The £7700 Corvette C6
Discussion
Thought I'd add a few points of interest.
There are currently 7 generations of Corvette, all are V8 only except the very first which came with a 6 cylinder to begin with. To tell the more recent versions apart...
The C4 is the type driven by Face in the A Team in the 80's and early 90s.
C5 was all new in the mid 90s through to the mid 2000's, with pop up lights and a similar shape to mine. One of the more common models in the UK, although still pretty rare. This car pictured is the 773,000 mile example that is now in the museum, still running on its original engine!
The C6 like mine ran from the mid 2000s through to five years ago. It was an evolution of the C5, and actually shrank slightly in dimensions, although has a larger wheelbase. This was when I collected my car from the Ship My Car depot.
The C7 is the current shape and was pretty much all new.
The model hierarchy typically goes in order of 'Base', Z51 (Base with a few mild track upgrades such as suspension, cooling, brakes), Grandsport (wide body Z51 type spec), Z06 (higher performance again), ZR1 (supercar spec). This is very much a generalisation and massively varies between version. Most of the Base/Z51/Grandsport models are a Coupe with removable roof panel that stows in the boot. The Z06 has a fixed roof for chassis rigidity. Convertibles are also available. More autos were produced but there were still plenty of manuals sold.
The models get upgraded or changed every year, but confusingly (to me at least), a '2007' model like mine is actually produced from early autumn of the year before.
Yes, they do have leaf springs, BUT, contrary to the myth, they are not cart springs of the type we might know, but are a single, composite, 'monoleaf' for each axle, with double wishbones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring
The handling and ride on mine is very good, if a little soft as standard. I will be keeping them, with maybe ARB or damper upgrades at some stage.
Corvette's are left hand drive only, aside from a few which have been converted (at great expense it seems).
They have limited slip diffs as standard.
The chassis from the C5 onwards are hydroformed in steel or in the case of the Z06/ZR1 alloy. The bodywork is a plastic/fibreglass mix.
My C6 has the 6 litre LS2 engine, with 400bhp and 400lb/ft torque as standard, I haven't weighed it yet but expect it to be just under 1500kg.
0-60 is 4.2 seconds, 186mph top speed.
There are currently 7 generations of Corvette, all are V8 only except the very first which came with a 6 cylinder to begin with. To tell the more recent versions apart...
The C4 is the type driven by Face in the A Team in the 80's and early 90s.
C5 was all new in the mid 90s through to the mid 2000's, with pop up lights and a similar shape to mine. One of the more common models in the UK, although still pretty rare. This car pictured is the 773,000 mile example that is now in the museum, still running on its original engine!
The C6 like mine ran from the mid 2000s through to five years ago. It was an evolution of the C5, and actually shrank slightly in dimensions, although has a larger wheelbase. This was when I collected my car from the Ship My Car depot.
The C7 is the current shape and was pretty much all new.
The model hierarchy typically goes in order of 'Base', Z51 (Base with a few mild track upgrades such as suspension, cooling, brakes), Grandsport (wide body Z51 type spec), Z06 (higher performance again), ZR1 (supercar spec). This is very much a generalisation and massively varies between version. Most of the Base/Z51/Grandsport models are a Coupe with removable roof panel that stows in the boot. The Z06 has a fixed roof for chassis rigidity. Convertibles are also available. More autos were produced but there were still plenty of manuals sold.
The models get upgraded or changed every year, but confusingly (to me at least), a '2007' model like mine is actually produced from early autumn of the year before.
Yes, they do have leaf springs, BUT, contrary to the myth, they are not cart springs of the type we might know, but are a single, composite, 'monoleaf' for each axle, with double wishbones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring
The handling and ride on mine is very good, if a little soft as standard. I will be keeping them, with maybe ARB or damper upgrades at some stage.
Corvette's are left hand drive only, aside from a few which have been converted (at great expense it seems).
They have limited slip diffs as standard.
The chassis from the C5 onwards are hydroformed in steel or in the case of the Z06/ZR1 alloy. The bodywork is a plastic/fibreglass mix.
My C6 has the 6 litre LS2 engine, with 400bhp and 400lb/ft torque as standard, I haven't weighed it yet but expect it to be just under 1500kg.
0-60 is 4.2 seconds, 186mph top speed.
Edited by Fishy Dave on Sunday 5th August 20:40
Edited by Fishy Dave on Sunday 5th August 22:05
Hi Dave, what a great read! Things have definitely moved on from when I first knew of you!
We seriously considered buying a UK-spec Mustang a little while ago (and may still), but I've always had a soft spot for the Vette, and MrsC could probably be convinced if she could get her head around the LHD thing. I live pretty close to Claremont but of course he has retired now, should have bitten the bullet whilst he was still operating. Will keep an eye on this thread with interest!
We seriously considered buying a UK-spec Mustang a little while ago (and may still), but I've always had a soft spot for the Vette, and MrsC could probably be convinced if she could get her head around the LHD thing. I live pretty close to Claremont but of course he has retired now, should have bitten the bullet whilst he was still operating. Will keep an eye on this thread with interest!
Wow Dave, I read on another forum that you had bought a C6 from the US but having read this thread I think you must surely have won PH! 
And there I was thinking going to Rugby from Sandhurst by train for a Z4 was a long trip.
Your car looks fantastic - I'm really looking forward to updates!
And there I was thinking going to Rugby from Sandhurst by train for a Z4 was a long trip.
Your car looks fantastic - I'm really looking forward to updates!
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