Chevrolet Corvette C5
Discussion
It's been 20 years since I owned a Corvette and even after all that time I was getting the itch again. After searching for a while I found this very well maintained C5 in Norfolk and I picked her up three weeks ago. It is a pleasure to drive and so different from my old C3's - comfortable, responsive and it doesn't leak!
Anyway here are a few shots from the day I got her home...
'twas a bit tight getting it down the drive.....
It gets even tighter with the 90 degree turn to get in the very tight garage.
It was a week before I could get a chance to clean her. I started with a snow foam followed by a regular wash and then I used a clay mitt for the first time. Plenty of soapy water and some clay lube made sure everything went to plan, it was quite interesting using the mitt as when it was first introduced to a panel I could hear the contaminants coming into contact with the clay. Another wash and then it was once over with Autoglym Resin Polish, two coats of sealant (Blackfire) and a final coat of wax.
I was knackered after that lot but really pleased with the results.
I'm really not keen on the stock silver 'wagon wheels' so as a temporary measure she is currently with my painter having the wheels done in gloss black. I am also having all the lights (except the headlights) done in a smoke finish and I should have her back tomorrow. I have lowered the car a bit on stock bolts, black lettering on rear bumper and darkening to front and rear logos.
Future plans are to improve the handling and this will involve replacing the 17/18 wheels with an 18/19 set up (probably Forgestar F14's) and meatier tyres, C6Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars. There will be probably be a few more cosmetic enhancements as I move forward.
I will try and post up some more pics once I get it back tomorrow.
Anyway here are a few shots from the day I got her home...
'twas a bit tight getting it down the drive.....
It gets even tighter with the 90 degree turn to get in the very tight garage.
It was a week before I could get a chance to clean her. I started with a snow foam followed by a regular wash and then I used a clay mitt for the first time. Plenty of soapy water and some clay lube made sure everything went to plan, it was quite interesting using the mitt as when it was first introduced to a panel I could hear the contaminants coming into contact with the clay. Another wash and then it was once over with Autoglym Resin Polish, two coats of sealant (Blackfire) and a final coat of wax.
I was knackered after that lot but really pleased with the results.
I'm really not keen on the stock silver 'wagon wheels' so as a temporary measure she is currently with my painter having the wheels done in gloss black. I am also having all the lights (except the headlights) done in a smoke finish and I should have her back tomorrow. I have lowered the car a bit on stock bolts, black lettering on rear bumper and darkening to front and rear logos.
Future plans are to improve the handling and this will involve replacing the 17/18 wheels with an 18/19 set up (probably Forgestar F14's) and meatier tyres, C6Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 sway bars. There will be probably be a few more cosmetic enhancements as I move forward.
I will try and post up some more pics once I get it back tomorrow.
I agree about the US spec Codswallop and I have thought about replacing the bumper but it is too costly at the moment. I will see what the smoked fog loghts look like, I have access to a spare set so can easily change them back.
Thanks Mavic, I decided to do the wheels in black to try and hide them a bit. They really are hideous.
Thanks Mavic, I decided to do the wheels in black to try and hide them a bit. They really are hideous.
This afternoon I picked up the car from Scott at Custom Exotics ( http://www.customexotics.co.uk/index.html) in Harlow and I have to say I am more than happy with the quality of work they have carried out. They have a lot of experience with Corvettes and it is good to know there is somewhere local I can go for any work required. I had the wheels done in gloss black, the red centres and carbon effect was already on the centre caps and really sets them off nicely, I also had all the light lenses done in a smoked effect which I think looks superb, Scott painted them as opposed to using a cover or vinyl.
The final touch was the black lettering on the rear bumper and the addition of some smoked vinyl on the front and rear emblems, I saw this when browsing a US website and thought I would give it a go.
The pics were done when I got her home and the next challenge was trying to get her in the garage for the first time. Jeez, that was fun!
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The final touch was the black lettering on the rear bumper and the addition of some smoked vinyl on the front and rear emblems, I saw this when browsing a US website and thought I would give it a go.
The pics were done when I got her home and the next challenge was trying to get her in the garage for the first time. Jeez, that was fun!
[/url]lesstatt said:
Sorry op but I honestly preferred it before, black lights, lettering and wheels is just too much IMHO
No worries, if we all liked the same it would be a dull place!Edited by lesstatt on Sunday 22 March 21:27
duffy78 said:
Black roof and side pillars a la nsx??
Thanks Duffy, that is under consideration at the moment. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff