1976 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

The third generation C3 Corvette was introduced in 1968, and lasted all they until 1982, putting this 1976 right in the middle. The C3 was gradually restyled throughout the seventies until it had both the front and rear polyurethane bumpers shown here. Also in 1976 was an increase in power of the base engine, to 180 HP, and 210 HP for the L82. This car stands out with its bright yellow paint, tasteful modern alloys, and sleek shape.

  

 

Corvette C7 4-door Corsa, Second Version

This was actually the first C7 4-door I created, but I posted the second, more refined, version first. This rendering shows the rear 3/4 view and the cool sliding glass roof/rear window I created for it. The glass panels are approximately 9-10 inches wide from windshield header to rear spoiler and at the push of a button would slide back over themselves, resting on top of each other, leaving the entire interior open to the sun- or moonlight.

• The first 4-door Corvette Corsa I posted, here.

60 Years of the Corvette

2013 Chevrolet Corvette. Image courtesy General Motors

Anyone who has actually driven a Chevrolet Corvette understands that it's a special car and not just an everyday driving machine. The sports car that was almost canned in the beginning by General Motors has become the company's crown jewel, being easily the most recognizable model GM has ever produced.


The Corvette is turning 60 and there's quite a bit of fanfare around the anniversary. I ran across this interesting video from Car and Driver about an exhibit on the Corvette that's being held at the Petersen Automotive Museum. It's long but if you are even a little bit of a Corvette fan it's worth watching.

C7 Twin-Turbo V6, Smaller/Lighter, Take 2

My second stab at creating an entry-level Corvette model is this slightly shortened C7. I've reduced the hood and front wheelbase by about 6 inches to accommodate the smaller V6 engines. For this example I left the rear of the car pretty much intact with the exception of the slightly wraparound rear window and restyled quarter windows. I extended the single chrome grille bar to the sides of the body, continuing it from the side scoop. The original '53 Corvette had smaller bumperettes on the corners of its body which lined up with a chrome spear on the bodysides, so this modern chrome trim is a nod to that.

• My first V6 C7 Corvette featured a shortened and restyled rear clip as well as a new roofline. This one would have gotten rid of the heavy hatch and replaced it with a trunklid. The roof would be solid and not have a lift-off panel. Here.

Note:
Cadillac has just today announced the engine for my V6 series Corvettes, lol: A new 420 hp twin-turbo V6 slated for its upcoming brand new CTS model. For economies of scale, I'd certainly design a new 'Vette air cleaner for it and use it in my C7 V6! Link, here.

2014 Corvette Corsa: Panamera Competitor

The new Corvette Stingray is proving to be a fun car to chop. I've made a couple of shorter V6 versions, and here is the larger version with four doors. I gave it the name of Corsa in honor of the Corvair's uplevel trim in '65 and '66. Corvette Corsa has a nice ring to it, too. I really wasn't sure if this extension was going to work, it could so easily have turned into a freak show, lol, but I think I've pulled it off. I actually love the way this car looks. The windows are a bit taller, as is the roof, to balance the rest of the car and I can just imagine slinking into the rear bucket seats and having my driver bring me to town.

Please check out the Autoextremist.com this week. His On the Table page is featuring many of my cars this week. As always, a huge thanks to Peter DeLorenzo for his kind words and the awesome audience he allows me to tap into. Link, here.

Automotive Infatuation is on Etsy!

I'm proud to announce that I have established an Automotive Infatuation shop on Etsy. This is one of many steps that will take this blog to a different level, transforming it into something more than just your average blog that talks, rants and reports on cars.

Check out the shop by clicking here. New items will be added all the time, so bookmark it and check back often.



I know, with a name like Etsy the site must only appeal to women who like silk flowers and teacups with flapper girls on them, right? That's what I thought initially, until my wife showed me there are a quite a few "manyly" things on the site. It makes sense, though, since wives, girlfriends and daughters all buy things for the men in their life. If they're already on Etsy, it's a great place to appeal to them. From what I've been able to tell, there is an undercurrent of men who like cars, sports and such on the site.

