corvettes of fresno - Description: Description: Description ...

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, INC 

Is a non-profit organization formed by 

those owners who are proud to drive 

America’s only true sports car – 

THE CORVETTE 

Our club meetings are held at 7:00 pm on 

the third Tuesday of the month at the 

American Legion Hall located at 3509 N. 

First Street, (North of Shields on the S/W 

corner of First Street & Dayton), Fresno. 

If you are an interested Corvette owner, 

we invite you to attend. 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, INC IS A PROUD 

MEMBER OF THE WESTERN STATES 

CORVETTE COUNCIL (WSCC) 

FIBERGLASS FOREVER IS A MONTHLY 

PUBLICATION. 

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES NO LATER 

THAN THE BOARD MEETING OF EACH 

MONTH VIA EMAIL TO: 

newsletter@corvettesoffresno.com 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, INC 

2010 OFFICERS 

President: Jon DeVoe 

E-mail: president@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559- 683-7003 

Vice Pres.: Nick DiLiddo 

E-mail: events@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-439-7267 

Secretary: Terri Cavanaugh 

E-mail: secretary@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-439-7519 

Treasurer: Harry Bellow 

E-mail: treasurer@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-294-7740 

Membership: Valerie Merritt 

E-mail: membership@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-294-1762 

Webmaster: Al Hall 

E-mail: webmaster@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-582-6375 

Newsletter: Jim Agar 

E-mail: newsletter@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-297-2200 

WSCC Representative: Roger Merritt 

E-mail: representative@corvettesoffresno.com 

Phone: 559-294-1762 

The 1957 Corvette was the first car ever to 

combine fuel injection with a four speed manual 

transmission. 

Engine displacement increased to 283ci and the 

most powerful option engine developed 283hp, 

one horsepower for every cubic inch! 

After winning a few major races in 1957, sales for 

the year jumped to a total of 6,339 units, up from 

3,467 for 1956.

March All Ready! 

Feels like I just wrote one of these. But, instead of using that one again, I’ll script out 

another. Hope the beginning of March finds all of you well. Now that The Ice Breaker has kicked 

off our travel year so well, let’s see what the next couple of months bring us. Man, did Nick and 

his crew do an outstanding job on that or what? We had some new participants this year. Some 

first time Ice Breakians! They too had a blast. We even met up with some old friends. Family and 

Friends to be exact. What a kick they are huh! Have you ever seen a more up beat, Happy-to-belivin-life 

group of people? I think not! And we all fit so well together. Both clubs just can’t wait to 

see each other again. Be sure to check out their web site and see where they’re headed to next. 

Let’s see what’s on our horizon. We have some car shows coming up. Selma’s Swap Parts & Toy 

Sale, Sanger Blossom Trail Show, Annual Easter Park Show, Hooters All Corvette Show in 

Sacramento. And I just seen today; The Last Fresno AutoRama Blackie will be putting on. March 

19-21 at The Convention Center. I know you’ll see me there one of those days. So there are a 

couple of things coming up. But; where are the COF runs? Also; don’t forget to gather up your 

donations, pledges, contributions, gatherings for the Relay For Life event on May1 & 2. We’ll have 

a meeting on Thursday, March 11 th , at 6:00 at Denny’s on Blackstone and Herndon. All details 

that night. 

It has to stop raining one of these weekends! Let’s go somewhere & do something. Don’t 

forget Harry’s Tahoe meeting Tuesday March 9 th @ 6:00 where else but our favorite Denny’s you 

know where. Boy is that locomotive picking up steam. 

I would personally like to thank Debbie Dukes for jumping in at the last general meeting 

and taking such wonderful notes. It might be too late to get in touch with Terri for the board 

meeting; but; can someone call her for our general meeting on the 16 th ? Maybe a couple of us 

can email her too! From the board “Thanks Debbie”! And Terri, you know I’m kidding with you. 

Well, do we have all that nasty rain washed off our Vettes yet from the I.B.? Let’s get ‘um 

cleaned up and out of the garagies & go somewhere! Hope to see all of you real soon. Let’s invite 

some old members we haven’t seen in a while to the next general meeting. Make some phone 

calls and let’s get um reconnected with COF. See ya’ll out on the highways and bye-ways. As 

always, spread the joy and happiness that comes with driving the planets best sports car & “Save 

The Wave”!! 

Thanks, 

Jon 

Presidential Quote: 

Faith is taking that first step, 

Even when you can’t see the whole staircase. 

We are all thinking about you Gene & Evelyn 

“It’s not where you’re going; 

It’s what you’re driving!!”

Membership 

Corvettes of Fresno has 95 members and 69 cars. 

Guests 

Ron Miller – black 2007, Teri Rothchild – red 2003, Cliff & Terry Shall – pewter 1998, Joe & 

Margaret Gonzalez – black 2006 and a 1967, Freddie Fam – 2002 silver convertible, Sherry 

Dixon – 2006 blue convertible and Mark Mangrum – 1993 green convertible. 

Nametag drawing 

Robert Johnson’s name was drawn but he was not available to claim the prize. Next month’s 

drawing will be for $30.00. 

Remember to wear your nametag at the meeting for a chance to win. 

Club Directories and Updates 

The 2010 electronic copy of the club membership directory is available online at 

www.corvettesoffresno.com (contact Al Hall for the new access info) 

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES 

RON & LORRI WEST 31 

MARCH BIRTHDAYS 

CHUCK WARE 1 - DICK KLAUBER 15 - JERRY PELOIAN 18 

AL HALL 23 - MIKE HANEY 26 

The first 200 production C5 Corvettes were painted Red, not the traditional color for the first production run. 

The 1997 Corvette C5 is the first Corvette designed from the ground up to be a Corvette.. Not borrowing parts from other cars. 

One of the few "Off the Shelf" parts - the exterior door handles, same ones used on the Oldsmobile Aurora. 

The first use of a transaxle in a production Corvette occurred in the '97. However, the first plans for one were in the Q- 

Corvette in 1958, planned for the 1960 model. Transaxles showed up in Corvette prototypes in the mid '60s in running models. 

The first 4 speed in a Corvette was built by Borg Warner in 1957. The first transaxle in a production Corvette was also built by 

Borg Warner, forty years later in 1997. Both were introduced late in the model year. 

Borg Warner has produced a transmission for each generation of Corvette: C1 - 1957 to 1962, C2 - 1963, C3 - 1980 to 1981, C4 

- 1984 to 1988, and C5 - 1997 to 1998. 

The 1997 Corvette is the first Corvette to have windshield wipers that sweep in the same direction instead of opposing directions. 

November 4, 1997 - The 9752nd 1998 Corvette rolled down the assembly matching the total 1997 Model production run. 

It took 55 hours to build the C5 Corvette, down from 70 hours for the previous C4 model. 

VALERIE MERRITT 

MEMBERSHIP

CORVETTES OF FRESNO 

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2009 

CALL TO ORDER: President Jon DeVoe called the meeting to order at 7:20 pm. Board Members present were: Jon DeVoe, Nick 

DiLiddo, Harry Bellow, Valerie & Roger Merritt, Jim Agar and Al Hall. 

MEMBERSHIP: 52 members and 9 guests were in attendance at this meeting. Valerie introduced the following guests: Ron Miller – 

black 2007, Teri Rothchild – red 2003, Cliff & Terry Shall – pewter 1998, Joe & Margaret Gonzalez – black 2006 and a 1967, Freddie 

Fam – 2002 silver convertible, Sherry Dixon – 2006 blue convertible and Mark Mangrum – 1993 green convertible. CoF currently has 

95 members and 69 cars. Valerie acknowledged the February birthdays and anniversaries. Valerie offered club invitation cards to 

anyone who wants some. 

SECRETARY’S REPORT: Jon DeVoe called for a motion to forego the reading of the minutes of the January 19, 2010 meeting. Bruce 

Looney motioned to forego the reading of the minutes and Chuck Ware seconded. Motion approved. Jerry Najarian motioned to 

accept the minutes and Angie DiLiddo seconded. Minutes accepted. 

TREASURER’S REPORT: Harry Bellow reported the account activity which is on file to be reviewed by members only. Allen Teixeira 

made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report and Rudy Sorondo seconded. Treasurer’s report approved. 

COMMUNICATIONS: Jim reported that the online version of the February newsletter has a total of 46 pages. We have one new 

advertiser in the newsletter, Carbex. Please submit your company business card to Jim if you would like to have your business 

advertised. It is an excellent value for your money. If you would like to purchase a club calendar see Harry Bellow. 

WEBMASTER: For the period covering the past two and one-half months the club website has been viewed 8,110 times. The top three 

countries visiting are the United States, the Russian Federation and France. The top three states visiting are California, Illinois and New 

York. The top three California cities are: Mountain View, Fresno and Huntington Beach. The three pages that have been viewed the 

most are the calendar page, the photos and the Tahoe page. Our February newsletter has been downloaded 720 times, the January 

newsletter downloaded 1,849 times and the December newsletter 1,357 times. The online directory has been updated and all updated 

items are in red. Be sure to update your Adobe Reader on your computer for maximum security. 

ACTIVITIES, Past: None 

ACTIVITIES, Future: Please refer to the Calendar of Events in the club newsletter or on the Club website, www.corvettesoffresno.com 

for more details and up to date information. 

February 20th – Ice Breaker run to Monterey, February 27 th & 28 th – Fresno Chapter of SCCA, March 6 th – Sanger Chamber Blossom 

Trail Car Show, March 13 th – American Legion 509 fundraiser, March 27 th – Kerman Easter park show, April 3 rd – Hooters All Corvette 

Car Show in Sacramento, April 10 th & 11 th – Run to Sylmar/Pomona with Jim Agar, April 16 th – Dinner run to Diane’s Café in Kingsburg 

with John Johnson, April 17 th – Kingsburg Car Show, April 17 th – Polk Elementary Car Show, April 17 th – Cystic Fibrosis Walk-a-thon, 

April 30 th – May 2 nd – Monterey Coast Corvette Cruise, May 1 st & 2 nd – Relay for Life at Hoover High School, May 6 th – 11 th – WSCC 

Convention in Las Vegas, May 16 th – the 2 nd annual Marin Sonoma Concourse d’ Elegance, June 18 th – 20 th – Lake Tahoe Corvette 

Club Tahoe event and July 25 th – Softin’s 2 nd annual car/bike/truck show in Camarillo. More information to follow regarding the DiLiddo 

picnic which will be held in either July or August. 

TAHOE REPORT: Harry reported that the annual Tahoe event will be held on September 9 th , 10 th , 11 th and 12 th . The price is the same 

as last year, $165, and we will be staying at The Horizon. Harry will be having a Tahoe meeting on March 9 th at 7:00 pm at Denny’s at 

Herndon and Blackstone. He is still in need of a few more volunteers. 

OLD BUSINESS: Billie has club shirts for sale for $53 plus tax. Oversizes cost a little more. The shirts come in black, tan, white and 

navy. She also has club blankets for sale for $20. 

NEW BUSINESS: Welcome back Gene Fox! All of the members were glad to see him and we’re happy that he is doing so well! Billie 

gave an update on Jack Quigley. He is doing very well also and should be returning to the club soon. 

Jon announced that the Board has approved the budget for 2010. They will submit it for membership approval next month. 

The next board meeting will be held at Denny’s at Herndon and Blackstone on March 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm. All members are welcome to 

attend. The next general meeting will be held at The American Legion at 7:00 pm on March 16, 2010. The address is 3509 N. First 

Street, Fresno, CA 93726 (north of Shields on the SW corner of First Street at Dayton). 

NAME TAG DRAWING: Robert Johnson’s name was drawn but he was not available to claim the prize. Next month’s drawing will be 

for $30.00. 

RAFFLES: Thank you to Jerry & Gaila Peloian for providing the nice raffle prizes. Next month will be a 50 / 50 drawing. 

Bert Sherman motioned the meeting be adjourned and Billie Talley seconded. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

Debbie Dukes

March 13 th Saturday 12 noon American Legion 509 hall is having a fund raiser for 8 to 40 vets group, 

salad bar luncheon, all homemade by members, Bingo games, raffles, prizes, all for $6.00 per person. 

This is where we have our C.O.F meetings. LETS SUPPORT OUR VETERANS 

March 16 (Tuesday) Corvettes of Fresno General Club Meeting 

American Legion Hall, 3509 N. 1 st ST., Fresno, @7:00 All Corvette enthusiasts are invited to attend. 50/50 drawing. 

March 27 th Saturday Annual Easter Park Show---10:am to 2:00pm no registration fee—In Kerman @ Kerchoff Park 

April 3 rd Saturday 4 th Annual Hooters all Corvette Car Show @1785 Challenge Way, Sacramento Ca. 

FREE REGISTRATION 11:00 to 3:00pm 

April 6 (Tuesday) COF Board Meeting 7:00 @ Denny’s At Blackstone and Herndon. 

April 10 & 11 (sat & sun) Nethercutt collection & nhra museum 

This is the crown jewel of car museums, one of the finest in the world!! check flyer & website for full info. 

Jim Agar is chairman of this great over niter run. 

April 16 th Friday Dinner run to Kingsburg, to Dianes Café, nite before car show 

John Johnson, has it all set to go, great food. 

April 17th Saturday Kingsburg Car show, sponsored by Kingsburg Chamber of Commerce. Pre 72 models only in show 

April 20 (Tuesday) Corvettes of Fresno General Club Meeting American Legion Hall, 3509 N. 1 st ST., 

Fresno, @7:00 All Corvette enthusiasts are invited to attend. Need a volunteer for Raffle prizes! 

April 30-May 2 nd Friday-Sunday Montery Coast Corvette Cruise--- Hosted by Montery Peninsula Corvette Club, 

You know the club that comes to Tahoe Friday Registration and hospitality. 

Saturday morning, Show & Shine, Afternoon Poker Run along the Montery & Pebble Beach coastlone. 

See our FLYER for all the information . 

April 30 – May 2 (Fri- Sun) Monterey Coast Corvette Cruise 

Hosted by Monterey Peninsula Corvette Club. You know; The Club that comes to Tahoe! Friday Registration 

and hospitality. Saturday morning; Show & Shine. Afternoon Poker Run Along the Monterey & Pebble Beach 

coastline. See our FLYER page for all the info. 

MAY 1 – 2 (Sat-Sun) Relay For Life – Fresno Sat 5/1 @ 09:00 till 09:00 on Sun 5/2 

You know how good we did last year on such little notice. Imagine now that we have time to plan! It will be 

held at Hoover High School on N. 1 st . Jon has most of the details. Contact him at 683-7003. 

May 4 (Tuesday) COF Board Meeting 7:00 @ Denny’s At Blackstone and Herndon. 

May 6-11, 2010 Thursday-Tuesday 2010 WSCC Convention Las Vegas, Nevada 

May 16 th Sunday 2 nd Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d`Elegance. 

A fund raiser for HOSPICE BY THE BAY Info. Call 415-479-77 

May 18 (Tuesday) Corvettes of Fresno General Club Meeting American Legion Hall, 3509 N. 1 st ST., 

Fresno, @7:00 All Corvette enthusiasts are invited to attend. 

June 18 th to 20 th Friday to Sunday Lake Tahoe Corvette Club , having there annual event in beautiful Lake Tahoe. 

July 25 th Sunday Softin`s 2 nd Annual car/bike/Truck show, will be at the WWII Aviation Museum @Camarillo Air Field in 

Camarillo Ca. 100% of all proceeds to Handicapped Young and old. 

