Month: July 2012

Paul Corneau of The Corvette Shop in New York has a really unique 1963 Corvette, or should we call it it a 1963-67?

He built his one-of-a-kind car with parts from three different cars, mostly 1967 body parts, though he did keep the split window from a ’63.

Corneau calls it his “Mythical ’67 Corvette.”

He’s added special touches, including quarter panels that are 2 inches wider than stock so he can fit 200s rims on the car (it’s got 17/7 on the front and 17/8 on the rear).

The car is surprisingly quiet thanks to extra soundproofing material added by Corneau, but when he wants it to be loud, it can with a nifty Electronic Header Dumps system. A simple push of a button changes the exhaust sound from quiet to rumble to loud to awesome, reports Donna Kessler of the Times-Herald in Middletown, N.Y.

The custom interior features touch screen navigation and a backup camera, so that much-maligned split window doesn’t cause any problems when he’s backing up.

The custom Corvette also features power C5 seats from Al Knoch, along with air conditioning, power brakes, power windows, and tilt wheel, all finished off in Chrysler Deep Water Blue paint.

It all adds up to one very sharp Corvette that you don’t see every day.

Source:
RecordOnline.com
Photo Credit: DONNA KESSLER/Times Herald-Record

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We’ve all dreamed of walking the halls of Chevrolet and being privy to the inner workings of what goes on behind the scenes to make our favorite car.

For instance, what Corvette fanatic wouldn’t give his right arm to be inside the design headquarters and see what is going on right now as the C7 nears production?

Well, Corvettes at Carlisle offers the next best thing to that dream by hosting at least 40 current or past engineers, company representatives, etc., of General Motors and Corvette at the annual Corvettes at Carlisle, the nation’s largest all-Corvette event.

You will be able to attend free seminars and pick the brains of many of the geniuses behind the Corvette – past, present, and future – during the 2012 Corvettes at Carlisle, slated for August 24-26 in Carlisle, Pa.

“Having the GM Team and more specifically a large number of the Corvette Team on hand during Corvettes at Carlisle really helps set our event apart from the others,” said event manager and Carlisle Events co-owner Lance Miller.

Millers says Corvettes at Carlisle is honored to have them on hand to interact with participants and answer questions as well as communicate what the latest and greatest technology is and what’s to come.

“Not to mention anyone truly has the opportunity to get to know the people behind America’s supercar,” he said.

Miller says he’s personally watched Carlisle participants raise valid concerns about their cars, and the Corvette Team reacted the following year by making an adjustment similar to the discussions.

“It’s great to know that despite the size of the company, the Corvette Team on hand during Corvettes at Carlisle has the same passion any Corvette lover does! I’m honored to know them firsthand,” Miller said.

The list of Corvette workers ranges from those who have worked inside the communications department to the top engineers of some of the biggest projects in company history.

At Carlisle, the representatives will host free test drives at the nearby Carlisle Expo Center, conduct walk-around sessions where the latest products and cars are showcased, sit for autograph and photo sessions, interact with show goers, and more – all at no charge!

Corvette Product Marketing Manager Harlan Charles says the Carlisle show gives the Chevrolet team a chance to show Corvette enthusiasts what’s new for 2013.

But it’s not just a one-way street. Corvette team members benefit, too, Charles says.

“We get invaluable feedback from talking to customers, and that helps us make better Corvettes for the future. Best of all, this is an opportunity for new Corvette team members to be immersed in the fun and passion of the Corvette culture and the pride of being a Corvette driver and owner.”

The public can meet these Corvette staffers throughout the weekend and can find out what’s going on through a complimentary event magazine listing the full schedule of activities.

Source:
prlog.com

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Mid America Motorworks made an announcement today that World Classic Rockers, a group of legendary musicians from these famous rock bands, will be performing Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Corvette FunFest in Effingham, IL.

Preferred Registration for Corvette FunFest closes on August 1st. Click here to secure your registration to the world’s largest Corvette show.

 

Here’s a trivia question for you: Has there ever been a Corvette made of anything but fiberglass?

If you knew the answer is yes, then you probably know the story behind the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine, a rare prototype that was commissioned by the Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina – and was made of steel!

The unique Corvette Rondine set a record at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in 2008 when it sold for a cool $1.6 million to a Connecticut collector. Pininfarina had held onto the car in its museum for some 40 years and also displayed the Rondine at various events, including the 2005 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d/Este as part of the coachbuilder’s 75th anniversary, before finally deciding to auction it off.

Interestingly, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the first Corvette chief engineer, was a fan of the car and was once quoted as saying: “For the first time I now have a Corvette I can be proud to drive in Europe.”

While crafted in Italy, the Rondine still had its American roots since U.S.-born design legend Tom Tjaarda penned its sleek lines while working in Italy for Pininfarina. Tjaarda also designed the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, Fiat 124 (which arrived in 1966 and featured many styling cues from the Rondine), and DeTomaso Pantera.

Since it was made of metal, the Rondine was much heavier than the stock Corvette. The front end slopes forward along a smooth curve that ends with a thin, horizontal chrome grille that provides air to the engine. This was an attractive yet practical design element to keep the engine cool. The side panel is accented by a sharp line originating from the grille. The angle runs along the front fender, through the side of the car and ends at the crest of the rear fender, giving the “Rondine” a slender, European look. The rear end features the celebrated “swallow tail” arrangement, which minimizes the visibility of the car’s tail due to projecting rear fenders. Under the hood of the mesmerizing teal sports car lies a 327ci, 4-speed manual, fuel-injected V8 that pumps out 360 horsepower. The interior design remained pretty much like the GM version, though the stock seats were re-covered in sumptuous Italian leather and the floor covered with rich black carpet. The door jams were also chromed and decorated panels were fitted.

If you’re wondering the reasoning behind making the Rondine in the first place, it was built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, the result of a long-running relationship between GM and Pininfarina. Corvette enthusiast and historian Tony Thacker once told Corvette Fever magazine: “It was perhaps as a result of the friendship between (Corvette designer Bill) Mitchell and Pinin Farina, the founder of the Italian design house, that a ’63 Sting Ray found its way to Turin’s Valley di Susa for Pininfarina to re-body in any way they wished.”

As a styling exercise, the car has its good points. But based on the lukewarm reception from the public, the Rondine just never caught on as a possible Italian-American collaboration similar to the DeTomaso and was quietly retired to the company’s museum. We’ll stick with Larry Shinoda’s original Sting Ray design, thank you.

Source:
The Province

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