CorvetteBlogger has hit the road this week for a family road trip, so our posting frequency will be down a bit. Steve Burns is in Chicago for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals and we’ll bring you that coverage as soon as its available.
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Dean Konner’s family has been in the car business so long, he says, “I don’t have blood, I have oil in my veins.” The Konners of Konner Chevrolet in West Caldwell are celebrating the dealership’s 92nd anniversary this year as Chevrolet the automaker turns 100.
"September 17th, 2012 marks 50 years to the day when the Chevrolet Corvette was transformed into the iconic 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe, which is now a milestone and what we believe is the most significant event in Corvette history, thanks in part to the efforts of GM’s Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, and Zora Arkus Duntov." So writes Terry Michaelis in his Pro-Team Corvette newsletter.
He continues, "Thousands of photos grace the Internet and past magazine articles, as the 1963 Split Window Coupe represents a hallmark of the famed Stingray. Its design is endless, without peers."
Terry also lists the colorful descriptions given to the iconic design: "A) all time great, B) a bowtie legend, C) a cultural icon, D) a milestone, E) a breakthrough in style and substance, F) a benchmark, G) sophisticated and civilized, H) every Corvette since has been influenced by it, I) the most exciting production car America has yet experienced, J) history’s most unforgettable, K) it didn’t just carry people, it carried dreams, L) timeless styling, M) this is the car that made the Corvette hobby, N) a symbol of the 1960’s American dream, O) extreme makeover and leaped into the future, P) demonstrating dramatic styling changes, Q) emotional appeal, execution, artistic excellence, and design character and continuity, R) distinction and visionary."
Few car collections, personal or commercial, are without one or more of the fabulous 1963 Corvette Split-Window Coupe. Maybe like me, you remember where you were when you saw your first one!
Think the horsepower wars are over? Think again. In the latest round of muscle-car wars, Chevrolet launched the first volley with its 580-hp Camaro ZL1, and Ford retaliated with its 650-hp Mustang Shelby GT500.
This weekend over 500 Corvettes, muscle cars, and customs will rumble into Chicago for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. The 2-day spectacular will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont this Saturday and Sunday November 19th and 20th. The show runs from 9am-9pm on Saturday and 9am-5pm on Sunday. Click past the jump to check out some of feature at this weekend’s show.
Corvette fans will have a number of attractions to keep them entertained throughout the weekend. The Class of ‘71 display will have one circle featuring the thumping LS6-engined Corvettes. The Class of ‘61 invitational will celebrate classics, including examples of America’s sport car, which turned 50 years old this year. In addition, the 2nd Motion Madness collection will feature some of the best offerings from Baldwin-Motion including, of course, Corvettes. Finally there’s the Triple Diamond judging and display. This competition features only Corvettes that have previously achieved NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold status.
In addition to the Corvette-related events, there will be cars present for all muscle car lovers. Displays will include Mr. Norm’s, Nickey, and Yenko cars while the Dodge Challenger T/A reunion will appease the Mopar crowd. Ford and Shelby fans can check out the Shelby Snake Pit and Camaro enthusiasts can view the ZL-1 display. There will also be appearances by several automotive celebrities including Joel Rosen, Tony DeLorenzo, and Jim Mattison among numerous others. If you’re looking to make a purchase at the show be sure to take a stroll through the swap meet and the car corral. Young gearheads and the young at heart can compete in the model car contest.
Tickets to the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals are $20 at the door, but you can grab discount tix at one of several local supporters prior to the show. The show runs 9-9 on Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday. Check out the MCACN website for more details on the show.
We’ll be attending the MCACN show this weekend so stay tuned here for a full wrap up of all the weekend’s activities.
All three of Detroit’s Big Three had good news for shade tree mechanics at the recent Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas: Chrysler’s Mopar division unveiled an array of engine upgrades.
The beautiful and functional Corvette race car you see here will be competing in the Grand-Am Road Racing Series next season, and will make its debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 28, 2012. Four different teams will be competing in this vehicle.
With all the speculation about the return of a split window on the C7 Corvette, it is interesting to see the feature on this car! In my opinion, the Corvette look appears more obvious on this car than any race cars we have seen in years (excluding the C6.R of course).
Cudos go for design, styling, and originality. We look forward to seeing race analysis!
We’ve been hearing rumblings in recent weeks that Chevrolet was set to unveil a new prototype car for the 2012 racing season. Yesterday at the storied Daytona International Speedway, those rumors gave way to the real deal as Chevy pulled back the cover on an all new 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype. The new Corvette Daytona Prototype will make its racing debut in the 50th anniversary of the GRAND-AM Road Racing Series Rolex 24 at Daytona next January 26-29, 2012.
It was a manufacturer-friendly design rule change for 2012 that allowed Chevrolet to go all in on the new Corvette Prototype. The new prototypes are allowed a smaller cockpit and streamlined roof, along with the ability to customize the body to make them appear more like the street cars they are named after. Unlike previous Daytona Prototypes, this car is much sleeker and the Corvette design cues are evident everywhere. When looking at this car, you will think “Corvette”.
Here is the introduction video by Chevrolet showing the Corvette under construction this summer at Pratt & Miller:
GM’s Racing director Mark Kent stated that the new 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype was a multi-faceted effort involving Chevrolet, Corvette designers, Pratt & Miller and GRAND-AM. He went on to say that inspiration for this new Corvette was the IMSA GTP Corvette Prototype raced by Hendrick Motorsports in the 1980s.
Four teams have signed up to campaign the new Corvette Daytona Prototype in 2012:
Spirit of Daytona Racing;
SunTrust Racing;
GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing, and the
Action Express Racing teams
One of the drivers for Spirit of Daytona Racing is none other than Antonio Garcia, the endurance driver for the #3 Corvette Racing C6.R. Garcia should some laps in the car today as the Corvette Prototype participates in GRAND-AM testing at Daytona International Speedway.
Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports was on hand for the unveiling and said the following:
“Sports car and endurance racing is an outstanding platform for manufacturers like us to test and learn. The design of this race car incorporates iconic Corvette styling cues and will be immediately recognized by sports car enthusiasts and fans of GRAND-AM Road Racing,” Campbell said. “We are excited to see the Corvette DP compete in the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona next January.”
The Corvette Daytona Prototype is more than just a DP with Corvette cues. The new car is powered by a 500 horsepower Chevy small-block V8 so that deep throaty V8 sound that Corvette Racing fans are accustomed to will also be one of the hallmarks of the new Corvette Daytona Prototype.
Corvette fans who follow GRAND-AM racing are no doubt excited by yesterday’s announcement and unveiling, but the bulk of ALMS fans we’re connected with have expressed some reservations in seeing a Daytona Prototype with the Corvette name attached.
What are your thoughts on this new Corvette Daytona Prototype?
"September 17th, 2012 marks 50 years to the day when the Chevrolet Corvette was transformed into the iconic 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe, which is now a milestone and what we believe is the most significant event in Corvette history, thanks in part to the efforts of GM’s Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, and Zora Arkus Duntov." So writes Terry Michaelis in his 
The beautiful and functional Corvette race car you see here will be competing in the 