NICK DILIDDO 

V.P. ACTIVITIES

1997 - early 2001 Battery Acid Leakage Issue 

All 1997 to 2000 C5's have a very potential battery leakage problem. The problem isn't so much that the 

battery leaks, but that it leaks on the computer, wiring harness, frame and one vacuum hose for the A/C 

controls. The battery tray is open in the center, and will direct the acid straight onto your computer! This 

can become an expensive repair, and is NOT covered by any extended warranty. If you have not already 

done so, replace your battery with either a Optima Redtop or the ACDelco AGM 78P-7YR (List $149, I paid 

$101.99). Make special note of the P in the part number. This is what specifies that this battery is a AGM 

(Absorbant Glass Mat) AGM is a newer type of battery construction that uses saturated absorbent glass 

mats rather than gelled or liquid electrolyte. They will not leak acid. 

At some point in 2001, GM started to use the newer AGM batteries with a GM part number of 75P-7YR. The 

battery tray size also changed to slightly smaller size. Thus the reason that this is 

only an issue with earlier C5's. 

I was also given a brass washer to put on the positive battery post from my GM parts guy. He stated that 

the problem with the batteries is the positive battery cable's bolt acts as a puller, and will actually pull the 

terminal out of the battery dumping acid. While probably not needed the AGM battery, I would still 

recommend it. 

ACDelco Battery Specs : 

1997 - early-2001 78P-7YR 650 CCA 

early-2001 - present 75P-7YR 550 

CCA 

How to Check Oil Level 

Starting in 2001, the C5 dipstick and tube were redesigned. Although the official oil capacity of the engine 

is still 6.5 qts, most owners report that it takes about 7 qts to get up to the "Full" hole on the new 

dipstick. 

Also, the new combination makes it very difficult to get an accurate dipstick reading. Here are the 

techniques developed to make the readings easier: 

1. Take out your dipstick, wipe it off, and sand all 4 sides with 180 grit sandpaper, starting at the tip and 

going up as far as the "Z" bends in the stick. The scratches must go across the stick so they will reduce the 

tendency of the oil to slide down the stick. Carefully clean off the stick so you are not putting the abrasive 

grit back into your engine! 

2. Always park in the same level spot to check your oil, because any tilt (fore/aft or left/right) can effect 

the readings. If you want to be really anal about it, carry a small round bubble level in your console so you 

can duplicate your favorite spot when away from home. 

3. Oil expands and contracts with temperature, so try to check it at about the same oil temp each time, 

preferably after your engine is fully warmed up. 

4. When you shut down your engine to check the oil, note the time on your watch. If you have a 

chronograph, use the stopwatch feature. The convoluted oil pan on the C5 means that it takes a long time 

for the oil to drain back into the pan, to the extent that my Owner's Manual says that checking the oil in 

the morning, even though it is cold, will produce an falsely "high" reading. I wait exactly 15 minutes, 

waiting 10 minutes will give a slightly lower reading, waiting 20 will give a slightly higher reading. 15 

minutes seems right to me, but the important thing is to use the same time every time. 

5. Immediately remove the dipstick, wipe it off, and put it in a clean place. Personally, I wipe off the hood 

latch that is now level with my face, and hang the stick in there. Just remember not to close the hood! 

Taking out the stick allows the "smeary" oil in the dipstick tube to drain away. 

6. Put the rag over the open dipstick tube while waiting for the 15 minutes to go by. 

7. At exactly 15 minutes, wipe off the stick again (to remove any airborne dust) and check the oil level. 

You should be able to get at least 2 checks before the oil smears up into the tube and starts giving 

inconsistent readings. 

This all sounds very complicated, but after a couple of times it becomes second nature.

ICE BREAKER SAT. FEB 20 TH 2010 

Well we lucked out again, rain was predicted for Saturday, but it turned out to be a great day for 

our run . no rain on Saturday. Most of the group was there when I got there at 8:00 at Burger King at 

Herndon & 99. We had to leave Fresno in two groups, because we had 28 Corvettes and two vehicles 

packing all the party goodies and equipment. Our first group left at 8:15 with Bruce Looney leading the 

way. Second group left at 8:35 With Alan Teixeira in the lead Thanks you two. Our first stop was Carl`s 

Jr. on the west end of Los Banos, for pit stop, coffee, donuts, Thanks Emil & Sue Natalie for picking up 

donuts and setting it out in parking lot at Carl`s from there SUV. Maria the manager at Carl`s has been 

helping us for years to be ready with extra help and coffee, so we can get in and out smoothly, and letting 

us do our thing in the parking lot, again she thanked me for the business and how nice all of you treated 

her employees, it sure makes it easier for the next run. We picked up two more vettes in Lo Banos and 

again left in two groups headed over to Fortino`s winery in Gilroy, I got to lead the second group to 

Gilroy, because I didn’t want anyone to get lost , That’s a joke of coarse. 

Believe it or not we did fine. When we got to Fortino`s we had the Friends & Family Club waiting for us 

there with 10 more Vettes. We had a great time at the winery with them, they are a fun group. From 

Fortino`s again leaving in two groups, we motored over Hecker Pass , what a great corvette drive, the 

weather was still great and the hills were green and beautiful. Our next stop Phil’s Fish Eatery in Moss 

Landing. The food/service/ the reserved parking were great again. Thank you Jerry Najarian for setting 

this all up , great job. With our bellies stuffed we headed over to Monterey to check in at the Casa 

Munras. From there a bunch of us headed down to Dominicos Rest. On the wharf for happy hour. 

Again we had a great time with friends and members just bench racing and remembering all the old 

times and events we shared together, and again it was a blast. OH YAAA. 

Back to hotel for the party around the pool, we barbecued hot dogs [ 125 of them ] it was like a football 

tailgate, we even feed a bunch of kids that were swimming in the heated pool hot dogs that just were 

guest of the hotel, fun fun. Want to thank all of you that brought chips/dips/ fruit / deserts/ beverages/ it 

sure helped the menu. Friends and Family group, also brought more goodies than we could eat, needless 

to say we had a lot to munch on. Just about the time we were finished it started to sprinkle , so we kind 

of moved into our room and kept the party going inside, it was great ending for our Ice Breaker. All the 

people who helped make this run another success, Jerry/Joann Najarian—Dave/Terri Cavanaugh— 

Emil/Sue Natalie—Bruce/Ruth Looney—Alan/Nancy Teixiera, without your help this could not happen,, 

thank you, thank you. All the COF members and guests thank you for making this another great ICE 

BREAKER RUN. You are # 1 on my list 

THANKS 

Nick & Angie Diliddo 

Dave & Terri Cavanaugh 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO 

WE AT FAMILY & FRIENDS CORVETTE WISH TO SAY "THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO YOUR ICE 

BREAKER". WE HAD A BLAST AND A GREAT TIME. YOUR CLUB IS OFF THE HOOK FUN. WE ENJOYED 

EVERY MINUTE WITH YOU FROM THE RIDE TO WINE TO LUNCH AND TO DOMINICO'S FOR DRINKS AND 

BACK TO THE HOTEL FOR POOL SIDE FUN. WE ARE JUST SORRY THAT IT RAINED. BUT THE RAIN DOES 

NOT STOP PEOPLE LIKE US FROM HAVING FUN. SO THANK YOU AND TO ALL THAT CAME. 

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !! 

WE CAN AND HOPE TO DO THIS AGAIN WITH YOU. 

THANKS AND MUCH LOVE TO YOUR CLUB!!! 

DIANE AND ARCHIE LEE, AND ALL THE OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS CLUB MEMBERS

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, APRIL 10 & 11 2010 

COF WILL BE GOING TO THE NETHERCUTT AUTOMOBILE COLLECTION IN SYLMAR ON 

SATURDAY & THE NHRA MUSEUM ON SUNDAY. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME OF 

THE FINEST CARS IN THE WORLD. 

ONE COULD ATTEND THE WORLD’S GREATEST CONCOURS D’ ELEGANCE AND NEVER FIND A 

MORE COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF AUTOMOBILES THAN ARE DISPLAYED AT THE 

NETHERCUTT COLLECTION. ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, THE 

MUSEUMS AT SAN SYLMAR CONTAIN WITHIN THEIR WALLS THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN THE 

WORLD OF MANKIND’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PURSUIT OF PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION. 

FROM AN 1886 BENZ TO THE MOST DESIRABLE DUESENBERG, PACKARDS, AND CADILLACS EVER 

BUILT, TO TURN OF THE CENTURY ANTIQUES, AND THE ONLY PUBLIC DISPLAY IN THE WORLD 

OF ALL SIX ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM MODELS, THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION TAKES YOU ON A 

VISUAL TOUR OF THE MUSEUM, BEHIND THE SCENES OF AMERICA’S FINEST AUTOMOBILE 

COLLECTION, AND INTO THE ACCLAIMED MUSIC ROOM, WHERE ORNATE MUSIC BOXES, 

MASSIVE ORCHESTRIONS, AND ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST WURLITZER THEATER ORGANS 

LOOM. 

THIS IS THE CROWN JEWEL OF AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE MUSEUMS. 

WE WILL BE LEAVING FROM THE 

N W CORNER OF FRESNO ST & SHAW ON 

SATURDAY APRIL 10, 2010 AT 7:00 AM SHARP 

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: 

JIM AGAR 559-297-2200 

RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE BY CALLING THE SHERATON SUITES FAIRPLEX @ 1-888-627-8074 & 

ASK FOR THE COF RATE WHICH IS $99.00 PLUS TAX OR YOU CAN BOOK ON-LINE: 

A personalized Web site for Corvettes Of Fresno has been created for you. Guests can access 

the site to learn more about the event and to book, modify, or cancel a reservation until March 

31, 2010. Copy and paste the following link into a web browser) 

http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1001269918&key=DB8A5

COF DINNER RUN TO DIANE’S 

KINGSBURG, CA. 

FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2010 

DRAPER STREET 

MAIN STREETS OF SWEDISH VILLAGE 

WE ARE HAVING A FUN DINNER AT DIANE’S IN KINGSBURG AS PART OF THE KINGSBURG 

CAR SHOW. WE WILL HAVE DINNER, HANG OUT, 

LOOK AT THE CARS AND DO SOME BROWSING IN THE SHOPS. 

PLEASE JOIN US FOR A FUN EVENING WITH YOUR FRIENDS. 

WE WILL BE LEAVING FORM THE NW CORNER OF SHAW & FRESNO AT 6:00PM 

DINNER WILL BE SERVED @ 7:00 PM 

YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE YOUR DINNER SELECTION FROM THE LIST BELOW & PREPAY 

SO WE CAN PROVIDE DIANE WITH AN ACCURATE HEAD COUNT. 

DIANE'S VILLAGE BAKERY & CAFE 

$18.00 INCLUDES TAX & TIP! 

DINNER COMES WITH A GREEN SALAD, ROLLS, COFFEE & ICE TEA, & DESSERT 

CHOICE OF ENTREE'S INCLUDE: 

1. TRI-TIP & CHICKEN TENDERLOIN COMBO (TENDERLOINS IN A CREAMY WINE -PARMESAN 

SAUCE) WITH ROSEMARY-RED POTATOES & ASPARAGUS/GREEN BEAN MEDLEY. 

2. STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WITH ARTICHOKE PESTO & PROVOLONE WITH ROSEMARY- 

RED POTATOES & ASPARAGUS/GREEN BEAN MEDLEY. 

NEED MORE INFO? 

CONTACT: 

JOHN JOHNSON 559-434-1395

CORVETTES OF FRESNO, inc. 

PRESENTS 

TAHOE 42 

SEPTEMBER 9, 10, 11, 12, 2010 

CORVETTES OF FRESNO IS COMMITTED 

TO KEEPING THE COST OF YOUR FUN REASONABLE 

THE PACKAGE PRICE REMAINS THE SAME 

AS THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AT $165.OO 

THE THEME FOR THIS YEARS EVENT WILL BE 

"MARDI GRAS" 

EVENTS WILL INCLUDE: 

RECEPTION PARTY 

SLOT TOURNMENT 

POKER RUN 

SHOW & SHINE 

BBQ BY THE POOL 

DINNER/DANCE 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR & PREPARE 

TO HAVE A GREAT TIME IN TAHOE! 

MORE DETAILS WILL FOLLOW IN THE COMING WEEKS 

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE LATEST DETAILS @ 

www.corvettesoffresno.com

Wendell Strode 

Meet The Executive Director Of The National Corvette Museum 

The National Corvette Museum was two years old in the fall of 1996, but it hadn’t exactly gotten on its feet yet. 

The financial situation looked pretty dismal and everything else seemed to be declining too: attendance, 

membership, store sales, relations with the business community and enthusiasts. Why, then, would anyone 

want to step into that situation and take over the helm of a sinking ship? We asked Wendell Strode, the 

executive director of the National Corvette Museum, that very question. 

Wendell joined the National Corvette Museum on December 20, 1996. A seasoned banker of 25 years, Wendell 

was excited by the challenge of saving the Museum. He knew he could make a difference. Eight years earlier, 

Wendell had been a part of the Bowling Green Chamber’s Task Force that worked to get the National Corvette 

Museum located in Bowling Green. Wendell had a strong background with a degree in business administration 

from Western Kentucky University and decades as a banker right there in Bowling Green. He knew, from 

previous interaction with Corvette enthusiasts, the die-hard dedication that exists among the group. He says, 

“Being one of 13 children and with my wife and two daughters, this feeling of family has always been a crucial 

part of my life and a tremendous source of strength for me over my career.” 

As we know, Wendell and his team have been successful over the last several years. The Museum has come full 

circle. The financial problems have been resolved, thanks to Wendell’s financial wizardry; the Corvette 

community and even GM seem to have every confidence in the Museum’s steadfast preservation of all things 

Corvette; and there are realistic goals for growth and expansion. Wendell counts the turnaround of the Museum 

and the development of the team it took to make that happen among his greatest achievements. “The 

leadership and management team that we have currently is something I am very proud of,” he says. “I believe 

strongly that every team member puts the entire team, and thus the Museum, above self and that they are 

totally dedicated to exceeding the expectations of others, which includes both fellow team members, the NCM 

Membership, and all other supporters and guests.” 

Wendell and his team already have the Corvette’s 50th anniversary, in 2003, in their sights. Their goals for that 

date include: increasing membership to upwards of 20,000; developing a library, archives, and a resource 

center; constructing a 500-seat convention center and Corvette diner; building an autocross road track on the 

NCM land; enhancing the Web site and expanding the event venue; as well as growing the Ambassador program, 

a program that provides for a duly elected representative from each chapter, club, and registry. 

We asked Wendell about his all-time favorite Corvette. He says, “After the wonderful surprise I received at the 

C5 Birthday Bash Banquet from Bob McDorman, my favorite Corvette is that Corvette. Aside from C5s, I love the 

late ’50s and ’60s.” 

When asked about the funniest thing that had happened to him as the NCM’s director, Wendell told us what 

happened just three weeks after he joined the Museum. He was showing merchandise for a fund-raising auction 

and was prompted from the gallery to auction the Corvette tie he was wearing, which was actually borrowed 

from his friend and fellow NCM employee, Danny Gillock. He stayed in the spirit of the moment, taking off the tie 

and auctioning it for nearly $100. He fondly remembers, “The whole time this was going on, I am wondering 

how I am going to tell Danny, and what in the world he is going to think of me for auctioning off his only tie.” 