So go check out the store and comment on this post if you want to tell me what you think. I have been doing art for years and years and have drawn a few cars, but until now I haven't really started spreading my wings, using my passion for cars as a constant inspiration for my art. So far I'm liking the results. Like I said before, this is only the beginning, but so far I think it's a good start. Oh, and all the pictures in this post are products anyone can buy from the store, so I hope you like them!

Twin-Turbo V6 Corvette SL: Shorter & Lighter

I would not be surprised to see the Corvette spun off to become its own make one of these days. Then I think the Corvette brand will expand and diversify. This chop renders the smallest, lightest, 'Vette, with a twin-turbo V6. Compared with the new Stingray, I've shortened the wheelbase both in front of the passenger compartment and behind it. The resulting shorter hood reflects the V6-only drivetrain; the weight loss could be as much as 300-350 lbs compared with the V8 Stingray. Lighter weight and a completely balanced platform means massive handling capabilities. Optional carbon fiber body pieces are aimed at cutting weight even further for competitions. At the top of the Corvette lineup could be a mid-engined supercar and even a Panamera competitor. Yes, perhaps a 4 door Corvette...

Stay tuned!

2014 Corvette Stingray; Alternate Styling B

For my second take on the C7, I decided to keep the idea of a rear quarter window, but I reshaped it into a much simpler graphic. By bringing this new side window to a point, I referenced the Corvette supercar prototype from the 1970s, the mid-engined 4-Rotor.At the back  I created a set of aluminum-ringed quad circular taillight and replaced the new "V" crossed flags emblem with a "proper" set of flags from '72 'Vette. I cut down on the visual height of the bodysides by using another '70s styling trick: Argent colored rocker panels.The cool new Stingray logo has been moved to the B pillar when it's noticeable every time you open the door. Then in a nod to Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell, I gave Welburn's oversized (and now body-colored) side vents dual chrome strakes. It's a minor point, but I made the glass roof and rear window graphic read as one large tinted panel by glazing over the "baskethandle" instead of painting it body color. I think it unifies and simplies the C7's shapes and details.

2014 Corvette Stingray split-window

The Split-Window is Back! For my take on the new C7 Corvette Stingray I went backwards in time a bit. To begin with I restored its traditional four round taillights. I gave it a much more traditional greenhouse rather than the new car's first time and rather forced rear quarter windows. I also added a thin central paint-colored spine to the hatchglass, following the existing indented roof panel. I also edited the side vents so they'd fit better with the last several generations. Detail changes include moving the new Stingray logo to the B pillar and flattened out the new "winged" crossed flags. That newest touch just smacks of the Firebird's past logos an odd touch with the new car's Camaro-like taillights.I don't think the 'Vette needs to have any "Chevrolet" cues other than perhaps similar LED lighting details, road wheels, steering wheel and Sat/Navs.

For a second C7 "facelift" click here.

Entertaining Video of the Day: Guy in a Honda Has a Cargasm Over Three C7 Corvettes

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Photo courtesy General Motors.

The new C7 Corvette is picking up quite a bit of interest, both inside and outside the automotive world. Anyone who knows the difference between a wrench and their stick shift can tell a new generation of Corvette is a big deal.

And the C7 is a big deal, with numerous improvements over the C6. Of course, most people don't worry too much about what's under the skin of the new 'Vette, getting all hot and bothered over those new chiseled looks.



I'll be honest, the first time I see a C7 on the road I will be giving it a long hard look. The guy in the video below, who is riding in a late 90s Honda (either a Civic or Accord) doesn't just stare at three C7s on the road, but he makes the female driving the car stalk them as he has a cargasmic episode in the passenger seat. The best part of the video, by far, is the cheesy heavy metal music playing as a soundtrack (with lyrics about jumping on a tiger and whatnot). As the guy approaches the Corvettes once they're parked you can tell he's wobbly-legged and tongue-tied. Honestly, it's worth three minutes of your time.

