Automotive News

Stan’s 2017 Lingenfelter Corvette Grand Sport

Here’s a cool new Corvette we are happy to feature on this edition of RIDES as its owner claims it was the first C7 Corvette Grand Sport to undergo a 700-hp Lingenfelter upgrade. Stan’s new 2017 Lingenfelter Corvette Grand Sport Coupe now puts out 600 rear-wheel horsepower and we imagine it’s a blast to drive! Here is what Stan told us about his new Corvette: I have the first Lingenfelter 700 plus HP C7...

Couple Married Over 51 Years Relive Youth with Substitute 1963 Corvette Split Window

As Corvettes are more than just a car to many owners, it’s no surprise to hear the stories of those who once owned a Corvette in their younger days but then had to sell it. While many go on, for some there is a real sense of loss that the owner didn’t realize they would someday feel. For some former owners, that means trying to find their old Corvette with the goal to buy...

1968 L88 Corvette Convertible Hits the Inaugural Mecum LA Auction

Fresh off the heels of a 1969 Corvette L88 convertible that just sold for $490,000 at last month’s Bonhams Scottsdale Auction, comes another L88 Corvette roadster – this one a 1968 model. It’ll be on the block at Mecum’s auction in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18. The car is one of just 20 L88 convertibles manufactured by Chevrolet in 1968 and has been owned by the same renowned Corvette collector for...

[SPIED] Mid Engine C8 Corvette with C7 ZR1s Undergoing Cold Weather Testing

Photo Credit: RoadandTrack.com / KGP Photography It’s always a treat to wake up with new Corvette spy photos to look at. Road and Track just published a photo gallery with 31 new spy photos of the mid engine C8 Corvette as it’s undergoing cold weather testing. I’m pretty sure that this is the best look yet at the next generation Corvette. Check out all the latest pics at RoadandTrack.com. Also included for your viewing...

Corvette’s 1963 Fire-Frost Paint and 1971-72 Firemist Paint

Editors Note: I am very pleased to announce that Author Robert Casey of the All Corvette Colors book series has offered to share some of his knowledge regarding some of the great colors that have graced Corvettes over the years. And with the Corvette factory’s new paint shop coming online this year, his insight into the painting process will be invaluable. The book series is available at Amazon.com. GM shocked the world with an...

C2 Corvette Restoration by the Numbers: What to Look For

General Motors, like all the other car manufacturers of the time, did not put much valuable information on the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. Starting in 1963, the VIN denoted coupe or convertible and build sequence. The fourth VIN digit is a 3 for a coupe or a 6 for a convertible for all of the Mid- years built. The serial number followed the coupe or convertible code, to give you an idea when...

THE TEST MULE THAT HELPED SAVE THE CHEVY CORVETTE

By: Paul Stenquist The Corvette started life with a serious – nearly terminal – disadvantage. Chevrolet’s new-for-1953 sports car was tragically underpowered, hamstrung by the in-line six-cylinder under its hood, a warmed-over version of the engine used in Chevy sedans. The car’s Powerglide automatic transmission didn’t help performance, and sales were further hampered by quality problems and a slow production ramp-up. Cancellation of the model was a distinct possibility, but a timely rescue arrived...

TOO FAR GONE: WHEN IS THAT CORVETTE BEYOND RESTORATION?

By: Paul Stenquist While thoughts of finding a long-neglected ’Vette for a bargain price may keep legions of enthusiasts awake at night, making that car whole might cause nightmares. Should it be restored to factory-original spec or turned into a nice weekend driver – or perhaps given a restomod makeover? The solution to that multi-dimensional puzzle depends on many factors. Condition is a primary concern, including how much of the original equipment, perhaps now...

SEVEN CORVETTE FEATURES OR MODELS WE DON’T MISS

By: Jerry Burton Chevrolet often uses the Corvette to introduce new technology, features and marketing concepts. Here are a few attempts at breaking new ground that did not work out. Side Curtain Windows (1953-55) The original Corvette was supposedly rushed into production a scant six months after it was shown as a concept car at the 1953 General Motors Motorama. More likely, the actual decision was made at least a year or so earlier; still,...

A COPO CORVETTE, YES, BUT NOT WHAT YOU’RE THINKING

To Chevy buffs, hearing the term COPO whispered immediately stimulates sweaty palms and a faster heartbeat. The acronym stands for Central Office Production Order, a system that allowed Chevrolet dealers to order cars with features not available as Regular Production Options. Among the best known of COPO programs was the one that yielded 1969 Camaros and Chevelles fitted with the Corvette-style L72 engine, a 425-horsepower beast not listed as an option for those models....

Corvette Museum 1962 Corvette

COMMEMORATES SINKHOLE’S THIRD ANNIVERSARY WITH 1962 CORVETTE RESTORATION February 9, 2017 1962 Corvette is the last of three to be restored, visitors can watch on-going work Three years ago, on February 12, 2014, viewers tuning in to their morning news witnessed and heard an almost unbelievable story – a sinkhole had opened inside the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and eight Corvettes fell victim… lying at the bottom of the more than...

New Drag Strip For Long Island

County Officials Green Light Committee to Explore Drag Strip in Suffolk Written by Long Island News & PR  |  09. February 2017 Hauppauge, NY – February 7, 2017 – Alongside a crowd of supporters so large the press conference had to be moved from the lobby to the auditorium, Suffolk legislators unveiled a maneuver to explore the possibility of building a drag strip in the county. At the Suffolk County legislative building today in...

Chevrolet Introduces the LT376/535 Crate Engine at SEMA 2016

Hot rod and restomod builders have long known the value and benefits of using LS-based engines in their builds. Now they have a new choice as Chevrolet Performance has introduced a new high-performance crate engine based on the LT-family of Gen 5 V8s during the 2016 SEMA Show. The new crate motor is dubbed the LT376/535 which gives you an idea of both the displacement of the new engine as well as the horsepower. The...

Sterling Blue Exterior Color Will End Production in March 2017

So long Sterling Blue…We hardly knew ya! The silver/blue exterior color introduced for the 2017 model year will end its run early according to our friend Rick “Corvette” Conti of Coughlin Chevrolet. Rick tells us that the last order date for Sterling Blue will be February 16, 2017 and the last build week is March 20, 2017. So if you’re on the fence and this was your color, it’s time to call your Chevy dealer! What we’re...