With someone who devotes as much time to their job as Wendell does, one might wonder how he manages time 

for a life outside his public one. Wendell and his wife of 31 years, Jan, own and operate a bed-and-breakfast, on 

the second floor of their historic 131-year-old home. The 1869 Homestead, as it is known, was where Wendell 

grew up from age 12. Wendell and Jan purchased and renovated it in 1996 after 

Wendell’s father passed away. The homestead is just 10 minutes from the Museum in 

Warren County, and has been the site of many of the Museum’s barbecues. 

Jan and Wendell have two daughters, Alicia and Tara, 28 and 26 years old, 

respectively. Wendell is, needless to say, quite fond of his grandson, Jacob Howard, 

who has already started learning the Corvette hobby as a model in some of the 

Museum’s fashion shows. Not surprisingly, Wendell is active in community service 

efforts and currently serves on the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce board of directors. 

A Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Wendell is also a member and deacon at 

Three Springs Baptist Church. 

Wendell reflects, “I felt this source of strength would be so powerful there would not 

be anything that working together as a worldwide Corvette family we could not 

accomplish. I still feel that way today.” He continued, “Our mission will always be the 

same—the preservation of the past, present, and future of the Corvette.” We couldn’t 

agree more. Thank you, Wendell and staff.

2009 Callaway GT1 Championship Edition Featured in Corvette Magazine 

I just got my April 2010 issue of Corvette Magazine and oh, snap! Guess what I saw? Gracing the cover is 

a 2009 GT1 Championship Edition Convertible. A car so rare, we'll be talking about the record prices 

these special editions are sure to get at auctions sooner rather than later. Only 7 Black GT1 Convertibles 

were made and we are pretty sure that only one has been tuned by Callaway. 

GM was planning on producing 600 GT1 Championship Editions, but just as the cars became available, 

the economy hit Corvette sales like a sledgehammer. Production was slashed and instead of the planned 

600 cars, just 125 GT1 Corvettes were built. That breaks down to 55 Z06s, 53 Coupes and 17 

Convertibles. Seven convertibles were painted black, and of the seven, just three came equipped with a 

manual 6-speed transmission. 

This Corvette took a slightly different road than the other two Black, 6-speed Convertibles as the power 

bulge hood identifies this GT1 as a Callaway. Under that bulge lies Callaways SC580, a supercharged 

LS3 with 580 horsepower and 510 lbs-ft of torque. The added power comes from an Eaton-based 

MagnaCharger, a cold-air intake and 

Callaway's Double-D exhaust system. 

One the outside, a Callaway power bulge 

hood was painted to match the ghost-Jake 

graphics. Topping the mashup is a Spector 

Werkes/Sports' Group 6 exterior package 

that fitted the GT1 Corvette with a new 

front fascia and rocker panels. 

Callaway says their Corvettes equipped with 

the SC580 package are capable of zero to 60 

mph in 3.7 seconds, runs the quarter mile in 

11.3 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph! 

In many ways, Corvette enthusiasts are numerologists. They don’t necessarily find the meaning of 

life in numbers, but when it comes to performance figures, option codes and production totals, they 

marvel at them as if they were written in the stars. The 2009 GT1 Championship Edition will be forever 

remembered for a vastly different set of numbers—those associated with a sour economy. 

To commemorate Corvette Racing’s success with the GT1-class C6.R, Chevrolet announced it 

would build 600 GT1 Championship Editions for the 2009 model year. The car would wear hood 

graphics that incorporated the now-iconic “Jake” skull logo, commemorative decals on the rocker 

panels, a unique engine cover and special interior embroidery. Though there would be no GT1-specific 

mechanical enhancements, the base coupe and convertible versions would include the Z51 

Performance Package and the NPP Performance Exhaust. These cars would also receive the ZR1-spec 

rear spoiler. Owners could install the included GT1 windshield banner themselves. 

The production breakdown was to be as follows: 200 coupes, 200 convertibles and 200 Z06s. 

Additionally, the 200-unit runs per body style were to be further divided by color—100 of each in black 

and yellow. 

Unfortunately, the original production plans were scrapped when the bottom fell out of the new-car 

market. As Corvettes sat unsold, production slowed to a trickle; output at Bowling Green was cut 

roughly in half, and during GM’s bankruptcy reorganization, production was halted altogether. 

When the 2009 Corvette production run ended, only 125 GT1 special editions had rolled off of the 

Kentucky assembly line: 55 Z06s, 53 coupes and only 17 convertibles. And if you’re really into slicing 

the pie thinly, pay close attention to these numbers: Of the 17 GT1 convertibles, only seven were 

painted black; and of those, only three were equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. 

Cauley Chevrolet, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, received one of these three black, manualequipped 

GT1 convertibles. Not content with its one-of-three status, the dealership promptly turned it 

over to Callaway Cars to be fitted with the company’s SC580 package. So, what you’re looking at here 

is the only Callaway GT1 model built—a one-of-a-kind. Collectors take note.

Oh, and one more thing: Cauley augmented the exterior with Specter Werkes/Sports’ Group 6 package, 

which includes a new front fascia and rocker-panel extensions. Specter also contributed a yellow accent on the 

steering wheel, as well as suede trim on the wheel, shifter boot and parking-brake boot. This car is nothing if 

not exclusive, and it’s also fast and refined. 

Positive Displacement 

At the heart of Callaway’s power-adding package is an Eaton-based MagnaCharger intercooled 

supercharger system. It’s fed by 53-lb/hr injectors and features a polished blower case, along with an airto-water 

intercooler. The setup makes about 7 pounds of boost, bumping the 6.2-liter LS3 engine’s output 

from 436 to 580 horses, and 428 to 510 lbs-ft of torque. 

Also part of the basic Callaway SC580 package are fuel-rail covers, a cold-air-style intake system, 

Callaway’s Double-D exhaust and a “power bulge” hood—the same design found on the company’s C16 

model—which was fitted because the blower doesn’t fit under the stock unit. 

Adding the Callaway hood presented a quandary during the final assembly of this car because it 

meant ditching the stock piece with its special graphics—graphics that wouldn’t fit the contours of the 

bulged one. Cauley Chevrolet addressed the issue by painting the Callaway hood to match the GT1 

graphics, including the subtle “Jake” logo. It’s all paint, too, whereas the factory GT1 graphics are laid on 

as a large decal. 

Though the car was fitted with Dymag nine-spoke “Hyper Black” wheels, the suspension was left 

untouched, as were the tires and brakes. Callaway offers a brake-upgrade package, something that’s 

probably worth having on a car with nearly 600 horsepower. 

Cauley’s painters were just finishing up the final details on the car when Jerry Hubbuch wandered into 

the dealership. He wasn’t necessarily looking for a new Corvette, let alone a Callaway-ized GT1, but he 

was quickly bowled over by the unique specimen. 

“When I saw the yellow on the hood and the way it contrasted with the rest of the car’s black paint, I 

just absolutely fell in love with the car,” says Hubbuch. “I wanted it right then and there. Corvette 

enthusiasts are always looking for something unique or different, and this is it.” 

Behind the Wheel 

Hubbuch was kind enough to give us some seat time in his unique Corvette, and we were 

immediately impressed. The MagnaCharger blower brings all the attributes of a positive-displacement 

supercharger, not the least of which is that it makes boost at all rpm levels—even during idle. We 

detected no flat spots in the performance of this Callaway-tuned LS3. The power comes on 

immediately and the engine pulls strongly past 6,000 rpm. If a plateau exists in this V8’s performance, 

it’s at a place on the speedometer where most drivers will spend little extended time. 

The supercharger’s refinement was also appreciated. Though it can annihilate the rear tires on 

command, it also delivers excellent low- and mid-range power when driven judiciously. A lot of the 

credit for this goes to spot-on engine mapping. The engine displayed no hiccups, bogging or 

hesitation; it started, idled and ran like a factory-stock powerplant. This is also partly due to the fact 

that, save for a Callaway short-shift kit, the drivetrain is unaltered. The car is one refined cruiser. 

There’s a notable aural cue from the supercharger—a mechanical whir that’s audible at start-up 

and under hard acceleration—but it’s a sound that hits the sweet spot in the psyche of enthusiasts. 

Callaway claims that SC580-equipped Corvettes can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 

seconds, run through the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds and hit a 200-mph top speed. We couldn’t 

verify those numbers with instrumented testing, but after driving the car we have no reason to 

question them. 

Not surprisingly, the Corvette rides and handles essentially the same as a stock, Z51-equipped 

convertible. The Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are commendably grippy, without being too hard or noisy 

on the street, and the car stops authoritatively—the stock brakes seem up to the task. 

The collector status of this car is all but assured, though we suspect Hubbuch will have a hard 

time keeping the miles off it. With a supercharged LS3 engine under the hood and the easy drivability 

of a V6 Malibu, this Corvettes is as enticing as a free pit pass at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

When all the numbers are juggled with this rare Corvette, they all boil down to one: a one-of-one 

GT1.

Auction Results: Barrett-Jackson's Corvette Sales Top $9 Million 

Barrett-Jackson's Collector Car Auction just wrapped up 

another successful Scottsdale auction and Corvette sales 

remain strong. We counted 112 Corvettes that crossed the 

block and with the 10% commission added, sales totaled 

$9.19 million. That's very comparable to 2009's $9.8 

million in sales. 

The top seller for Corvettes was a modern restoration of a 

1958 Silver Blue Corvette which sold for $220,000. 

Although equipped with a newer model GM Ram Jet 350 

cubic inch V8, Tremec 5-Speed and disc brakes, the seller's 

description says this classic straight-axle is no resto-mod. 

The Corvette underwent a $200,000 frame-off restoration and for both drivability and preservation, the 

original motor and transmission was removed and stored. Now with just 900 miles on the clock since 

restoration, the very correct-appearing Corvette is ready for show and go. 

We already mentioned the 2008 Corvette Z06 "427" Edition that was sold for $200,000 to benefit the Red 

Cross's Haitian relief efforts. Actually, this car tied the top-selling 1958 Corvette with a hammer price of 

$200,000. Due to its charity status, it was sold without commission. 

Rounding out the top three was a 1966 Corvette convertible resto-mod that sold for $198,000. Absolutely 

stunning in its Platinum Pearl Metallic paint, this Sting Ray is powered by a brand new GM LS3 

Cammer engine producing over 500 horsepower. Coupled to the LS3 is a Tremec 5-Speed. C6 Z06 brakes 

and 18"/19" chrome spider wheels complete the resto-mod look. 

GM was back in Scottsdale this year with a number of Corvettes from its personal collection including 

that #427 2008 Corvette Z06 427. A 1989 preproduction Corvette ZR-1 used for media and press events 

sold for $55,000 and the 2009 Competition Sport #2 Coupe that provided us with a hot lap at last year's 

12 Hours of Sebring brought in $60,500. 

Here are the complete Corvette sales results from Barrett-Jackson: 

Here are the top 15 Corvette sales at the 2010 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction. 

LOT 

YEAR MAKE/MODEL STYLE PRICE 

# 

1278.1 1958 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 350HP $220,000 

427 LIMITED EDITION 

1318 2008 CORVETTE 

$200,000 

COUPE 

1248.1 1966 CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE $198,000 

1257.2 1957 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 283HP FI $194,700 

1263 1960 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 290HP FI $181,500 

1259 1965 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 327/365HP $170,500 

1332 1955 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE $167,200 




1245.1 1966 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 427/450HP $137,500 




1314 1967 CORVETTE COUPE 427/435HP $123,200 

* Prices include 10% sales commission

LOT 

# 

2010 Barrett-Jackson Corvette Sales Results 

YEAR MODEL STYLE PRICE 

77 2006 CORVETTE Z06 DAYTONA PACE #2 $72,600 

85 1989 CORVETTE ZR-1 PREPRODUCTION $55,000 

96.1 1995 

INDY PACE CAR 

CORVETTE 

CONVERTIBLE 

$25,300 


405.1 1998 

INDY PACE CAR 

CORVETTE 

CONVERTIBLE 

$43,450 

414.1 1974 

COUPE CHIP MILLER 

CORVETTE 

CHARITY 

$47,000 



429 2009 CORVETTE Z06 COMPETITION SPORT $83,600 

435 2007 CORVETTE LINGENFELTER COUPE $66,000 







638.1 1988 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE $16,500 

643 1984 CORVETTE COUPE $20,900 

644 1978 CORVETTE CUSTOM LT-1 330HP $13,200 

669.1 1969 CORVETTE CUSTOM COUPE $21,450 

671 2003 

CONVERTIBLE DANA 

CORVETTE 

FORRESTER EDT 

$39,600 

682.1 1990 CORVETTE COUPE ZR-1 $29,700 

692.2 1970 CORVETTE COUPE 350HP $41,800 

713 1963 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 327CI $58,300 



725.1 1965 CORVETTE CUSTOM RESTO-ROD $63,800 






754 1969 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 427/390HP $48,400







956.2 1954 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE $74,800 



967.1 1967 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 327CI $88,000 





993 1969 CORVETTE ZL1 RECREATION $66,000 









1064 2009 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE ALMS GT1 $66,000 

1065 2009 CORVETTE COUPE ALMS GT1 $66,000 

1066 1978 CORVETTE INDY 500 PACE CAR $52,800 



1202 1972 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 350HP $39,600 

1215.2 1990 CORVETTE COUPE ZR-1 $38,500 



1242.1 1966 CORVETTE CUSTOM COUPE $80,300 








1260.3 2009 CORVETTE ZR1 $115,500 

1263 1960 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 290HP FI $181,500









1305 1967 CORVETTE CONVERTILBE 427/400HP $90,200 


1318 2008 

427 LIMITED EDITION 

CORVETTE 

COUPE 

$200,000 

1320 2010 CORVETTE ZR1 PAIRED WITH 1320.1 $82,500 

1320.1 1995 CORVETTE ZR-1 PAIRED WITH 1320 $82,500 

1325 1956 CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE $99,000 





1338 1963 CORVETTE COUPE 327.250HP $93,500 





1353 2009 

COUPE COMPETITION 

CORVETTE 

SPORT #2 

$60,500 

1353.1 2009 CORVETTE Z06 COMPETITION SPORT #3 $86,900 






1549.2 1962 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 360 HP FI $55,000 


1553.1 1999 

1953 COMMEMORATIVE 

CORVETTE 

EDT 

$44,000 

1561.1 1961 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE 327CI $99,000 



1617 1978 CORVETTE INDY 500 PACE CAR $41,800 

Total Sales: $9,198,800

Building an LS9 V8 at the GM Performance Build Center 

When you think of brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari and AMG, the idea of their engines being built by 

the hands of skilled craftsmen is no great surprise. However, most people would be very surprised to 

learn that General Motors has its own special facility dedicated to building its highest performaning 

engine by hand. 

The GM Performance Build Center is located in a nondescript industrial park in in Wixom, MI, not far 

from the company's Milford Proving Ground. The PBC is a 100,000-square foot factory that opened in 

2005 and has since produced both the supercharged Northstar V8 that was used in the Cadillac STS-V 

and XLR-V, as well as the dry-sump small-block V8 used in the Corvette Z06 and ZR1. The most recent 

addition to the lineup is the dry-sump LS3 used in the new manual transmission Grand Sport. We were 

invited by GM to tour the facility and even build one a monster LS9 that would eventually wind up in 

someone's ZR1. 