Enjoy the video here:

Denim, Denim, and a C7 Corvette Test Drive

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Photo courtesy General Motors.

Some guys get all the breaks. When it comes to the automotive world, that guy often seems to be Jay Leno -- yes, the comedian. There's a good reason why he gets so many perks in the automotive world. Have you see the guy's garage? He has one of the most amazing car collections in the world and a huge following of gearheads and even casual car appreciators. Every car company with a marketing team that has any sense knows this, so they grab any chance they can get to put Mr. Leno behind the wheel of one of their hot new cars.



GM isn't spending money on frivolous things like Super Bowl commercials. Instead, the automotive giant let Jay Leno be the first person who isn't a GM employee drive the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. I'll be honest, I'm still not sold on many of the design elements of the new 'Vette, but watching a denim-on-denim Jay Leno drive it makes me more excited to get behind the wheel of one. Watch the video below, then wipe the slobber off your keyboard and/or screen.

The C7 Corvette is Born!

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Unless you've been living in a cave, then you know that General Motors has been cooking up the new generation Corvette, which was revealed this past Sunday evening. It's easily one of the most anticipated model releases of the year, bringing quite a bit of pressure for the huge automaker that has been lambasted by media outlets and the public in general for its reliance on a government bailout (and not to mention a sleuth of sub-par vehicles such as the horribly regrettable Chevy Aveo).

GM drops the Corvette's iconic round tail lights!

GM is calling the new Corvette a Stingray. I'm a huge fan of the old Stingray Corvettes, but quite frankly I don't see any tie between the C7 and the Stingrays of old. Styling-wise, the C7 reminds me of an interesting twist between the current-gen Camaro, the Ferrari FF and the SRT Viper. I'm still trying to decide if this is a good thing (for the record, my wife likes the design). Admittedly, I think companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche are kicking out some much cleaner and visually-appealing designs, but I digress.

I'm not seeing the Stingray resemblance, but maybe that's just me.

On the other hand, technologically speaking the 2014 Corvette sounds compelling. Corvettes have almost always put up some blistering numbers for a budget price (I'll try to forget about that brief time in the 80s when performance was more lukewarm). This new generation of Corvette gives the car a quantum leap into the bold new automotive future. GM engineered a new engine for the 'Vette, the LT1, which produces a walloping 450 horsepower and 450 pound-foot of torque, rocketing the car from 0 to 60 MPH in under four seconds! That's fast, folks! 

The new Stingray fender badge

In all honesty, the weak point of the Corvette--at least since the C4--has been the interior. 'Vette interiors feel cheap, like something you would expect more on the inside of the Malibu or some other lesser model. GM is claiming the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette will change that for good. The interior will feature real carbon fiber accents, a higher-grade leather and seats with a lightweight magnesium frame.

The new interior makes use of real carbon fiber

GM has helped the Corvette shed some of its curb weight, taking the car down to  pounds. This has been accomplished with the use of materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium throughout the car. The reduced weight translates into not only a faster vehicle, but also better fuel economy. Official fuel mileage figures for the 2014 Corvette are not available yet, but GM expects them to well exceed the 26 MPG highway rating for the C6.

I'm a leather snob, so I'll wait to see how nice these feel

Does this mean the Corvette will finally be able to corner with the best of them? Can it stick to the corners like a 911 Carrera 4 or M3? Personally I doubt it, but I'll reserve final judgment until I get behind the wheel of one (and I'll post a video of it, for sure). 

The question every auto enthusiast wants to know is what are the high performance versions of the new Stingray Corvette going to be like? The ZO6 and ZR1 offered considerably improved performance over the base C6, so what does GM have in store for the C7 Corvette? One's imagination could run wild, and for now that will have to do. Enjoy the pictures and let me know below what you think of the new Corvette.

1962 Chevrolet Corvette