new record for a Z06 around the ring course. Tadge gives credit to improved computer models but also said its a result of the technology transfer between the race program and the production car.
The Z06s design marks the widest production Corvette yet. The design of the car is still not quite locked in as the team continues testing the car and making changes. Tadge said the final rear spoiler will actually be larger than the one shown on the show car. He also mentioned they will be testing the Z06 on tracks “all around the world”. Hope that means we’ll finally get a Nurburgring video for the C7.
The Z06 will be offered in three levels of downforce. The standard package has a unique front splitter and an aggressive rear spoiler. The second level offers the addition of the “CFZ/CFV” carbon fiber aero package. The CFZ is carbon flash painted while CFV is visible carbon weave. The package contains a carbon fiber front splitter, rocker panels and a new “wicker-bill” rear spoiler. The Z07 performance adds the larger winglets on the front spoiler, and the adjustable-height center wicker-bill on the rear spoiler. The Z06 with the Z07 delivers more downforce of any production car ever tested at the GM wind tunnel.
Finally, Tadge says the Corvette Z06 was previously estimated to have a 0-60 mph time under 3.5 seconds and now he saying it will be under 3.4 seconds.
Production of the Corvette Z06 will begin in 2014 with deliveries beginning in early 2015. The price range will be similar to the the C6 Z06.
Harlan then took over and showed the content available on the interior trim levels. The good news is the 1LZ does have the Heads Up Display as standard. The 2LZ package contains all the driver comfort options including headed/vented seats, the memory package and Bose Premium audio. If you want Navigation and the new Performance Data Recorder, you’ll need to step up to the top 3LZ option.
Regarding the Z06′s interior, the most obvious change is the flat bottomed steering wheel with a Z06 logo. Two interior colors are exclusive to the Z06, dark gray and a blue leather wrapped interior is available only on the 3LZ trim level. Here are the two new Z06 interior colors as shown on these sample boards:
Four wheel options will be available for Z06. Buyers will be able to choose between Silver, Black, Chrome and Spectra Gray with a machined groove.
Harlan transitioned into some of the new options available for the 2015 Corvette Stingray. Two new colors will be available for all Corvettes including the Stingray. They are Shark Gray and the Daytona Sunrise Orange. Shark Gray replaces Cyber Gray while Daytona Sunrise Orange replaces Lime Rock Green.
The Stingray will have new wheels available for 2015. In addition to the current wheel options, Chevy will be offering a black non-Z51 wheel, a Black machined non-Z51 wheel and a black machined Z51 wheel. Four new accessory wheels are also on the options list including the satin black Z51 wheel with either a red stripe or yellow stripe around the lip. There are also two “Motorsports Design” wheels offered in either polished or black.
The 2015 will have two new gauge cluster screens. The Tour Theme will have show speed with vehicle data. The Sport theme will contain a pocket gauge option showing horsepower and there will be an new eLSD status and Wheel Slip gauge available in all themes. These new screens cannot be flashed or installed onto the 2014 Corvette’s gauges.
The 2015 Corvette Stingray will no longer be limited to just the black colored exterior vents. Buyers can get them now in standard Black, Shark Gray or body color:
EYT – Carbon Flash Exterior Badges
EFX – Shark Gray Exterior Vents
EFY – Body Color Exterior Vents
E57 – Carbon Flash Tonneau Inserts for the Convertible
The Performance Data Recorder is paired with Navigation (I06/UQT) and is optional on 1LT/2LT and included on 3LT packages. The NPP performance exhaust is now included with Z51 and the Suede wrapped upper interior trim (IWE) is now included on 3LT.
Harlan then talked about the new Atlantic and Pacific Design Packages. Again, these are more like a “check one box” allowing the Corvette Stingray to be set up either as a luxury GT-styled Convertible or Performance Coupe.
The Atlantic Design Package (RPO ATI) is a convertible Z51 with 2LT or 3LT interior. Highlights include:
Available in all colors
Front Z06 style splitter
Shark Gray Hood Stinger Graphic, Exterior Vents and Tonneau Inserts
Chrome Torque Wheels with Stingray center caps and logo valve stem caps.
Stingray Underhood liner
Custom splash guards
Rear license plate frame
Stingray Floor Mats
Custom Luggage
Photo courtesy of the National Corvette Museum
The Pacific Design Package (RPO PFI) is a coupe Z51 with 2LT or 3LT interior. Those highlights include:
Available in Torch Red, Black, Arctic White, Blade Silver and Shark Gray
Satin Black Z51 Wheels with the Red Stripe and Red Brake Calipers
CFZ Carbon Fiber Ground Effects Package
Visible Carbon Fiber Roof
Satin Black Full Length Racing Stripes
Carbon Flash Spoiler and Mirrors
Carbon Flash Badges
Competition Sport Seats in Black or Red
Carbon Fiber Interior Trim Package
Stingray Wheels Center Caps
Stingray Sill plates
Custom Splash Guards
Rear License Plate Frame
Stingray Floor Mats
Indoor car cover in Gray
Photo courtesy of the National Corvette Museum
Finally, the Performance Data Recorder was reviewed in some depth. We learned that this is a system that Harlan has been working on for about 7 years. We’ll have more on the PDR system coming shortly.
Harlan then talked about the 2015 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Once again, the door is apparently closed on any further models in the C7 generation including a Grand Sport or ZR1: “I had the honor of being at the New York Auto Show last week where we introduced the fourth [model] that basically completes the 7th generation Corvette family,” said Harlan to the Bash crowd.
Here is the full video from the What’s New for 2015 seminar. It runs an hour and eleven minutes with the Q&A so grab your favorite beverage and get a comfortable seat because there is a lot of information covered.
![[GALLERY] Midyear Monday (33 Corvette photos)](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/051214_33b.jpg)
![[VIDEO] 2014 Corvette Stingray Tracks the Nurburgring](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/050914_1.jpg)
![[VIDEO] Heartland Customs' 1958 Specvette unveiled at the NCM Bash](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/050714_3b.jpg)
![[VIDEO] Callaway Debuts C7 Callaway Corvette at the Corvette Museum's Bash](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/050614_10.jpg)
![[GALLERY] Midyear Monday (32 Corvette photos)](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/050514_24b.jpg)
![[VIDEO] Corvette Stingray Shown in White House Correspondents Skit](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/050414_2b.jpg)
![[VIDEO] The Corvette Z06 and C7.R Design Seminar from the 2014 NCM Bash](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/043014_2b.jpg)
![[VIDEO] What's New for the 2015 Corvette](http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/042914_10.jpg)