The Performance Build Center is a completely different animal when compared to GM's other engine 

plants. The typical high volume engine plant consists of a long transfer line where bare engine blocks are 

loaded on at one end and finished engines come off the other end. Along the way assemblers work at each 

station adding parts to the engine. The assemblers typically spend the whole shift working at just a few 

stations or even one station, putting the same part on engine after engine. 

Things are done differently at PBC. Each engine is assembled by just one engine builder. The builder 

starts off by preparing a set of pistons and then mounting a block onto an engine stand (above). Instead 

of a transfer line where the engines move automatically from one station to the next, the stand is pushed 

around the loop by the builder. The engine builders at PBC have all been recruited from the ranks of 

skilled trademen at other GM plants. 

Prior to the current downturn there were as many as 40 builders turning out up to 15,000 engines a year 

from this Wixom facility. With the loss of the Cadillac engines and the slow down in Corvette sales, the 

current production rate is about 5,000 engines per year, with 18 builders assembling the power-plants. 

The plant has two main areas, the assembly hall and the test and inspection area. 

The assembly hall has three loops and what is known as a kitting area. In the kitting area, bins of parts 

needed for each station are compiled with exactly the right number of fasteners, gaskets, etc (above). If a 

builder has any left over parts in the box at the end of a station, that means he has to go back and check 

what he missed. One of the three assembly loops that was previously used for building Cadillac engines is 

currently idle. Another loop is used to build the LS9 (ZR1) and LS7 (Z06) V8s while the third is used for 

the LS7 and dry-sump LS3. 

Mike Armstrong tutored and accompanied us as we began at the piston preparation area. The pistons, 

rings and rods come into the plant pre-assembled from suppliers. The first step is to mark each piston, 

rod and end cap with cylinder numbers and directions. We also check the rings to make sure the gaps are 

on opposite sides. When connecting rods are manufactured, the caps are bolted on before the big-end 

bores are machined. Those caps are removed before assembly and everything is arranged in the bin 

before heading to the loop. 

The first stage of actual assembly is the insertion of the camshaft. Before we put in any moving parts, we 

take what looks like an over-sized Q-Tip, dip it in oil and swab the bores to ensure everything moves 

smoothly (above). Once the cam is ensconced in the aluminum block, the 6-bolt main bearing caps are 

removed so that the crankshaft can be installed. After popping in the main bearings and double checking 

to make sure everything is facing the right direction, Mike lowers in the crank.

Each engine stand has a clipboard with a build sheet and bar code on it (above). This same bar code is 

also applied to the engine. Prior to each assembly operation, the bar code is scanned and each torquing 

operation is logged in a central computer. Multi-spindle guns are used for operations like torqueing the 

main bearings, and all of the torque guns use electric drive and incorporate torque sensors. 

To ensure accurate and reliable bolt torquing, the process has evolved in recent years. Way back when, 

you would use a torque wrench and tighten a bolt until you hit the required threshold. However, that was 

found to give inconsistent results when tested because of internal differences in the fasteners and fits 

between the threads. Because fasteners stretch, what they do now is actually over-torque the bolt slightly 

and then back it off to the required setting. 

A work instruction sheet at each station lists the operations in sequence with a bar code associated with 

each. After scanning the engine code, the code for the operation is scanned. When the sensors have 

detected the operation has been completed and the bolts are properly tight, the gun automatically shuts 

down to prevent over-torquing. The system keeps track of all the data related to each build so that if any 

problem is detected during the final test or inspection, the whole process can be reviewed. 

Anyone who has ever put together an engine (properly, of course) knows that you have to torque the bolts 

in a particular order to avoid damaging warpage. The multi-spindle gun for the main bearings on the 

LS9 does the four vertical bolts on one cap together. Starting from the center of the crank you work your 

way outward alternating front to back. After each cap is tightened, we turn the crank a couple of times to 

make sure that the resistance hasn't suddenly increased dramatically. If it suddenly becomes much 

harder to spin the crank, you know something is wrong and can go back and fix it before getting too far 

along in the build. 

Once the crank is all tightened up, it's time to install the pistons. The block is rotated on the stand and 

everything is lubed up prior to insertion. Again the crank is turned to ensure that nothing is hanging up. 

This is followed by the oil pan, timing chain, oil pump and the rest of the bottom end. The oil passages of 

the pan and pump are checked before installation to make sure that no parts or chips got in there to 

block oil flow, something that's especially important for a high performance engine such as the LS9. In 

fact, throughout the build process, everything is checked and double checked to make sure the engine is 

right before it gets to the cold test at the end. 

Once the bottom end is buttoned up, the LS9 turned right side up again to install the cylinder heads. 

Because of the high pressures generated inside the supercharged LS9, GM went with seven-layer head 

gaskets and larger 12 mm bolts to keep the cylinders sealed tight. After the lifters, push-rods and rockers 

are installed it's time for the supercharger. 

General Motors classifies the surfaces of all parts of a car as 1, 2 or 3. Class 3 surfaces are those that are 

never actually visible to the customer, like the back side of the dashboard. Class 1 surfaces are visible like 

the body panels and care must be taken to make sure they don't have any scratches or other blemishes. 

Among all GM engines, the only class 1 surface is the LS9 intercooler cover because it's visible through 

the hood window. 

The supercharger and intercooler come into the PBC already assembled as a unit. Once we bolt it into 

the valley, a cardboard cover is placed on top to make sure it doesn't get scratched. With the blower in 

place, it's time to check the LS9 for leaks. Hoses are hooked up to all of the external connections and both 

positive and negative pressure are applied to the engine for a couple of minutes. Thankfully our LS9 

passed the leak test with flying colors.

Once an engine passes the leak test, it's time for the builder to apply his name tag. Since we were only a 

temp at PBC, you won't find any LS9 engines with an Autoblog logo on them. However, if you buy a 2010 

ZR1 and find a plaque with Mike Armstrong's name on the side of the intercooler, it could well be the 

one we helped put together. 

At the final station we hook up the engine lift and unbolt the power-plant from the build stand. Once the 

engine is free, we can complete the last step of the assembly process, which is the installation of the 

flywheel and dual plate clutch. The LS9 gets a 260 mm-diameter clutch with two plates that allows for a 

lower effort to disengage and less inertia than a larger single plate unit. That all helps to make the ZR1 

much more drivable in the real world. 

From the assembly loop, the engines head over to the cold test and balancer stands. On the cold test 

stand, the engine is spun up electrically to check items like the compression, water pump, oil pump, etc. 

On the balance stand, the fuel line is connected for the first time and exhaust pipes are clamped onto the 

headers. The engine is fired up and run briefly on natural gas to check for vibrations caused by weight 

imbalances. If necessary, weights are added to the front crank damper and the flywheel to smooth things 

out. 

Once the vibrations have been negated, the engines go through a final visual inspection before being 

loaded on racks and getting trucked south to Bowling Green for installation into new Corvettes. 

We want to thank Mike Armstrong for his patience in answering our questions and guiding us through 

the build process at PBC. After seeing how the LS3, LS7 and LS9 are built at the Wixom Performance 

Build Center, we have even more respect for these high-end Corvettes. Going into the 2010 American Le 

Mans Series, the GT2 Corvette C6.R will be switching from its current 6.0-liter V8 to a new 5.5-liter unit 

based on the next generation small block. Last summer Corvette Racing manager Doug Fehan revealed 

that these new GT2 engines would be built in Wixom right alongside the road going engines, a major 

coup for the staff there. Congratulations to them and keep up the great work.

Collard Joins Corvette Racing as Endurance Driver in the #4 C6.R 

Corvette Racing has announced the signing of Frenchman Emmanuel Collard to its stable of drivers. The 

veteran GT/Prototype driver will join Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta in the #4 Corvette C6.R ZR1 for 

the endurance races at Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. Collard will be replacing Marcel Fassler 

who was hired by Audi to co-drive one of its R15 TDIs this year at Le Mans. 

Collard has driven for GM before. Back in 2000-2002 he was behind the wheel of the now defunct 

Cadillac LMP program. More recently, he has been employed as a factory driver for Porsche where he 

racked up a string of impressive victories at Sebring, Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 

the Spa 24. 

"I'm very happy to join Corvette Racing for the 2010 endurance classics," Collard said. "Corvette has been 

the most successful car make and team in GT racing for over ten years now, so I'm obviously thrilled to be a 

part of this team. The Corvette C5-R and C6.R have been the absolute benchmarks in GT1 racing, and the 

new GT2 Corvette C6.R is already heading in that same successful direction. I hope my experience with 

GT2s from the past seasons can help Corvette secure class wins in the 

three endurance races." 

"We are pleased to welcome Emmanuel back to the GM Racing 

family," said Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan. "He has 

proven his ability at all levels of racing, and he understands the 

demands and discipline of endurance racing. He will be a valuable 

addition to our international lineup of championship-winning drivers." 

Collard is expected to get his first seat time behind the wheel of the 

ZR1-based Corvette C6.R GT later this month during a closed 

practice session at Sebring. His first race will be the 12 Hours of 

Sebring in March. 

As for the driver lineup in the #3 Corvette C6.R, Johnny O'Connell 

and Jan Magnussen will once again be joined by Antonio Garcia for 

the three enduro races. 

Auction Results: Mecum's Kissimmee Corvette Auction Pulls In $6.7 Million in Sales 

Mecum's Collector Car Auction made its annual pilgrimage to Central Florida's Kissimmee auction last 

weekend. Florida's temperate January weather makes this auction a favorite and by most accounts, the 

auction was a huge success. Record attendance was on-hand to watch 147 Corvettes cross the auction 

block over four days and everyone must have been buying as Mecum achieved a sales success rate of 81% 

to total $6.7 million in Corvette sales. 

Two 1967 427/435 hp Corvette convertibles tied for the high Corvette selling price of the auction at 

$180,000. Lot #135 is a matching numbers Sunfire Yellow/Black Corvette previously owned by Brad 

Whitford of Aerosmith. The highly optioned big-block 

features NCRS, Bloomington and Vette Fest Triple 

Crown awards. Lot #160 is "old 435", an original 

condition number's matching big block that was the 

basis for establishing the Bloomington Gold "Survivor" 

award. Bloomington Gold's David Borroughs used the 

original and unmolested Corvette to demonstrate the 

survivor award concept and standards. In addition to its 

Survivor status, the Corvette also received the NCRS 

Chevrolet Bowtie Award.

One of the most popular questions among Corvette owners is "how should I prepare my Corvette for 

long-term or winter storage? This age old question is just like the typical "which type of aftermarket 

exhaust system should I install" question. You're bound to get five hundred different answers and all of 

them could be different. Some people will tell you to completely drain the fuel tank and others will tell 

you not to do this. Some owners will tell you to put your Vette up on blocks and others will tell you not to. 

Above all of the uncertainty and mythical storage remedies you've heard of, you are sure of one thing: 

you want your Corvette to receive the very best care possible. 

So what is the proper way to prepare your Corvette for long-term storage? The answer really depends 

upon the length of time the car will be in storage. To help us gain some insight into some of the more 

controversial issues such as engine and suspension preparation, we spoke with General Motors 

Powertrain Engineers and Guldstrand Motorsports. This article addresses some of the uncertainty that 

revolves around proper long-term storage and will hopefully give you a better sense of confidence and 

security in knowing that your pride and joy has been properly prepared. 

• General Washing 

Before placing your Corvette in long-term storage, be sure to properly wash the exterior in order 

to remove any environmental fallout from the paint such as bird droppings, tree sap, bugs, etc. 

Some of this fallout can be acidic and leave permanent marks in your Corvette's clearcoat. 

• Clean the tires and wheels 

This is one area that is often overlooked in terms of the quality of cleaning. The rubber in the tires 

is prone to oxidative stress due to road grime and ultraviolet rays from the sun. This oxidation can 

be seen in the form of a dark yellowish dirt that clings to the sidewalls of the tires. Using a soft 

brush and soapy water, scrub the tires to remove any built up oxidation and road grime. Once the 

tires are cleaned and dried, apply a good quality tire dressing. 

o Solvent vs. Water Based Tire Dressings 

Most tire dressings are either water-based or solvent-based. Each type uses silicone which 

is the key ingredient that gives tires that shiny, wet look. The more silicone in the product, 

the shinier the tire will be after application. Solvent based dressings work by soaking into 

the rubber, thus pulling the silicone in with them. This type of dressing tends to be more 

durable and last longer, however they also tend to pull the "black" out of the rubber and 

change the composition of the rubber with extended use over time. Because of this, some 

tire companies will actually void your warranty if you use a high volume, solvent based 

silicone product on their tires. Water-based dressings sit on the surface of the tire and do 

not pull the silicone into the rubber as solvent-based dressings do. They will provide the 

same quality shine as the solvent based products do, but they are not as durable and will 

not last as long. 

Brake dust can accumulate on the wheels and over time, can permanently stain the wheel finish if 

the wheels are painted and/or clear coated. There are several different brands of wheel cleaners 

on the market. Make sure that if your wheels are clear coated, you use a wheel cleaner that 

specifically states that it's safe to use on clear coated wheels. Because most wheels cleaners are 

caustic and harmful to brake components, be sure to never spray the wheel cleaner directly on the 

wheel. Instead, dampen a cleaning cloth with the wheel cleaner first and then apply. 

o Flat Spotting 

These days, flat spotting isn't as much of an issue as it was years ago. Due to changes in 

composition and technology, today's tires are less prone to flat spotting than they were 

back in the days when '67 big blocks were prowling the streets. Any flat spotting that does 

occur to today's tire usually disappears within 20-30 minutes of normal driving time at 

normal highway speeds.

o Regardless, some of the owners we spoke to prefer to place their cars on jack stands in 

order to remove the constant pressure on the tires. Some owners don't like to do this 

because they feel that it places the car's suspension in an unnatural state that when 

combined with the added weight of the tires and wheels, could cause permanent damage to 

the suspension over time. To help settle this dispute, we went to the leading authority on 

Corvette suspension design and engineering, Guldstrand Motorsports. "We suggest that 

when people put their cars away for the winter months, they put the cars on stands and 

remove and bag the tires. This prevents any moisture from having harmful effects [on the 

tires]. Allowing the suspension to hang is really the least of their worries, and is not 

detrimental" said Dave Tillotson, Guldstrand's Operations Director. 

o Some owners feel that specially designed tire cradles, tiles, plastic forms or pieces of cardboard 

under the tires help to prevent flat-spotting and some owners don't. Most of this is trial and error 

and there is no easy way to determine what works and what doesn't. It's mostly based upon 

experience and personal preference. 

One method that has proven reliable to this author in the past is to over-inflate the tires to the 

maximum allowed pressure specified on the sidewall of the tires by the tire manufacturer. By 

over-inflating the tires, you're hindering their pliability and increasing their resistance to flatten. 

Just make sure to deflate the tires to the recommended normal operating pressure before 

driving. 

• Polish and Wax 

After a thorough wash, apply a good quality polish and wax to your Corvette's paint. Contrary to popular 

belief, there is a difference between a polish and a wax. A polish (also known as "glaze") contains a 

small amount of abrasives that actually remove a thin layer of clear coat or paint off the surface. Some 

manufacturers include oils and nutrients in their polishes that they claim help to nourish the paint and 

prevent oxidation from occurring. A wax does not contain any abrasives and seals the paint therefore 

protecting your Corvette's finish. It provides a protective layer to prevent exposure to the elements and 

related fallout. A good rule of thumb is to apply a coat of polish and then seal that with one or two coats 

of wax. 

For applying and removing the wax and polish, make sure to use 100% cotton terrycloth hand towels 

that are made in the United States. Although the manufacturer tags on some hand towels will indicate 

that they are made of 100% cotton, some foreign countries have different regulations when it comes to 

the amount of cotton and other fibers used in the composition of their towels. These other fibers, such 

as polyester can leave tiny scratches in the clear coat. In order to keep your polishing towels clean, do 

not use laundry detergents or fabric softeners. Even though your towels may feel nice and soft, fabric 

softeners contain oils that give them that soft touch. When applied to your Corvette's finish, these oils 

can leave a milky, cloudy haze on the surface of the paint. This oily layer smears easily when wiped and 

proves difficult to remove without the use of a "paint cleaner". Keep in mind that a lot of laundry 

detergents come with fabric softeners mixed in, so make sure you read the ingredients prior to use. 

• Exterior Trim 

Another frequently overlooked area to prepare is the exterior trim components of your Corvette. These 

include, weather-stripping, door hinges, hood latches and release pawls, pivots, and spring anchors. 

For the weather-stripping, use a non-solvent based, silicone lubricant or grease. Mequiars Vinyl and 

Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner is one example and GM Goodwrench Dielectric Silicone Grease (part no. 

12345579) is another. If you choose to use the silicone grease, apply a small amount to the weatherstripping 

using your fingers. Wipe off any excess with a clean rag. 

For the door hinges, hood latches and related hardware, use Lubriplate Lubricant (GM part no. 

12346293). This is similar to white lithium grease which can be applied using your fingers. If you can't 

find this product at your local Chevrolet parts department, try GM SuperLube (GM part no. 12346241). 

This lubricant is similar to WD-40 and contains teflon. 

• Interior Care 

The cleanliness of your Corvette's interior is just as important as the exterior prior to long-term storage. 

The most important parts of your interior are the leather surfaces. These usually consist of the seats, 

steering wheel, shifter knob and boot. During the summer, leather surfaces tend to become very hot 

during extended periods of sun exposure. As a result, you're bound to sweat a little when you first sit 

down in your Corvette. Sweat is very acidic and over time, can prematurely age your leather seating 

surfaces if they go untreated. That's why it's important to choose a high quality leather cleaner and/or 

conditioner for the leather components of the interior. Several companies, including Meguiars and Lexol, 

make excellent products that are easy to apply and most of these can be found in your local automotive

supply store. Make sure you read the directions that come with each product before use. 

• To prevent moisture buildup and possible mold formation on interior components, you may want to 

consider adding desiccant (a chemical that removes moisture from the air) to various parts of your 

interior. Companies such as Beach Filter Products, Inc., Ecklers Corvette Parts and Accessories, and 

MidAmerica Designs, Inc supply special pouches of desiccant that can easily be placed in foot wells, 

seats and rear cargo hatch areas. 

• Engine Care 

Another common area of misconception is proper engine storage. Some of the confusion comes from the 

fact that the Corvette has been around for almost 50 years. During those 50 years, automotive 

technology and electronics have experienced enormous growth and change. As a result, different 

generations of Corvette have different needs when it comes to care and maintenance. 

Based upon conversations we had with owners of both old and new Corvettes, the majority of owners of 

Corvettes prior to the 1984 model year prefer to remove their spark plugs and squirt a small amount of 

motor oil into the cylinders. In order to understand why they do this, you need to understand the 

general purpose of an engine lubricant. 

The main function of motor oil is to reduce friction between two metal surfaces in motion. Some of these 

metal surfaces can have microscopic high points or peaks. When these metal surfaces rub together, 

enough heat can be produced to actually weld those peaks together. The peaks can be broken off, 

dragged and re-welded over and over again. This is known as scuffing, which can eventually cause 

permanent engine damage. 

Over time, the lubricant film that lines the cylinder walls underneath the piston, gradually recedes 

leaving the walls exposed. As the piston travels up and down the cylinder upon startup, a few critical 

seconds exist where two metal surfaces are rubbing together without proper lubrication. You now have 

an ideal environment for scuffing to occur. To prevent this, owners believe that removing the spark 

plugs and squirting a small amount of oil into each cylinder can help prevent this from occurring. It all 

seems to make sense, right? 

If it did, we would expect the owners of newer Corvettes to practice this same method. Not so. Based 

upon conversations with owners of 1984 Corvettes and up, other than changing the oil and filter, 

removing the spark plugs and adding a small amount of oil to each cylinder was rarely mentioned. This 

could be due to several possibilities. Are the spark plugs much harder to reach on an LT1 or LS1 engine 

as compared to an old 1968 L36 big block? Or has technology advanced far enough that today's engines 

are able to stay lubricated longer during extended periods of inactivity? To help us understand the 

proper way to prepare an engine for long-term storage, we spoke to David A. Scott, Senior Service 

Engineer, at General Motors Service Parts Operations. He suggested that if an engine is to be stored for 

nine months or longer, "remove the spark plugs and add approximately one (1) ounce of engine oil to 

each cylinder. The engine should be rotated just after adding the oil to the cylinders. The purpose of this 

step is to coat the cylinder bore to protect against rust formation during storage. Also note, this 

procedure is repeated after extended (18 months and longer) storage before start up. These steps were 

recommended by both the Base Systems Engineer and the Fuels and Lubricants Engineer." 

o Battery 

Owners of older Corvettes usually unplug and sometimes remove their batteries during long 

periods of storage which they feel works well for them. If you choose to remove the battery, do 

not place the battery directly on a concrete floor. Concrete has a tendency to discharge a battery 

which is the exact same thing you're trying to avoid by leaving it connected to the car. Use a 

piece of wood between the battery and the floor. Because batteries produce hydrogen gas which 

is flammable, do not store the battery where it will be exposed to open flame, or where it is 

exposed to children. 

Some owners of newer Corvettes (1984 to the present) feel that battery disconnection and/or 

removal isn't a good idea given the large amount of onboard circuits in newer Corvettes. They 

prefer to use a "Battery Tender". The Battery Tender, produced by Halon Marketing, Inc., is a 

1.25 amp battery charger capable of fully charging a battery and maintaining the batteries 

optimal charge. The unit is small, compact and comes with a 5-year warranty from the 

manufacturer. 

We asked David Scott at GM if battery disconnection was a viable option for newer Corvettes. 

"Actually, it is because there are circuits using power when the vehicle is "off". Without a 

"Battery Tender" as you mentioned, the circuits would drain a battery in about 30 - 40 days. 

General Motors does not require / mandate that an owner have a charger going. We have 

typically recommended disconnecting the battery."

o Fluid Levels 

Make sure to top off all fluid levels. These include coolant, brake fluid, clutch/transmission fluid 

and most importantly, oil and fuel. Over time, motor oil can become contaminated by dust, 

condensation, and even antifreeze and metallic shavings. Some motor oils contain additives 

which can break down over time and also act as contaminants. As these contaminants 

accumulate in the oil, sludge can form which will gradually adhere to internal engine 

components, causing your engine to perform less efficiently. Left long enough, this sludge can 

cause permanent engine damage. Combustion gases can also accumulate in the oil that will 

gradually lower the pH of your oil making it more acidic. Even if you only put 1,000 miles on your 

Corvette per year, make sure that you always change your oil and filter before placing it in longterm 

storage. 

To do this, start and run the engine until it is brought up to normal operating temperature. If 

your Corvette is equipped with air-conditioning, the AC unit should be operated during this final 

engine warm-up to lubricate the compressor seal. Drain the oil and replace the filter. Refill with 

the type of oil recommended in your factory owner's manual. Last but not least, if you own a 

newer Corvette equipped with the engine oil life monitor, remember to reset the "Change Oil 

Light" as instructed in your owner's manual. 

o Fuel Stabilizer 

Another important step is to make sure you top off the fuel in the tank and add a fuel stabilizer. 

Some owners prefer to completely drain the fuel tank and lines, but this may be an open 

invitation for condensation to build within the fuel system causing premature corrosion. Most 

fuel stabilizers, such as Stabil, can be purchased at any mainstream automotive parts store. 

If your Corvette is carbureted, you should drain the carburetors of any residual gasoline. 

Remaining gasoline can evaporate and turn into a varnish that can coat and eventually clog the 

internal parts of a carburetor. 

o Mothballs 

One of the biggest problems with long-term automotive storage is rodents. Depending on how 

secure the facility is that you store your Corvette in, one fact remains.... it's a source of 

protection from the elements for both your Corvette and those furry little critters. Most owners 

don't realize it, but certain brands of spark plug wires can become a meal for mice. Some brands 

(including GM brands) consist of a silicone inner jacket that surrounds the carbon suppression 

core. The silicone inner jacket is then surrounded by a vegetable oil based insulating outer shell 

which mice find particularly appetizing. To help prevent them from making a meal out of your 

Corvette's ignition system, place some mothballs in and around the engine compartment, but 

remember to remove them before starting up the car! 

o Exhaust System 

Mice and other small rodents like to build nests in very small spaces and your Corvette's exhaust 

tips and mufflers make a perfect home. Use a couple small face cloths and rubber bands to seal 

off the exhaust tips on your Corvette. Simply cover the opening of each tail pipe with the towel 

and wrap a rubber band around it. 

• Car Cover 

"Should I cover my Corvette while it's in storage and if so, what's the best type of cover to use?" This is 

one of the most commonly asked questions when it's time to store your Corvette. The answer depends 

upon where the car will be stored. If it's stored within a garage or similar shelter, it's not necessary 

unless the car will be stored for an extended period of time and you would like to keep the dust off of it. 

If the car is stored outdoors, it is recommended that you keep the car covered. Remember to periodically 

remove the cover, especially after a soaking rain, so that air has a chance to circulate and properly dry 

the car and cover. 

The type of cover you should use, again depends upon where the car will be stored. If it's stored indoors, 

a simple cotton based cover is sufficient to keep dust off the car. If it's stored outdoors, you should 

consider using a Dupont Tyvek or Evolution-3 type weatherproof cover to protect against the elements. 

These covers can usually be found at either your local automotive parts store, or through mail order 

companies. 

• Engine Start 

Last but not least: "Should I start my Corvette periodically, or leave it alone until it's ready to come out 

of storage?" This is definitely the most commonly asked question when it comes to automotive storage 

and there seems to be two opposing sides. One side feels that you should start your car at least once per 

month and let it run for a good 20 minutes plus until the cooling fans kick in. The other side feels that 

you should leave the car alone until it's time to remove it from storage. Again, we asked David Scott at 

GM. "It is always best to start your vehicle once a month if possible." When this is not practical, David 

offers the following guidelines:

Vehicle Storage of 9 months or less: 

• Change oil and filter 

• Store vehicle with full fuel tank using winter fuel - available nationwide after Oct. 1 (Higher Vapor Pressure) 

• Disconnect negative battery cable 

To prepare vehicle for use: 

• Change oil and filter (eliminates moisture in crankcase) 

• Charge battery 

• Connect battery cable 

Vehicle Storage of 9 months to 18 months: 


• Store vehicle with full fuel tank and use a fuel stability additive 

• Remove the spark plugs and add approximately one (1) ounce of engine oil to each cylinder. Install spark plugs and 

rotate engine. 






Vehicle Storage of 18 months and longer: 





• Drain the fuel system 







• Fuel vehicle 

Hopefully, this article has provided you with some valuable information to help you better prepare your Corvette for longterm 

or winter storage. The long winter months when we can't drive our Corvettes may be long and brutal for some of us, but 

it doesn't have to be for your Corvette!

Corvettes Line Up for the Chicago Auto Show Corvette - Totally Totaled 

"The Supercharged 638 hp Corvette 

ZR1 with two Grand Sports" 

2011 Corvette Z06 to Get New Goodyear Eagle F1 Tires 

Goodyear's latest Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires will be factory fitted on the 2011 Corvette Z06. The new Ultra-High 

Performance (UHP) tire is described as "Street-refined, but track-capable". The tire has been tested on road 

courses throughout North America and will be available this summer. 

The new Goodyears will be available in two run-flat sizes: P275/35ZR18 and P325/30ZR19. 

Goodyear's Bob Toth describes the UHP Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires: 

With a left-side, right-side specific tread design, it offers superb dry traction and precise handling." He notes that 

"serrated band sidewall styling and distinctive lettering add to the overall ultra-performance look." 

"An asymmetric, directional tread design with massive tread blocks on the outboard shoulder help enhance dry 

cornering grip, while sweeping Aquachannel grooves on the inboard side of the tread help enhance wet cornering 

grip," Toth says. "An innovative multi-radius mold shape helps to offer precise handling and smooth, even wear." 

Without knowing too much of what goes on behind the scenes at GM when it comes to picking tires, the outcome 

has to be considered good news for US-based Goodyear. Michelin has made in-roads into Corvette's factory over 

the last couple of years based on its success on the track with Corvette Racing. In 2008, Michelin was selected as 

the official factory fitted tire for the Corvette ZR1.

Corvettes on eBay: The 1968/74 Delmo Johnson Race Car 

Texas legend Delmo Johnson is one of the pioneers of Corvette road racing with a 

career that goes back to the early days. His lengthy list of significant Corvette 

racers he has piloted include Grand Sports #003 and #004 and C1 and C2 

Corvettes raced under the Gulf Oil banner. In the early 1990's, after many years 

in retirement, some friends encouraged him to come out and race one more time 

and this 1968/74 Corvette was his ride. 

The car started its life in 1968 and was immediately put on the track. Based on the 

pieced-together history, it appears the car went off the track several times during its racing career. Carbuilder 

Jeff Weymouth reconstructed the Corvette in 1975 and Fred Whitehead drove it to 2nd place in the 

1978 SCCA National Championships. Its final major off-track excursion came at Road Atlanta in 1982 with 

driver Alan Sevadjian at the wheel. The throttle stuck and the Corvette flipped many times. Sevadjian 

emerged unscathed. 

The car was rebuilt prepped to 1974 IMSA/SCCA GT1 specs by Alan Sevadjian's Texas shop and was 

financed by Houston developer Gerry Chalmers, a 30-year SCCA competitor, without regard to costs. 

The car was later acquired by Texas race team owner John Mecom. Mecom's own history with the Grand 

Sports is also legendary as he led the "privateer" effort with lightweight racers at Nassau in 1963. Delmo had 

driven for Mecom in the Grand Sports, and Delmo persuaded Mecom to part with the Corvette. 

The Corvette is powered by a 366 ci Chevy small block pro-built racing engine. It is equipped with dry-sump 

lubrication, and accessories are state of the art and driven by cog belts. Other specs include an allsynchromesh 

close-ratio Borg Warner Super T-10 aluminum-case transmission, limited-slip rear axle, 

aluminum radiator, oil, transmission, and power-steering coolers, competition gauges, and an onboard Halon 

fire system. 

Delmo last raced the car in the Corinthian Vintage Racing Club in 1997 and it has not turned a wheel in 

anger since. It has just been restored cosmetically, has a fresh engine and is ready for competition or for just 

blowing off steam on track day. 

The 1974 IMSA GT1 cars are the newest and among the fastest in vintage racing. Delmo Johnson and Alan 

Sevadjian have both signed the Corvette and other documentation comes with the car. 

The Delmo Johnson Corvette is being offered on ebay with a "Buy-it-Now" price of $79,000. Interestingly, the 

Corvette was last seen for sale in May 2009 at Worldwide's Houston Auction where it sold for $44,000, 

including buyer’s premium.

Corvette Lands on Pole Wire After Collision 

This C6 Corvette ends up precariously balanced on a telephone support wire following a collision with 

another car. The accident took place in Fountain Valley California last week. There were no injuries but 

the Corvette was messed up pretty bad. 

Here is the account from the OCRegister.com: 

FOUNTAIN VALLEY - Not often do you see a 

Corvette balancing precariously on a telephone 

wire. But motorists on Warner Avenue near 

Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley got a look 

at the peculiar sight Monday morning. 

About 11 a.m., a Corvette traveling westbound 

on Warner approaching Magnolia collided with 

a car trying to turn left into a hand car wash 

business, said Fountain Valley police Lt. Ken 

Hounsley. The force of the collision caused the 

sports car to land back-end up on a telephone 

pole support wire. There were no injuries, 

according to Hounsley. 

Corvette C7 Rendering by Avarvarii 

Here is an interesting unofficial rendering of the C7 Corvette by designer Andrei Avarvarii that takes 

some of the best features of the Transformer's Stingray Concept and morphs them with the best features 

of the C6. From the Stingray concept, we see the reworked grill area, sloping hood and high fender lines. 

We can't tell if this rendering has a spilt rear window, but since GM's Global Design Chief Ed Welburn 

says is coming, we'll patiently wait for 2012 when the real C7 is expected to arrive.

Corvette Racing Receives GT2 Invites to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 

It's official. The two factory-sponsored 

Corvette C6.Rs have received 

invitations to join the ultra-competitive 

GT2 class this June for the 78th 

running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The C6.Rs will battle a who's who of 

sports car racing teams and 

manufacturers including Porsche, 

Ferrari, BMW and Jaguar in the 

crowded class featuring 17 entries. 

To get to Le Mans, winning one of the 

endurance races like the 12 Hours of 

Sebring or Petit Le Mans at Road 

Atlanta, or winning the class 

championship will get you an automatic 

invite. Otherwise, you need an invitation from the ACO. Although Corvette won last year at Sebring, 

it was with the GT1 car in the GT1 class. So getting to France this year wasn't automatic as in year's 

past for Corvette Racing. 

Luckily (or perhaps I should say skillfully), the GT2 Corvettes proved themselves worthy of an invite 

by posting five podium finishes and winning its first GT2 race at Mosport. In the series' final five 

races, Corvette Racing scored more team and manufacturer points than any other GT2 entry, and 

O'Connell and Magnussen tallied the most points in the GT2 drivers championship. 

It's also true that Team Corvette's program manager Doug Fehan has a good relationship with the 

ACO and I am sure he impressed upon them to remember just how popular the Corvettes are in 

France, as well as the large enthusiast base that will tune in to watch America's sports car compete in 

the new class. 

Here is the provisional GT2 class: 

• Corvette Racing (USA) - #63 - Corvette C6 ZR1 

• Corvette Racing (USA) - #64 - Corvette C6 ZR1 

• Prospeed Competition (BEL) - #75 - PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 

• IMSA Performance MATMUT (FRA) - #76 - PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 

• Team Felbermayr-Proton (DEU) - #77 - PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 

• BMW Motorsport (DEU) - #78 - BMW E92 M3 

• BMW Motorsport (DEU) - #79 - BMW E92 M3 

• Flying Lizard Motorsport (USA) - #80 - PORSCHE 911 GT3 RSR (997) 

• Jaguar RSR (USA) - #81 - Jaguar XKRS 

• RISI Competizione (USA) - #82 - Ferrari F 430 GT 

• RISI Competizione (USA) - #83 - Ferrari F 430 GT 

• Modena Group Racing (GBR) - #84 - Ferrari F 430 GT 

• Spyker Squadron (NLD) - #85 - Spyker C8 Laviolette 

• Hankook - Team Farnbacher (DUE) - #89 - Ferrari F 430 GT 

• JMW Motorsport (GBR) - #92 - Aston Martin Vantage 

• AF Corse SRL (ITA) - #96 - Ferrari F 430 GT 

• BMS Scuderia Italia SPA (ITA) - #97 - Porsche 911 GT3 RSR 

The 78th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place June 12-13th.

January 2010 Corvette Sales 

The first sales report of the new year hit yesterday and the 

good news is that Corvette sales are up 1.4% over last year. 

January 2010 deliveries totaled 854 - 12 Corvettes more than 

the 842 sold in January 2009. Historically, Corvette sales 

tend to a breather in January anyway so we are okay with 

this number. The other significant number for the month is 

the availability of the Corvette ZR1. National inventories of 

the supercharged ZR1 have grown by 27% to 191 units. 

Despite the rising inventories for the ZR1, the numbers for 

all Corvettes available continues to drop. Applying the 

principles of supply and demand, we believe the one good thing to come from the automotive recession is 

how GM took aggressive steps to bring its inventories under tighter control. In January 2009, over 9,058 

Corvettes were available at dealers. Today that figure has shrunk to 2,561 Corvettes. 

2010 Corvette Delivery Statistics 

Month Calendar Year-to-Date 

Month 2010 2009 % 

% 

Months 2010 2009 

Change Change 

January 854 842 1.4% Jan-Jan 854 842 1.4% 



Month 2009 2008 % 

% 

Months 2009 2008 

Change Change 

January 842 2,015 -58.2% Jan-Jan 842 2,015 -58.2% 

February 1,027 2,071 -50.4% Jan-Feb 1,869 4,086 -54.3% 

March 1,183 2,692 -56.1% Jan- 

Mar 

3,052 6,778 -55.0% 

April 1,407 3,190 -55.9% Jan-Apr 4,459 9,968 -55.3% 

May 1,643 2,904 -43.4% Jan- 

May 

6,102 12,872 -52.6% 

June 1,396 2,082 -32.9% Jan-Jun 7,498 14,954 -49.9% 

July 966 1,870 -48.3% Jan-Jul 8,464 16,824 -49.7% 

Aug 746 4,242 -82.4% Jan-Aug 9,210 21,066 -56.3% 

Sept 1,585 2,318 -31.6% Jan- 

Sept 

10,795 23,384 -53.8% 

Oct 1,154 1,170 -1.4% Jan-Oct 11,949 24,554 -51.3% 

Nov 952 1,093 -12.9% Jan-Nov 12,901 25,647 -49.7% 

Dec 1,033 1,324 -22.0% Jan-Nov 13,934 26,971 -48.3%

The Corvette in a high-mileage future 

New fuel economy rules won't kill the performance car, chief engineer says, 

but the 'Vette will need to adapt. 

Tadge Juechter, General Motors' chief engineer for the Chevrolet Corvette, wants to set one 

thing straight: the Corvette is here to stay. 

"It's my job to make sure that Corvettes do not go away. 

New legislation requires a nationwide new car fuel economy average of 35 miles per gallon by 

2010. That means the Corvette will have to change, Juechter said. It won't have to get 35 miles 

per gallon, of course, but it will have to do its part to raise the average. 

The challenge will be to make sure needed changes don't damage the image of a car that's 

important to its legions of fans and to GM's corporate image. 

The Corvette has been a performance flagship for GM since its introduction in 1953. It's also 

been a value flagship for the Chevrolet brand with performance that matches European sports 

cars costing twice as much. 

Juechter's task will be maintain both sides of the Corvette's brand promise - high performance 

and low price - while also dealing with the increased fuel economy requirements. 

It won't be easy because the Corvette is already a closet fuel-efficiency freak. A highperformance 

sports car that puts out 430 horsepower from a 6.2 liter V8 engine, the 'Vette's 

estimated highway fuel economy of 26 mpg is actually better than some 4-cylinder sports cars 

including the Pontiac Solstice and Honda S2000. 

Corvette engineers could simply cut back on all that engine power. Packing 430 horsepower - 

a number bumped up from 400 in just the last model year - the 'Vette would seem to have 

some to spare. But a horsepower cutback would be an absolute last resort, Juechter said, 

something he would accept "kicking and screaming." 

If power had to be cut back, engineers would find ways to lighten the car even more, he said, 

preserving the all-important power-to-weight ratio. 

"We expect that we will be able to continue to improve performance," Juechter said. 

Reducing weight could mean increased use of lighter materials like aluminum, special alloys 

and composites and even carbon fiber, which has a large role in the ZR1 super 'Vette. 

Those materials are expensive, though, which threatens to undermine that other key Corvette 

appeal - its price. 

"How do you do that at a reasonable cost that our customers will understand?" Juechter 

asked.

The new ZR1 also uses supercharging, a system that pumps air into the engine's cylinders to 

create higher pressure. That will allow it to get nearly 200 more horsepower out of the samesized 

engine used in the base Corvette. 

You might think a similar solution could be used on a smaller, more fuel efficient engine to 

match the, or even beat, the power output of the current base Corvette's V8. Perhaps a future 

Corvette could pack a V6 under the hood. 

Not so fast, said Juechter. 

First of all, superchargers are heavy and use significant engine power to run. Turbochargers, 

which use turbines spun by exhaust gases, are lighter and sap less power, but they're still 

complex and costly. 

Plus, turbochargers take a moment to respond to a push on the gas pedal - a phenomenon 

known as "turbo lag" - and that's not something drivers want on a race track, Juechter said, 

where many Corvette owners like to run their cars. 

Besides, the Corvette's big V8 engine makes sense for cost reasons, according to Juechter, 

since its basic design is shared with many GM trucks. And Corvette owners simply expect a 

V8 so, while he won't rule out eventually using a V6 engine, that decision would require some 

very serious economic and performance justification. It would 

not go down easily with the Corvette faithful. 

In the end, the solution to the Corvette fuel economy puzzle 

may have to involve trade-offs between performance and price 

to meet the needs of greater efficiency. In the end, Corvette 

buyers may have to accept that a more fuel-efficient sports 

car will cost a little more. 

One thing you probably won't see for a long time, said 

Juechter, will be another beast as extreme as the ZR1. GM 

engineers will be occupied with more mundane tasks, like 

how to squeeze more mileage out of family cars and 

crossover SUVs. 

"I doubt many manufacturers are scratching their heads trying 

to think up ways to do more 600 horsepower cars" he said. 

In the meanwhile, Juechter says he'll make sure the Corvette itself doesn't become too tame.

Velocity Raptor 

Each year, Continental Tires invites Europe’s top car tuners to southern Italy for its Nardo High 

Performance Event. The competition is simple: The team that sets the highest top speed wins. 

Modified Porsches have dominated the event, with other German brands usually filling up the rest of 

the leader board. This year, however, an American car is vying for overall honors—a Chevrolet 

Corvette Z06. 

Munich, Germany’s Geiger Cars has been specializing in American vehicles since 1979. Though 

it imports new and used cars and sells many of them as-is, Geiger is best known for its modified 

machines—and it pulled out all the stops with the Corvette it brought to Nardo. The factory “Z06 505 

HP” badges on its flanks no longer tell the truth: They are pessimistic to the tune of 385 horsepower. 

While the Geiger Z06 Bi-Turbo’s claimed 890 bhp is bested by the 1,000 ponies of the 9ff-modified 

Porsche 911 Turbo, the Corvette, with its lurid Kermit-green paint scheme, is definitely the most eyecatching 

machine present. Will it be the fastest? 

Speaking to one of the Geiger mechanics, we learn that the Bi-Turbo did not start off as an 

official part of the Bavarian company’s Corvette tuning program. Instead, like the ZR1, it was 

envisioned and built by a couple of engineers in their spare time. When the conversion was finished, 

company boss Karl Geiger was so impressed with the car’s ballistic performance, he sanctioned its 

use for publicity work, including this Nardo shoot-out. 

Not surprisingly, the biggest changes to the car were made in the engine compartment. The stock 

Z06’s hand-built 7,001-cc LS7 V8 is already a heavily tuned version of the standard V8, with forged 

titanium connecting rods, titanium inlet valves and sodium-cooled exhaust valves. These racy 

components allow this big engine to rev to 7,000 rpm, yet the V8 produces a reliable 505 bhp all day 

long. 

When the factory came up with the idea of using a supercharger on the Corvette ZR1, it decided 

that the LS7 block was not man enough for the job, and used the 6,162-cc LS3 as starting point 

instead. This variant of the legendary small-block V8 has thicker cylinder walls to better withstand the 

higher combustion pressures of forced aspiration. 

The Geiger engineers, on the other hand, were not only confident the LS7’s cylinder walls could 

handle a blower, they felt they could be even thinner, and proceeded to bore out the V8 to a 

monstrous 7.6 liters. In the process, they fitted lightweight forged pistons, titanium valve springs and a 

more aggressive camshaft. Only then did they strap a pair of turbochargers to custom-made exhaust 

manifolds and fit a substantial intercooler down low in the nose. 

This heavy-breathing engine required a high-flow air intake system with a big 100-mm throttle 

body and a new fuel-injection system with larger pumps. Spent gases exit via a large-diameter 

exhaust system with special low-restriction catalytic converters. The final step for the engineers was 

to remap the engine computer to suit the new fuel and spark parameters. The result of all their afterhours 

hard work was 890 bhp at 6,100 rpm and 694 lbs-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. 

This huge increase in output necessitated a number of other mods. First of all, the extreme heat 

generated by the turbos required that a heavily vented hood be fitted. The redesigned nose clip, with 

its larger central opening and additional side intakes, directs cooling air to the intercooler and front 

brakes. The rear end also incorporates unique Geiger fiberglass bodywork, including a rounded tail 

piece with an integrated spoiler and a diffuser panel. In conjunction with the aggressive front splitter, 

they are said to reduce aerodynamic lift without increasing drag. The only original bodywork pieces 

left on the Z06 Bi-Turbo are the doors and rear-quarter panels. 

The Geiger crew next dismantled the Z06’s six-speed manual gearbox and rebuilt it using 

reinforced components. They then fitted a race-grade dual-disc clutch, a carbon-fiber propshaft and a 

stronger rear differential and halfshafts. 

To prepare the chassis for high-speed runs, the engineers swapped the stock suspension for 

Geiger’s fully adjustable coil-over kit, which uses a combination of H&R springs and KW dampers 

with adjustable spring platforms. The ride height is set 25 mm lower than stock, an important mod

when maximum velocity is the goal. Thicker anti-roll bars were also bolted on. Stop Tech supplied the 

enlarged brakes to help to restrain all those rampant horses underhood. The 15-inch cast-iron front 

rotors are clamped by six-piston calipers, while the 14-inch rear discs are paired with four-pot 

calipers. 

Housing the new brakes are a set of black OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels. The fronts wear 

285/30R19 tires, while the rear are swathed in ultra-wide 345/25R20s—10 mm wider than those on 

the ZR1. As with all the sports cars entered in the Nardo High Performance Event, the Geiger 

Corvette was fitted with Continental SportContact VMax rubber. These are the only production tires 

officially rated to 224 mph, which is a good thing considering Geiger calculated that its Corvette Z06 

Bi-Turbo has the power and gearing to reach 222 mph. 

Nardo is a unique testing facility. Unlike other high-speed tracks that incorporate long straights, 

Nardo is one gigantic 7.8-mile circle. Cornering forces are mitigated significantly by steep 22.5percent 

banking around the entire wide, four-lane course, but tire scrub reduces speeds somewhat, 

as do bumps. However, major manufacturers and tuners bring their cars to Nardo for another 

reason—southern Italy’s fairly stable climate allows them to test here throughout most of the year. 

The Continental event takes place in mid-December, though, and while snow is not an issue, rain 

certainly is. In 2007, the event had to start at first light to avoid the rain showers that were due midmorning. 

This year, light showers began to fall in the afternoon. Because of this, some of the tuners 

opted for a second run the following morning. 

Geiger was one of them, but for a different reason. Its green, mean, low-flying machine was 

thundering around the banking on its second of three solo laps when spilled brake fluid in the engine 

bay touched the hot exhaust manifold and ignited. The car was travelling 208.5 mph, but the driver 

stopped immediately—putting those big binders to the test—and went for the fire extinguisher. His 

quick action prevented any real damage. Still, repairs had to be made in a hurry to prepare the 

Corvette for the morning session. 

The weather improved significantly on the the second day at Nardo. Geiger completed the repairs 

on the Z06 Bi-Turbo in time for it to make a second, three-lap run. The Corvette looked to be traveling 

faster than the previous day. We could almost visualize the air molecules being shouldered aside by 

the squat, wedge-shaped Corvette as it was propelled around the track by the sheer brute force of its 

mega motor. This time, the team clocked a terminal velocity of 213.1 mph. 

This speed was good enough for third fastest among the 18 vehicles entered. The 9ff TR 1000 

blitzed all comers with its 233.4-mph run, and the Audi S4-based Hohenester HS650G hit 218.5 mph. 

When all is said and done, though, Geiger is proud of its result. At the very least, it created a Z06 

that’s faster than the 205-mph ZR1. Without the tire scrub created by the constant turning, the Z06 Bi- 

Turbo likely would have hit that 222-mph target speed. So while it may not have won this competition, 

Geiger can lay claim to building the fastest street-legal Corvette in Europe.

Official Photos of the Corvette Racing C6.Rs at Sebring Test 

The Corvette Racing team was recently in Central Florida for a private test at Sebring International 

Raceway. During the session, these official photos were taken. My favorite of the set is the one with 

Johnny O'Connell behind the wheel of a Jetstream Blue ZR1 flanked by the two Corvette C6.Rs. We also 

get a chance to see new driver Manu Collard wearing the Crossed Flags for the first time too! 

The Corvette Racing team will return to Sebring for the opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans 

series, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 20th. The ZR1-based C6.Rs will be competing in 

the aptly renamed GT (formerly GT2) class against Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Jaguar, Ford and Panoz.

VINTAGE 1960 CORVETTE POSTER AC SPARK PLUGS & THE MACO SHARK 

This vintage poster features five 1960 Corvette Roadsters 

driving in formation and poses the question: "For ten 

seconds try to imagine what owning a Corvette would be 

like..." As Corvette owners, we can agree with the 

answer: "You're close, but it's better than that!" 

In this vintage AC Spark Plugs 

magazine ad, the headline reads 

"Shark by Chevrolet - 

ACtion sparked by AC".

The Peter Max VH1 Corvette Collection is on the Move in NYC 

In 1989 VH1 held a contest where they 

gave a way 36 Corvettes - one for every 

year beginning in 1953 through 1989 - 

to a single winner. Dennis Amodeo, a 

carpenter from Long Island won the 

collection, but before taking delivery he 

sold all 36 Corvettes to Pop artist Peter 

Max who planned to use the cars for an 

art project. The project never got off 

the ground and the Corvettes ended up 

parked in a Brooklyn building where 

they were essentially forgotten. 

The VH1 Corvette Giveaway was the 

brainchild of Jim Cahill. After a pitch 

to the network in 1988 that included 

toy Corvettes as props, Cahill was 

given the green light and began assembling his collection. The Corvettes were purchased over a couple of 

months in 1988 although Cahill remembers the 1953 Corvette being one of the hardest to locate. He 

recounts there being a big auction down in Scottsdale where if you have the cash, you can get the car you 

want. The cost to assemble the collection ran $610,000. The cost of the '53 Corvette itself was $60,000. 

The VH1 contest was a rousing success with over 1.3 million entries 

received. Amodeo was notified that he won and flew out to California 

where he was given the keys to the collection by Mike Love, a member of 

the Beach Boys. It was at this time that Peter Max heard about the 

collection and then had what he calls "the biggest dream ever. I was in the 

bleachers at a football game, and suddenly these Corvettes come out of the 

tunnels." 

Peter Max bought the collection for about $500,000 and had the cars 

shipped to New York City. At the time he was busy with other projects and 

a legal battle with the IRS, so the cars just sat. After being moved a couple 

of times in those early years, the 36 Corvettes eventually wound up in the 

parking garage in Brooklyn where they remained until earlier this year. 

In 2005, Digital Corvettes founder Patrick Gramm heard about the 

collection and he and several others set off scouring Brooklyn until they 

located the cars in a former Daily News printing plant. Behind a chain link fence sat the 36 Corvettes. 

They were dirty as hell, many had flat tires and some of the more valuable roadsters like the '53 

(E53F001291) were stored with its top down, allowing over 10 years of 

dust, grime and dirt to accumulate. 

The buzz generated by the finding of the Peter Max collection was 

substantial. Gramm was very much concerned about the condition of 

the 1953 Corvette, #291 of 300 made, and offered to take it to the 

National Corvette Museum where it can cleaned up and stored 

properly until Max was ready to start the project. Other offers were 

made to allow a team of Corvette enthusiasts to come in and take car of 

the cars, but all were rebuffed.

Now comes word that the Corvette collected was recently moved. Pictures from twitter user show the 

Corvettes lined on the street as they were loaded on car haulers and taken to a new, unnamed location. Is 

Peter Max getting ready to fulfill his dream of repainting the 

Corvettes and then displaying them at Giants or Yankees Stadium? 

Peter Max has signaled that he is ready to start moving forward on 

the project, although he now says the paining of the Corvettes will be 

more subtle than originally planned. I’m going to paint them so it’s 

respectful,” he said in the New York Times article. In addition to the 

36 Corvettes already in the collection, Max's vision calls for 

purchasing an additional 14 Corvettes so that there is one from every 

year through 2003 - 50 Corvettes in all. After painting the Corvettes, 

the cars would go on an exhibition tour before being auctioned as a set. 

David Borroughs of Bloomington Gold was asked by the NY Times about the value of the collection. 

With photos and information provided by Patrick Gramm, and without an on-site inspection, he 

suggested that the 36 car collection had an estimated value of $843,000 with the 10 oldest Corvettes alone 

accounting for $445,000. 

Only time will tell whether these Corvettes will finally get the proper care and respect due. And that goes 

for Peter Max's claim that he be "respectful" when repainting 36 examples of America's sports cars. 

Senator Reynolds files bill naming the Corvette as the official state sports car 

State Senator Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green, has filed legislation (Senate Bill 111) designating the Corvette as the 

official state sports car of Kentucky. 

The Corvette’s role in Kentucky’s manufacturing and tourism industries make it a natural choice for “official sports car 

of Kentucky.” Warren County is the home of the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant and the National 

Corvette Museum. 

“Bowling Green is becoming more of a tourist destination. The National Corvette Museum is a major part of that and is 

a definite drawing card for the traveling public. Drawing attention to our community and the Corvette’s unique role in 

our American heritage can only boost economic development for our area,” Senator Reynolds said. 

The first 300 Corvettes were built by hand in 1953 in Flint, Michigan, just after General Motors unveiled the Corvette as 

a “dream car” in the Motorama show in New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The next year, the production was moved to 

St. Louis and in June of 1981, the Corvette production was transferred to Bowling Green. Today, the Bowling Green 

plant employs more than 500 Kentuckians and is known throughout the world for its famous high-quality product. 

On July 2, 1992, the one millionth Corvette was manufactured. The 50th anniversary was marked in June of 2003 with 

a special 50th anniversary Corvette package. The Corvette plant received a number of awards in 2009 including the J.D. 

Power’s Top GM Model, Best in Segment and the Bronze Plant Award. 

Each year, approximately 50,000 tourists from around the world visit the Corvette plant to watch the manufacturing 

process. The plant has partnered with the National Corvette Museum to enable Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to 

watch their own dream car being built and to take a personalized tour of the facility. The museum has around 150,000 

visitors a year. 

Senate Bill 111 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor. “The 

Corvette has become a tangible symbol of our Commonwealth, and I’m excited to make that symbolism official,” 

Senator Reynolds said.Senator Reynolds represents the 32nd district, which includes Butler and Warren counties.

GM Archives: Corvette's Almost 4-Seater 1963 Split Window Coupe 

If something doesn't quite 

look right with this 1963 

Corvette Coupe, you get a 

gold star! That's because this 

was a prototype for a "four 

place" Corvette. That's 

right, a Corvette with back 

seats! The idea came from 

Ed Cole who wondered if a 

four-place Corvette could 

rival the successful four-seat 

Thunderbird. 

Designer Larry Shinoda was given project and stretched the already 

penned 2-seat midyear coupe to accommodate the back seats and the 

extra legroom required. Six inches was added to the C2's wheelbase to 

stretch it out to 104 inches. The pictures below show that the fourseater 

Corvette's doors are much longer and shaped differently than 

the production 2-seater. The roof is also slightly taller and the rear 

glass looks to be longer as well. 

The design staff at GM pretty much hated the four-seater Corvette 

according the Design Director Chuck Jordan. However, in a later 

interview Larry Shinoda explains that perhaps the real reason the 

extended Corvette was a no-go was due to a faulty seat. Apparently, 

one of the GM bigwigs came down to get a look at the prototype. He got 

into the back seat, but then the front seat locked when he tried to exit. 

The story goes that workers had to remove the front seat for him to get 

out and that was end of the four-place Corvette. 

It's too bad that GM destroyed the prototype a few years later, but 

fortunately the concept was recorded with these pictures.

What is clear coat paint? 

PAINT QUESTIONS Q & A 

Automotive paints are a mixture of ingredients including resins, binders, fillers, additives, and carrying agents (typically 

solvents, sometimes water). Clear coat paint is simply paint, or resin without pigment. Non-clear coat paints (also called singlestage 

paint) is paint (or resin) with pigment added to give the paint color. 

Additives are specialized chemicals that are often used to provide a specific characteristic to the paint, depending on the 

application. An example would be a Flex Agent. Flex Agents are used in paints that are applied to flexible components, such as 

flexible urethane bumpers, to help the paint resist cracking when the urethane bumper flexes. UV inhibitors are another clear 

coat additive that helps prevent the sun's ultra violet rays from fading the color coat under the clear coat. 

Today, approximately 95% of all cars, trucks, and S.U.V.'s coming out of the factory have a clear coat finish. 

Clear coat finishes (also referred to as two-stage paint systems) are simply a layer of clear resin applied over the top of colored 

resin. Although a clear coat does protect the base coat, just like a single-stage finish, the clear coat needs to be regularly 

maintained to keep it in top shape. 

Contrary to what you may have heard clear coat finishes do need to be waxed periodically to maintain their appearance value. 

Don't buy into the false information that clear coat paints are paints that require no maintenance, this is simply not true. 

Simply look at any car with a clear coat finish that has been neglected and compare it to a car with a clear coat finish that has 

been recently detailed and your eyes, as well as your common sense, will tell you that clear coats look better when maintained, 

and accordingly will last longer when maintained. 

Why are clear coat finishes "Scratch Sensitive"? 

Clear coat finishes are incredibly sensitive to scratches and swirl marks. Because the top layer is clear, light reflects through it 

and bounces back highlighting these scratches from behind. This tends to magnify defects making them easier for your eyes to 

see. 

Although most clear coat finishes are much harder and more resistant to oxidation than traditional lacquers and enamels 

finishes, they still scratch very easily. For this reason clear coat paints should never be worked on with old-fashioned, harsh 

abrasive products like rubbing or polishing compounds. 

Even professionals in the refinishing and detailing industry can make mistakes if they don't keep up on evolving technologies 

in surface coatings and car care products. 

How can I tell if I have a clear coat finish? 

To determine whether you have a clear coat or a single-stage finish perform this simple test. 

1. Find an inconspicuous area to test, such as the lower rear quarter panel of your car's fender or inside the door jamb. 

1. Clean this area first with car wash and water.You don't want any dirt or grime to interfere with your test. 

1. Using a small piece of white cotton, such as a piece of terry cloth towel, rub a little paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into 

the paint of this inconspicuous area. 

After rubbing for a few moments, turn your cloth toward you and look to see if there is any color from your paint on the cloth. 

If you have a red car and you now have red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you have a single 

stage finish. If you have a red car and you don't see any red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you 

have a clear coat. 

To be 100% sure, you should test in a couple of different areas.

Note: If you have a white, or very light colored car you should use a dark piece of cotton cloth and look for the color of your 

car's finish on it after rubbing some paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into the finish for a few moments. 

Can a clear coat paint oxidize? 

Yes, however the problem is not as common as it is with traditional paints like lacquers and enamels. The reason 

for this is because of the molecular structure of modern paints is much tighter, more dense than traditional paints 

like lacquers and enamels. This in-turn makes the pore structure tighter and denser. A dense molecule structure 

makes it difficult for water and other detrimental substances to get into the paint through pores and other 

microscopic surface imperfections where they cause oxidation and corrosion. 

Most oxidation problems can be avoided with even minimal attention (i.e. regular washing and periodic waxing 

with a premium wax or paint protectant). 

Can a clear coat fade? 

Yes and No The word fade means to:"Lose color or brightness gradually." 

Technically speaking, since the clear coat has no color, it cannot fade or lose it's brightness. It can however become 

dull, but that's not the same as fading and is more typically a sign of oxidation and the build up of above surface 

contaminants. 

Can the color coat below the clear coat fade? 

In short, the answer is yes, however, it depends upon the environment in which the car is exposed. 

• A car parked inside most of its life, far away from the equator will not show much sign of fading. 

• A car continually parked outside in a desert region close to the equator will fade more quickly and the 

results will be more apparent over time because of the increased exposure to UV rays. 

While these answers are technically correct, the non-technical answer to the question, "Can a clear coat fade?", is 

yes, but very slowly. So slowly that most people cannot perceive any visual change over the course of normal dayto-day 

living or during the length of the ownership of their car. 

Can a clear coat become dull? 

Yes. Even more than yesterday's paints, today's clear coat finishes look faded whenever the surface becomes 

contaminated by above surface contaminants, things like: 

Airborne pollution, Acid rain, Industrial fallout, Rail Dust, Airborne overspray, Bug splatter & Bird droppings 

As contaminants build-up on the surface they reduce the reflective quality of the finish by creating a surface with 

somewhat of a textured-feel to it. This in turn acts to diminish gloss (which is a direct result of how smooth your 

surface is), thus causing the paint to look dull. 

The best way to prevent a clear coat finish from becoming dull is to remove fresh 

contaminants as quickly as possible and wash your car weekly with a premium car wash 

solution. Washing your car weekly is especially important if your car is a daily driver and 

parked outdoors for any length of time. 

When contaminants build up (you can tell if you have bonded contaminants by drawing the clean face of your 

palm across the finish after washing and drying the car and feel little bumps that are stuck to the finish), the best, 

fastest and safest way to remove them and restore a smooth as glass surface is to use a clay bar detailing system.

GM: Next-Generation Corvette C7 Expected in 2012 as 2013 Model 

In a move to shore up public confidence following its stint in bankruptcy court, General Motors on 

Tuesday unveiled its 2-year product plan for the four core brands: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GM. 

Included in the Chevrolet news is that production of the C7 Corvette will start in April 2012 for the 2013 

model year. GM also added that the Corvette will maintain the front-engine layout that has defined the 

sports car for 57 years. 

This is great news as earlier estimates had pushed back the C7 through 2014. This also means that the 

Corvette Team will now have the resources and the corporate edict to move full speed ahead on a new 

design that could see changes to America's sports car. These changes may include a smaller, lighter body, 

greater use of advanced weight-saving materials like carbon fiber, aluminum and magnesium. Also 

expect a V8 engine with a smaller displacement but one that will still provide the power-to-weight ratio 

that Corvette owners have become accustomed to is also expected. Superchargers for everyone? 

At the Birthday Bash earlier this year, Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter reassured the enthusiast 

gathering that the team is always thinking about the next generation Corvette and how to make it better. 

Now that the mid-engine layout has once again been tossed aside, Tadge's engineering team will have 

essentially just a couple of years to make these engineering decisions and test them in mules which we 

could see as early as 2011. 

As for the actual design of the car, prior this summer we believed the new C7 will again be more of a 

transition of the C6 body style. However, the public and Corvette enthusiasts were immediately smitten 

with the Transformer's Corvette Stingray Concept introduced earlier this year at the Chicago Auto 

Show. Perhaps the design team will see that owners would accept more of a radical departure from the 

looks of the C5/C6. 

Lighter, Greener Corvette on the Horizon 

Over the last few years, the mantra at Corvette has been more performance, more horsepower. But the 

passage of the new energy bill that raises the CAFE standards to an average of 35 mpg will undoubtedly 

force GM's engineers to rethink performance while pursuing economy first. The results will be a lighter, 

greener Corvette that will not only survive the 35 mpg standard, but should thrive in it as well. 

The standard Corvette coupe and convertible models already get a highly respectable 28 mpg highway 

average despite being powered by the 6.2 liter 430 hp LS3. With its fiberglass panels and hydroformed 

aluminum frame, the current Corvette already weighs in at a lean 3200 pounds. According to Tom 

Wallace, GM's Performance Vehicle Line Executive, the future Corvette will be a sports car where fuel 

economy and a reduced carbon footprint can coexist with performance as long as engineers pay attention 

to the ever important weight to horsepower ratio.

Wallace won't talk specifics about the C7 Corvette, but he told Automotive News that if the Corvette's 

weight was dropped 300 to 400 pounds and was powered by a 4.7 Liter V8 with about 150 less hp than 

the current LS3, the weight to horsepower ratio is essentially the same as the current standard C6 

Corvette. 

While the Corvette ZR1 makes extensive use of carbon fiber as a weight saving material, the cost is 

currently prohibitive in the standard models. But that could change by the time the C7 is developed. 

It's also possible that by the year 2012 when the new C7 Corvette is expected that we will see the next 

generation of fuel efficient engines that utilize both gasoline and ethanol. With the trickle-down effect 

that Corvette Racing has on its regular production-bred siblings, its a natural evolution for there to be an 

E85 powered Corvette coming directly from the assembly plant at Bowling Green. Corvette Racing tells 

us that ethanol based fuel has a higher octane rating so the combination of the new engines powered by 

ethanol combined with a lighter body may get Corvette close to the 35 mpg highway average. 

Two other factors help Corvette as well. First, the amount of Corvettes produced in recent years averages 

roughly 35,000 cars compared to the nearly 4 million GM sells domestically, so the impact of the 

Corvette's highway MPG figure is smaller than that of one of GM's mass-produced vehicles. Secondly, 

GM's investment in alternative fuel solutions and new products like the Chevy Volt are likely to increase 

the automaker's average significantly if the market is there to support them. 

Corvette enthusiasts may have to swallow the reduced horsepower pill like we had to with the C3 

Corvettes. The good news is that unlike the Seventies, GM won't simply cut performance to increase 

mileage standards. Performance will always be one of the governing covenants of the Corvette, and with 

the looming changes on the horizon, there will be room for a green Corvette. 

Green Gets Mean: The Skinny on Jay Leno's E85 Corvette C6RS 

Last week's press announcement from General Motors about Jay Leno's E85 Corvette Z06 appearing 

at the SEMA show was short on details, but now that SEMA is here, we've got the skinny on the 

Chin's mean green Corvette Z06. 

Jay's E85 Corvette it turns out, is much more than just a Z06 with a retrofitted engine. In addition to 

the custom 8.2 liter aluminum V8 that churns out 600 horsepower and 585 pounds of torque on E85, 

he went to Pratt & Miller, builders of Corvette Racing's C6.R racecars, for some custom body work 

that makes this ethanol powered supercar one of kind. The Corvette C6RS sports a black exterior 

with wider front and rear fenders and a wider rear fascia with an integrated spoiler on top and 

diffuser on the bottom. The new body work adds 1.6 inches to the width of a standard Z06 and is 

designed to enhance fuel efficiency though better aerodynamics. 

The C6RS has Michelin's mounted on BBS Wheels with 18's on the front and 19's on the back. 

Additional performance options also provided by Pratt & Miller include a custom DeWitt highcapacity 

radiator with dual cooling fans, a carbon-fiver ram-air induction kit and Brembo brakes 

with six-piston mono-block calipers in front and four piston rear calipers. 

The interior was also customized with several premium items from the Genuine Corvette Accessories 

catalog including the two-tone shift knob and boot, leather-covered armrest, parking brake handle 

and boot, and interior trim kit and racing-style pedal covers. 

Interestingly, despite all the specs regarding Leno's e85 Corvette, the one fact omitted is fuel 

efficiency. I suspect that its on par with is fossil-fuel burning siblings or slightly less due to the high 

performance 8.2 liter V8. After all, E85 doesn't improve gas mileage, it’s really just a substitute for 

gasoline. That being said, 600 horsepower is still a cool way to go green...

March 

June 

• The driving team of John Greenwood, Ron Grable, and Mike Brockman drive a Corvette to a win in its 

class at Sebring, and taking third place overall, the best ever showing for a Corvette at Sebring. 

• Corvette Corral, forerunner to Bloomington Gold, is first held, in Bloomington, Illinois. 

September 13 

• General Motors show a 266ci two-rotor Wankel-engined test Corvette at the 45th German Motor Show in 

Frankfurt, Germany. The car is called Corvette 2-Rotor, (code name XP-897GT) with a steel body. 

October 4 

• General Motors premieres the 390ci mid-engined Corvette Four-Rotor prototype at the Paris Automobile 

Salon in France. The Corvette Two-Rotor is also shown. Both use rotary engines based on Wankel 

technology. 

Although 1973 VIN's run to 34464, only 30,464 units were built; the 4,000 serial numbers 

between 24001 and 28000 were never used. 

The 1970 - 1972 Corvettes were the last to feature chrome bumpers front and rear. In 1973, 

due to front impact legislation requirements, the front bumper was changed to a body-colored 

flexible plastic. In 1974 the rear bumper followed suit. 

In 1973, aluminum wheels were again listed as an option. However, their inability to maintain 

air pressure (much like the problems which plagued the early 1963 aluminum knock off 

wheels), kept them out of the hands of customers until 1976. 

Government mandated safety regulations that made their first appearance in 1968 became more 

intrusive with the introduction of the 1973 Corvette. New laws required all cars to be able to sustain 

a five mph impact on the front without damaging lights or other safety gear. The bumper system 

consisted of a injection molded urethane cover, which, due to the flex agent in the paint, was often 

a slightly different shade than the rest of the car. Also gone was the "ice cube" style grille and the 

fender louver, which was replaced by a rather bland and untrimmed recess. 

A new hood made an appearance in 1973 and the new design eliminated the need for the moveable 

panel that was raised to allow the windshield wipers to do their thing. The mechanism was 

troublesome so it probably wasn't missed. 

The rear window would no longer be removable. The idea was to give a more open feeling, but 

excessive wind buffeting meant that it was little used. 

Some steps were taken to make the Corvette a quieter place to drive and ride in, including the 

addition of sound deadening material on some inner panels, a hood pad and improved chassis 

mounts.

RPO Description Production Price 

Custom Interior Trim 13,434 (44.10%) $154 

Optional Rear Axle Ratio 1,791 (5.88%) $12 

A31 Power Windows 14,024 (46.03%) $83 

A85 Custom Shoulder Belts (standard with coupe) 788 (2.59%) $41 

C07 Auxiliary Hardtop (for convertible) 1,328 (4.36%) $267 

C08 Vinyl Covering (for auxiliary hardtop) 323 (1.06%) $62 

C50 Rear Window Defroster 4,412 (14.48%) $41 

C60 Air Conditioning 21,578 (70.83%) $452 

J50 Power Brakes 24,168 (79.33%) $46 

L82 350 cu. in. 250hp Engine 5,710 (18.74%) $299 

LS4 454 cu. in. 275hp Engine 4,412 (14.48%) $250 

M21 4-Speed Manual Transmission, close ratio 3,704 (12.16%) n/a 

M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission 17,927 (58.85%) n/a 

N37 Tilt-Telescopic Steering Column 17,949 (58.92%) $82 

N40 Power Steering 27,872 (91.49%) $113 

P02 Deluxe Wheel Covers 1,739 (5.71%) $62 

QRM White Stripe Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 19,903 (65.33%) $32 

QRZ White Letter Steel Belted Tires, GR70x15 4,541 (14.91%) $45 

T60 Heavy Duty Battery (standard with LS4) 4,912 (16.12%) $15 

U58 AM-FM Radio, stereo 12,482 (40.97%) $276 

U69 AM-FM Radio 17,598 (57.77%) $173 

UF1 Map Light (on rearview mirror) 8,186 (26.87%) $5 

YF5 California Emission Test 3,008 (9.87%) $15 

YJ8 Cast Aluminum Wheels (5) 4 (0.01%) $175 

Z07 Off Road Suspension and Brake Package 45 (0.15%) $369 

Total Production: 30,464 

Coupe: 25,521 (83.77%) 

Convertible: 4,943 (16.23%) 

Notes: Base Corvette Coupe with 350 cu. in. 190 hp engine and wide ratio four speed manual 

transmission: $5,561.50. 

Base Corvette Convertible with 350 cu. in. 190 hp engine and wide ratio four speed manual 

transmission: $5,398.00. 

Year: 1973 

Model: Coupe 

¼ mile: 15.55 seconds @ 94 MPH 

0 to 60 MPH: 7.2 seconds 

Weight: 3,815 lbs. 

Price: $7,513 

Top Speed: 124 MPH 

Fuel consumption: 14.5 MPG 

Notes: 350 cu. in. 250 hp engine with four speed transmission 

Source: Road and Track June 1973

New Texas Highways Zero Tolerance Speed Camera 

With the Texas highway death toll continuing 

to increase, this will be the first year that Zero 

Tolerance Speed Cameras will be used. The 

new cameras look a bit different than normal 

surveillance cameras. I've included a photo 

so that you will know what to look for if you 

are traveling around Texas. Make sure you 

do not speed when approaching one. 

Please take this warning seriously as these 

new devices offer no warning or second 

chances. 

Happy motoring! 

How old is Grandpa? 

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. 

The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the 

computer age, and just things in general. 

The Grandpa replied, 'Well, let me think a minute, I was born before: 

television 

penicillin 

polio shots 

frozen foods 

Xerox 

contact lenses 

Frisbees and 

the pill 

There was no: 

radar 

credit cards 

laser beams or 

ball-point pens 

Man had not invented: 

pantyhose 

air conditioners 

dishwashers 

clothes dryers ! 

the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and man hadn't yet walked on the moon.

Your Grandmother and I got married first, . and then lived together. 

Every family had a father and a mother. 

Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, 'Sir'. And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and 

every man with a title, 'Sir.' 

We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. 

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense.. 

We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility 

for our actions. 

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. 

We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. 

Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. 

Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. 

Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing 

condominiums. 

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. 

We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. And I don't ever 

remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. 

If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk. 

The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. 

Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. 

We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. 

Ice-cream cones, phone calls, ride on a bus, and a Coke were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to 

splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. 

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . . . but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 

cents a gallon. 

In my day: 

grass' was mowed, 

coke' was a cold drink, pot' was something your mother cooked in and 

rock music' was your grandmother's lullaby. 

Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, 

chip' meant a piece of wood, 

hardware was found in a hardware store and software' wasn't even a word. 

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No 

wonder people call us 'old and confused' and say there is a generation gap.. and how old do you think I 

am? 

This man would be only 62 years old!

February 2010 Corvette Sales 

Corvette sales hit a new low last month with just 624 Corvettes delivered during February 2010. That's a decline of -39% from 

February 2009's 1,027 sales figure and -26.9% off of January 2010's 854 deliveries. A shortened selling period of 24 days 

combined with several winter storms that blanketed much of the country is to blame for the decline. 

The bigger news this period is that ZR1 inventories continue to rise. As of yesterday, there are now 256 Corvette ZR1s 

available at dealer showrooms, an increase of 65 ZR1s available at the beginning of February. Overall, 2010 Corvette 

inventories grew during the month of February from 1,685 to 2,389 as of March 1st. If Corvette sales don't pick up soon, it's 

very likely we'll see additional plant closures in the coming months. 

Corvette Stock Report: 



Month 2010 2009 % Change Months 2010 2009 % Change 

January 854 842 1.4% Jan-Jan 854 842 1.4% 

February 624 1,027 -39.2% Jan-Feb 1,478 1,869 -20.9% 



Month 2009 2008 % Change Months 2009 2008 % Change 

January 842 2,015 -58.2% Jan-Jan 842 2,015 -58.2% 

February 1,027 2,071 -50.4% Jan-Feb 1,869 4,086 -54.3% 

March 1,183 2,692 -56.1% Jan-Mar 3,052 6,778 -55.0% 

April 1,407 3,190 -55.9% Jan-Apr 4,459 9,968 -55.3% 

May 1,643 2,904 -43.4% Jan-May 6,102 12,872 -52.6% 

June 1,396 2,082 -32.9% Jan-Jun 7,498 14,954 -49.9% 

July 966 1,870 -48.3% Jan-Jul 8,464 16,824 -49.7% 

Aug 746 4,242 -82.4% Jan-Aug 9,210 21,066 -56.3% 

Sept 1,585 2,318 -31.6% Jan-Sept 10,795 23,384 -53.8% 

Oct 1,154 1,170 -1.4% Jan-Oct 11,949 24,554 -51.3% 

Nov 952 1,093 -12.9% Jan-Nov 12,901 25,647 -49.7% 

Dec 1,033 1,324 -22.0% Jan-Nov 13,934 26,971 -48.3% 

A check of Jeff Hardy's website shows a total of 3,172 Corvettes on the ground. Here is the breakdown by years and models: 

• 2010 Corvettes - 2,389 

• 2009 Corvettes - 718 

• 2008 Corvettes - 65 

2010 Corvette Inventory Breakdown: 

• Corvette Coupes - 949 

• Corvette Convertibles - 237 

• Corvette GS Coupes - 588 

• Corvette GS Convertibles - 272 

• Corvette Z06 - 101 

• Corvette ZR1 - 242 




• Corvette Z06 - 345 

• Corvette ZR1 - 14 




• Corvette Z06 - 19

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